Hawkes Bay shearers top

Hawkes Bay shearers scored a clean sweep of the top three placings in major South Island competitions in dominating two open class finals at the 45th Southern Shears in Gore on Saturday.

Hastings-based Dion King took out the Southern Shears open, Cam Ferguson of Waipawa was runner-up, John Kirkpatrick of Napier was third and Dannevirke shearer Adam Brausch was fifth.

Ferguson won the South Island Shearer of the Year final, in which five-times winner and King Country icon David Fagan was second.

Tia Potae of Milton won the woolhandling final and Tokomaru Bay-based sister Monica was runner-up.