The first of the 2019-2020 shearing sports season's eight competitions in the Northern region will be held at the Kaikohe A, P and I Show on Saturday.
It incorporated the first 2020 round of the ANZ Northland Shearing Competition which is now in its third season. The event is credited with doubling the numbers of entries in the shearing, which was a popular attraction at the shows despite being short of entries.
Series co-founder and Northern Wairoa A and P Show president Richard Alspech said entries increased immediately at some of the shows when the series started in 2018, which was aimed particularly at getting Northland shearers to do more of the competitions in the region, rather than, as was often the case, just the "local show".
There was also immediate increased spectator interest, with people going to shows they had never been to before, to support their team "just like it was the rugby team" said Alspech.
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