Hopes are high that New Zealand will manage to retain the 45 shearing sports competitions that were cancelled due to Covid constraints and uncertainties last season.
Organisers of all 59 competitions originally scheduled in the season from last October to April this year are planning to go ahead in the new season - with the possibility of two more being added to the programme.
The news was announced at the separate North Island and South Island meetings of Shearing Sports New Zealand that took place earlier this month.
Shearing Sports New Zealand chairman Sir David Fagan, whose national committee stages its annual meeting in August, said the pandemic had been distressing for most people.
However, Fagan said it was particularly stressful for those having to make the decisions to cancel their events.