Just one long blow separated the finalists in the Open Shearing Competition at the Dannevirke A&P Show on Friday February 3.
Current World Champion Rowland Smith caught up in a 20 sheep/shearer final to snatch the win from Johnny Kirkpatrick with local Dave Buick third and adopted Scotsman Gavin Mutch (now farming at Whangamomona) fourth.
Ironically Rowland cannot defend his world title in Invercargill this weekend as he failed to gain the nomination after other competitions, losing out to Johnny Kirkpatrick.
He was philosophical about it saying "that's shearing".
He is still going to Invercargill to support the New Zealand team of five (two machine shearers, one blade shearer and two woolhandlers) and all the other friends he has made on the New Zealand circuit.