Three brothers from Northland have achieved a possible first in qualifying for the final stage of one of New Zealand's premier shearing competitions.
Doug, Matt and Rowland Smith, who hail from Ruawai but shear mainly in Hawke's Bay, are among the 12 for the PGG Wrightson National showdown on Saturday, the last day of the 52nd Golden Shears which start in Masterton today.
No other trio of brothers is thought to have reached the finals in the 40 years of the national competition dating back to the introduction of the McSkimming Memorial Triple Crown in 1973.
It was a close call for Doug Smith who just scraped through at Pahiatua on Sunday in the last of five qualifying rounds, ejecting former finalist Grant Smith, of Rakaia.
The 12 are headed by West Coast shearer Jason Win going into two heats on Saturday morning; the number being cut to six for the grand final.