Former Gisborne man Joel Henare, pictured during one of his Golden Shears Open woolhandling finals, is guaranteed a place in the New Zealand Shearing Sports team again. Photo / Pete Nikolaison
Former Gisborne man Joel Henare, pictured during one of his Golden Shears Open woolhandling finals, is guaranteed a place in the New Zealand Shearing Sports team again. Photo / Pete Nikolaison
Gun woolhandler Joel Henare will get a crack at a third Golden Shears World Championships double.
It comes after his guaranteed selection in the New Zealand team for the 2026 championships in Masterton on March 4-7.
Henare, formerly of Gisborne, won world individual and teams titles in both Masterton in2012 and Invercargill in 2017, and also competed at the 2014 championships in Ireland.
He claimed this year’s position as winner of the six-round, near year-long Shearing Sports New Zealand Selection series, which ended at the Taihape Shears on Saturday.
But it was close, with Motueka-based Henare winning on a countback of best placings, after a points tie with Alexandra woolhandler Pagan Rimene.
The 20th World Championships, which have attracted teams from 28 countries, will run in conjunction with the 63rd Golden Shears international championships, which have drawn about 630 entries.
