Shearers to battle it out

The top six shearers from the semifinal will shear the final later today.

The 54th Golden Shears senior shearing championship is set for a tense finish today, with all the top contenders having qualified for the morning's semifinal.

Masterton-based Casey Bailey, from Riverton, headed the 18 qualifiers after the heats yesterday, consistent with his form in winning nine consecutive finals in the Central North Island this summer.

But he has a match in 2010 junior winner, 2013 senior finalist and Mataura shearer Brett Roberts, who won for five consecutive years in his grades at the Otago championships.

The senior heats drew 47 shearers, with Bailey the fastest and one of only three to break 8 minutes for the five sheep. Almost 50 seconds slower, Roberts won best quality points.

Unlucky to miss qualifying - by just 0.188pts - was Charlie Guy, who three years ago won the novice title.

The top six from the semifinal will shear the final later today.

The semifinal qualifiers in order are: Casey Bailey (Masterton), Brett Roberts (Mataura), Cam Hicks (Marton), Robert Mudgway (Taihape), Kieran Devane (Australia), Sharnie Rimene (Masterton), Ethan Pankhurst (Masterton), Michael Rolston (Levin), Rowan Nesbit (Rangiora), Sam Bullingham (England), Dean Herlihy (Whangamomona), David Gordon (Masterton), Turi Edmonds (Raetihi), Cody Beck (Taumarunui), Jotham Rentoul (Nelson), Scott Wilson (Scotland), Chris Mills (Masterton), Gavin Kelly (Taihape).