Otautau born Brittany Smith has won the Senior woolhanding title while Amy Ferguson has taken out the Open woolhanding title, on the first day (14 Nov) of the Canterbury Shears’ national Corriedale shearing and woolhandling championships held in Christchurch.

This is just the second competition Smith has entered. Her first competition was 12-months ago when she won junior national title at the same event.

Smith started life on a family sheep and deer farm around Otautau before moving to Christchurch - where she is now based and studying for a Masters in Landscape Architecture.

However she has never lost her interest in wool and continues to work part-time as a woolhandler for Christchurch contractor Pullin Shearing.

Smith said she had been encouraged by many woolhandlers who have taken the time to teach me well.

“I would like to travel to more shows this season."

"I'd like to try another show at some point. Depends on the season here,” she said.

Fellow Southland woolhandler Amy Ferguson's Open section win now gives the experienced woolhander - whose career spans 25 finals over 14 years - three national titles to her name.

She previously won the junior national title in 2008 before going on to win the senior title in 2009.

The championships finish today (15 Nov) with the national Open, Senior, Intermediate and Junior Corriedale shearing championships, with the Open heats attracting a strong field as the third leg in the PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit.

Day One Results of the Canterbury Shears in Christchurch (Nov 14)

Shearing - Donaghys Canterbury Circuit final (14 sheep)

1. Hugh De Lacy (Rangiora) 16m 28.5s, 59.71pts, 1
2. Willy McSkimming (Kurow) 16m17.91s, 63.4pts, 2
3. Shaun Burgess (Rakaia) 18m 27.72s, 67.53pts, 3
4. Thomas Lambert (Christchurch) 18m 53s, 68.44pts, 4
5. Dave Brooker (Cust) 19m 8.78s, 69.08pts, 5
6. Alex Smith (Rakaia) 20m 48.78s, 73.51pts, 6

New Zealand Corriedale Woolhandling Championships - Open final

1. Amy Ferguson (Invercargill/Alexandra) 130.106pts, 1
2. Joel Henare (Gisborne/Motueka) 134.024pts, 2
3. Cushla Abraham (Masterton) 139.418pts, 3
4. Charis Morrell (Alexandra) 4

New Zealand Corriedale Woolhandling Championships - Senior final

1. Brittany Smith (Christchurch) 104.626pts, 1
2. Nadine Smith (Christchurch) 156.58pts, 2
3. Hemi Paniora (Christchurch) 238.124pts, 3.

New Zealand Corriedale Woolhandling Championships - Junior final

1. Jayda Malanta (Te Kaha) 72.844pts, 1
2. Richanna Clarke (Seddon) 77.268pts, 2
3. Tessa Kirdy (Ashburton) 88.782pts, 3
4. Miriama Thompson (-) 4