It came down to the 19th and 20th sheep before champion Roland Smith overcame the speed of Gavin Mutch in the Open Shear Final at the Dannevirke A&P Show Shearing Competitions.
"It doesn't get much tougher than that," he said, receiving the winner's sash.
![Intermediate Shear placegetters: 1 Daniel Seed, 2 William Davis, 3 Mark Fergusson, 4 Dane Frederickson.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/E3VKKPLW3G64SIBEI3SVUHZV4M.jpg?auth=69989388cc619951bce48abec9e8ff6000324f9c568dd08ea83dfd25ef8c86f1&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
The open shear was a tough competition with world champion John Kirkpatrick not making the final. There was a strong Welsh contingent and Scotsman, Gavin Mutch, — now living in Whangamomona — put up a stiff fight.
In the New Zealand-Welsh Testlocals Michael Fobish and Ethan Pankhurst managed a win against their Welsh opposition in the closest of contests over 15 sheep.