Smith said he had been working towards defending the title, so it was a disappointment to have to withdraw at almost the last minute, with the three-day shears starting this morning and the open championship heats being held on Friday afternoon.
Smith had competed just three times this season, for a win at Dannevirke on February 2, and third and second placings at Gore and Pukekohe on February 17 and 18 respectively,
The announcement sent the TAB into a spin, being the only betting agency in the world taking wagers on shearing competition in the only country where shearing competition is recognised by a Government or a government agency as a sport.
Smith had been the TAB favourite, starting at $1.70 when the book opened on Monday, with second favourite, Northland shearer Toa Henderson at $2.60, after a string of dominant recent wins.
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As punter interest swung towards Henderson he came in to $2.25 and Smith drifted to $1.80, but with Smith’s scratching Henderson became the warm favourite at $1.45.
The price on Southland gun and 2023 New Zealand Shears open winner and World Championships Team member Leon Samuels was chopped to $2.90.
Smith was runner-up for the first time into the Golden Shears final in 2011 and third 12 months later but hasn’t since been beaten in the six-man showdown.
He didn’t compete in 2015 when it was won by New Zealand-based Scotland international Gavin Mutch, now the third favourite to win the final on Saturday night.
