Shearing double for Northland’s Toa Henderson with Kumeū Show and Rural Games wins

Toa Henderson is crowned Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games speed shear champion in Palmerston North. Photo / NZ Rural Games

The celebration continued for new Golden Shears open shearing champion Toa Henderson over the weekend as he won both the Kumeu Show open final near Auckland and the New Zealand Rural Games speed shear in Palmerston North.

Only a week after the biggest success of his career in Masterton, Kaiwaka’s favourite gun shore the six-man 20-sheep final in Kumeū on Saturday in 16m 2.09s, pipping Te Kūiti gun Jack Fagan by just 1.63s.

Henderson also posted the second-best quality points.

His winning margin of 2.881 points enabled him to retain the title, which he won last year, a week after missing out on a place in the 2024 Golden Shears final, but on his way to becoming the No 1-ranked open shearer for the season.

Third was Simon Goss, of Whanganui, and fourth was Te Kūiti shearer Mark Grainger, who was last to finish but had the best board and pen quality points.

Two other titles also went to Northland shearers who graced the stage on the big finals day at the Golden Shears seven days earlier.

Ruawai shearer Tommy Stevenson won a senior final that included four of the Golden Shears senior finalists, among them winner Bruce Grace, of Wairoa, who had to settle for fifth place on Saturday.

Henderson’s nephew, Hamuera, followed up a fifth placing at Masterton by winning Saturday’s intermediate final.

NZ Rural Games speed shear

Then, in the Palmerston North Square 24 hours later, Henderson pipped Fagan again as he beat the reigning Rural Games speed shear champion in the event’s 2025 two-sheep head-to-head final.

Henderson shore the two in 42.86s, with Fagan shearing 43.6s, having a few minutes earlier top-qualified with a 17.4s single-sheep shear, as the pair faced each other in the semifinals, eliminating Brett Roberts, of Mataura, and Paerata Abraham, of Masterton.

A rare absentee from the invited field was Marton shearer Jimmy Samuels, who in 2023 won the event for a second time.

On Saturday, he won a speed shear at Wongarbon near Dubbo, New South Wales.

Kumeu Show results

Saturday, March 8

Open final (20 sheep): Toa Henderson (Kaiwaka) 16m 2.09s, 53.955pts, 1; Jack Fagan (Te Kūiti) 16m 3.72s, 56.836pts, 2; Simon Goss (Whanganui) 16m 39.86s, 56.943pts, 3; Mark Grainger (Te Kūiti) 18m 1.78s, 54.089pts, 4; Digger Balme (Ōtorohanga) 17m 43.78s, 60.039pts, 5; Dane Phillips (Kaiwaka) 19m 1.91s, 64.196pts, 6.

Senior final (10 sheep): Tommy Stevenson (Ruawai) 11m 3.91s, 37.896pts, 1; Gabriel Winders (Kakanui) 11m 5.75s, 38.488pts, 2; Laura Bradley (Papatawa) 11m 10.44s, 39.022pts, 3; John Cherrington (Ōamaru) 10m 52.02s, 39.201pts, 4; Bruce Grace (Wairoa) 10m 57.38s, 39.269pts, 5; Callum Bosley (England/Ōtorohanga) 11m 30.94s, 41.427pts, 6.

Intermediate final (4 sheep): Hamuera Henderson (Kaiwaka) 5m 49.41s, 25.971pts, 1; Sarah Bryant (Arohena) 6m 17.25s, 27.363pts, 2; Matthew Smith (Ōtorohanga) 6m 38.64s, 28.932pts, 3; Rex Finlayson (Kai Iwi Lakes) 7m 16.42s, 35.571pts, 4; Shanelle Kemp (Maungatūroto) 6m 54.33s, 38.217pts, 5; Paul Finlayson (Kai Iwi Lakes) 7m 9.91s, 41.746pts, 6.

Junior final (3 sheep): Jodiesha Kirkpatrick (Gisborne) 5m 50.5s, 24.525pts, 1; Tessa Berger (Ahuroa) 6m 32.53s, 29.96pts, 2; Cam Henson (Woodville) 6m 13.73s, 33.687pts, 3; Jordan Hildreth (Woodhill) 5m 30.45s, 52.19pts, 4; Nicklin Connor (Dairy Flats) 6m 39.14s, 53.29pts, 5.

Novice final (1 sheep): Joshua White (Parakai) 3m 24s, 33.2pts, 1; Hamish Twaddle (Whangārei) 3m 18.22s, 36.911pts, 2; Dave Twaddle (Whangārei) 2m 45.84s, 37.292pts, 3.