Shearing and woolhandling: Toa Henderson and Pagan Rimene win major titles at Otago Shears

Pagan Rimene, seen here in 2019, won the New Zealand Woolhandler of the Year open title. Photo / Pete Nikolaison

Northland shearer Toa Henderson has taken the first big step on the pathway to the 2025 Golden Shears in Masterton by winning the open final of the Otago Shears at the Carterhope Estate Woolshed in Te Houka, south of Balclutha.

The win, in a 20-sheep final on Saturday, reversed last year’s result, with Henderson beating the defending champion, southern gun and runner-up Leon Samuels, on both time and total points as the two dominated the six-man final, the culmination of a day in which 106 shearers and 55 woolhandlers competed.

Henderson finished in 16m 48.8s, beating Samuels by about 22 seconds, with Justin Meile of Ōamaru a further five seconds away.

However, the best quality in the pens enabled Corey Palmer of Dipton to claim third place overall.

Last year Samuels won the Otago Shears, with Henderson the runner-up.

Samuels then went on to become the first South Island shearer to win the open final of the Golden Shears since 1989, while Henderson failed to qualify for the top six in the big event but finished the season with 13 wins and the honour of being Shearing Sports New Zealand’s No 1-ranked open shearer for the season.

Read more shearing and woolhandling stories here.

The other big winner on Saturday was Alexandra’s Pagan Rimene, who successfully defended the New Zealand Woolhandler of the Year title she won for the first time 12 months ago, after six second-placings in the event.

Second was Joel Henare from Gisborne, who was going for a 14th win in the event since 2008, and Cushla Abraham of Masterton was third.

It was also a big day for English shearer Richard Lancaster, whose win in the senior final was his first in the grade.

From Clitheroe in the county of Ribble Valley, Lancashire, and with three seasons behind him working for years, Lancaster has been a regular of shearing in the south in his seasons Downunder since 2020, when he missed out by one place on reaching the junior final of the Golden Shears after winning junior finals at Tapawera and Reefton.

Regarding the Golden Shears this year, he said on Sunday: “Wasn’t going to, but after yesterday I think I might.”

The intermediate shearing title also went abroad, won by Evan Rowbotham of Pontrhydfendigaid in Wales, and the junior final was won by Tye Meikle of Ōamaru, son of open finalist Justin Meikle.

The senior woolhandling final was won by Tre Ratana Sciascia from Taihape.

Pania Clarke of Gore won the junior final.

Otago Shears and NZ Woolhandler of the Year Championships results

Carterhope Estate, Te Houka

Saturday, February 8, 2025

Shearing

Open final (20 sheep): Toa Henderson (Kaiwaka) 16m 48.78s, 54.589pts, 1; Leon Samuels (Roxburgh) 17m 11.84s, 55.442pts, 2; Corey Palmer (Dipton) 17m 35.68s, 56.234pts, 3; Justin Meikle (Ōamaru) 17m 16.59s, 56.5295pts, 4; Nathan Stratford (Invercargill) 18m 11.53s, 57.9265pts, 5; Angus Moore (Ward) 18m 2.85s, 59.6425pts, 6.

Senior final (12 sheep): Richard Lancaster (England) 12m 47.59s, 44.3795pts, 1; Will Sinclair (Balclutha) 12m 57.88s, 4.644pts, 2; Bruce Grace (Wairoa/Napier) 13m 17.34s, 44.867pts, 3; John Cherrington (Ōamaru) 13m 35.75s, 45.2875pts, 4; Dre Roberts (Mataura) 12m 51.72s, 45.586pts, 5; Jack Pringle (Balclutha) 13m 40.88s, 46.7107pts, 6.

Intermediate final (Seven sheep): Evan Rowbotham (Pontrhydfendigaid, Wales) 7m 13.03s, 26.6515pts, 1; Billy Powell (Maesmynis, Wales) 6m 34.28s, 26.914pts, 2; Jet Schimanski (Gore) 6m 56.97s, 27.2485pts, 3; Jamie Farmer (Wales) 6m 38.4s, 27.32pts, 4; Paddy Dunne (Wicklow, Ireland) 7m 0.71s, 27.6355pts, 5; Daniel Michelmore (Yorketown, South Australia) 7m 11.18s, 29.559pts, 6.

Junior final (Four sheep): Tye Meikle (Ōamaru) 6m 18.78s, 22.939pts, 1; Paddy Hudson (Hokonui) 6m 55.03s, 26.0015pts, 2; Reuben Wilkinson (Winton) 8m 2.95s, 26.8925pts, 3; Tom Scott (-) 8m 33.44s, 31.422pts, 4; Peter Keenan (Ranfurly) 8m 32.28s, 32.364pts, 5; Chloe Cormack (Nantwich, England) 7m 53.72s, 32.936pts, 6.

Novice (One sheep): Jake Watt (-) 2m 44.63s, 10.23pts, 1; Harry McHaffie (Popotunoa) 3m 5.35s, 12.27pts, 2; Grace Croasdale (Masterton) 3m 40.88s. 14.04pts, 3; George Anderson (-) 2m 11.66s, 15.59pts, 4; Abbey Mallise (-) 3m 45.96s, 16.3pts, 5; Finn Gilder (-) 3m 14.44s, 19.72pts, 6.

Woolhandling

Open final: Pagan Rimene (Alexandra) 124.376pts, 1; Joel Henare (Gisborne/Motueka) 129.094prs, 2; Cushla Abraham (Masterton) 149.582pts, 3; Jasmin Tipoki (Martinborough/Napier) 179.95pts, 4. Also: Foonie Waihape (Alexandra) 5; Charis Morrell (Alexandra) 6.

Senior final: Tre Ratana Sciascia (Taihape) 111.84pts, 1; Emma Martin (Wyndham) 155.65pts, 2; Chloe Henderson (Hunterville) 161.2pts, 3; Krystal Gulliver (Gore) 167.082pts, 4. Also: Tia Manson (Piopio) 5; Ashley Clarke (Gore) 6.

Junior final: Pania Clarke (Gore) 121.37pts, 1; Te Aroha Little (Balclutha) 129.28pts, 2; Grace Croasdale (Masterton) 152.482pts, 3; Ffion Jones (Wales) 153.88pts, 4. Also: Miriama Thompson (-), 5; Charlize Ratima (-) 6.