Roland Smith in action at the Horowhenua AP&I Show.
Because the organisers of the shearing competition at the Horowhenua AP&I Show take entries on the morning of competition, it can be an anxious wait to see who turns up.
So when current New Zealand champion shearer Roland Smith came walking around the corner with his gear ready to enrol, it added a real buzz to the competition.
Smith, 34, knocked on the door of the event caravan just like every other shearer to register his entry, and took a seat in the shade to wait for his call to the shearing shed.
For the six-foot-six-inch Smith, the Levin show was a chance to gain some match fitness as he attempts to retain his Golden Shears title at Masterton in early March.
But class shone through and he didn't disappoint, shearing 20 sheep in the final in a time of 17 minutes and 11 seconds, putting him 1.95 points clear of runner-up David Buick, from Pongaroa.
Smith hailed from a shearing background as his father and brothers were shearers, and shearing had taken him all over the world - Latvia, Finland, USA, Australia, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England.
"I've travelled the world on the back of a handpiece," he said.
"It's a great industry to be part of."
It was a warm day in Levin. As shearing was a physically demanding sport, it was vitally important that all shearers kept themselves hydrated and started the day with a hearty meal.
So, what did Smith have for breakfast?
"Bacon, eggs and avocado," he said.
"It's just about being sensible. It doesn't have to be technical. You just have to eat good stuff."
But Smith, who would often shear as many as 400 sheep a day, was in the shed less often in recent times as a new business was demanding more of his attention.
He had only started shearing again early in the New Year after taking some time away to concentrate on the new business venture based in the Hawkes Bay - Smith Ag Services.
"I do enjoy competing though. I've made a lot of good friends and it's a good chance to catch up with everyone," he said.
Smith said competition shearing, made famous by trailblazers like Godfrey Bowen and David Fagan, was a great way to showcase the industry and the hard work people put in, day after day.
"That's what the shows about ... improving the industry," he said.
Sir David Fagan, from Te Kuiti, won the New Zealand Golden Shears a record 16 times. He set 10 world records and won five world, six world team, and 16 national titles, making him New Zealand's most successful competition sheep shearer.
In 1953, Godfrey Bowen became "world-famous in New Zealand" when he broke the world record by shearing 456 full-wool ewes in nine hours at Ōpiki.
A British newspaper once compared Bowen's shearing with the "grace" of Nureyev's dancing "Bowen technique" – and he helped lift the profile of shearing as a sport and tourist attraction.
Those journalists would no doubt also be searching for descriptions had they seen Smith, who is all grace with his long arms that seems to float through the fleece.
Meanwhile, Masterton shearer Adam Gordon continued to show his promise, winning the Intermediate final at Levin.
Two years ago Gordon became the first person to win Golden Shears shearing and wool handling titles in the same year with a double on the opening day of the 2019 championships in Masterton.
Levin shearers were among the medals, with Darren Bryant taking out the Junior final and Aaron Christensen winning the Novice title.
One interesting competitor was Aiden Grant, who had to bring axes and clippers as he competed in both the shearing and woodchopping competitions at the Levin show.
By the end of the day his white pants were showing the effects of a hard day's work.
A firefighter in the New Zealand Army, he belonged to the Marton Axemen's Club and took a year off in 2019 to shear sheep in the UK.
The Levin event was the only shearing sports event in the North Island during the weekend and attracted a record 53 shearers, more entrants than the Wairoa A&P Show the previous weekend.
Horowhenua AP&I secretary Jill Timms said as a result they had record entries with three novice, 11 junior, 11 intermediate, 17 senior, and 17 open shearers competing.
There weren't many sheep left over at the end of the Open final from the flock of 550 out the back that started the day.
Organiser Donald Bryant said he was pleased with the turnout, with twice as many shearers entered as last year, and they were fortunate to have plenty of sheep on hand.
"You have to have a few chuck-outs, but there weren't many spare. We used 515," he said.
The stands were packed all day for competition at Levin, and onlookers were treated to some brilliant and informed insight from live commentator Morgan Lissington, aided by Jimmy Samuels.
Results from the Horowhenua AP&I Show Shears at Levin on Sunday, January 24, 2021:
Open final (20 sheep):Rowland Smith (Maraekakaho) 17min 11sec, 63.55pts, 1; David Buick (Pongaroa) 17min 24sec, 65.5pts, 2; Gavin Mutch (Scotland/Dannevirke) 17min 55sec, 67.65pts, 3; Aaron Haynes (Feilding) 19min 23sec, 69.75pts, 4.
Senior final (10 sheep): Reuben Alabaster (Taihape) 11min 4sec, 43.7pts, 1; Kyle Mita (Masterton) 11min 33sec, 47.85pts, 2; Ruka Braddick (Eketahuna) 12min 33sec, 49.55pts, 3; Josef Winders (Winton) 12min 18sec, 51pts, 4.
Intermediate final (6 sheep): Adam Gordon (Masterton) 10min 18sec, 41.5667pts, 1; Logan Bethell (Takapau) 9min 35sec, 43.4167pts, 2; Matthew Smith (Otorohanga) 9min 52sec, 43.4333pts, 3; Heath Barnsdall (Pio Pio) 11min 21sec, 47.8833pts, 4.
Junior final (4 sheep): Darren Bryant (Levin) 7min 4sec, 33.2pts, 1; Michael Buick (Pongaroa) 8min 43sec, 35.4pts, 2; Aidan Grant (-) 7min 17sec, 36.85pts, 3; Josh Devane (Taihape) 9min 46sec, 39.3pts, 4.
Novice (2 sheep): Aaron Christensen (-) 7min 17sec, 42.85pts, 1; Charlie Heard (Masterton) 5min 56sec, 46.3pts, 2; Sam Mathewson (-) 8min 51sec, 46.55pts, 3.
Andy Stewart pushed on with his motorbike trek despite his growing pain.