Hawkes's Bay duo John Kirkpatrick and Cam Ferguson will represent New Zealand in machine shearing at the world shearing and wool handling championships to be held in Masterton from February 29 to March 3.
Kirkpatrick from Napier and Ferguson from Waipawa clinched their places by grabbing the first two placings in a selection final held at the Southern Shears in Gore over the weekend.
Both have already tasted major success in Masterton, Kirkpatrick's win in the open final of the Golden Shears last year being his third in that iconic event while Ferguson won his only open title to date in 2010, Kirkpatrick being runner-up on that occasion.
Making his selection even more gratifying for Ferguson is that it will give him the chance to win the world individual crown for a second successive time, having triumphed in Wales last year.
Both Kirkpatrick and Ferguson are popular figures sure to do their country proud at a world championships which has received entries from 25 countries.