Woolhandling prodigy Joel Henare again showed his determination to become New Zealand's first male representative in his sport's world championship in 16 years when he won a fifth consecutive Woolhandler of the Year title on Saturday.
Henare, from Gisborne but a former resident of Central Otago town Cromwell, has been unbeatable in the big final at the Otago shearing and woolhandling championships in Balclutha since first winning the title in 2008, at the age of 16.
The latest triumph is the most important as it was the penultimate round in a series to find New Zealand's two woolhandlers for the world championships during the Golden Shears in Masterton from February 29 to March 3.
In three of the victories he has beaten mentor, former world champion and Australia-based Whanganui woolhandler Joanne Kumeroa, who on Saturday had to again settle for second place.
But it was not all bad news for Kumeroa as she won the South Island Circuit final, and also maintains her lead in the Shearing Sports New Zealand selection series which ends in Gore next weekend.
It was Henare's second win in a row in the series and moved him into second place, overtaking 2010 world teams champions Keryn Herbert, of Te Awamutu, and Sheree Alabaster, of Taihape.
The series started at last year's Golden Shears, and the Southern Shears in Gore comprise the final points round, the semifinal and final.
Results from the Otago shearing and woolhandling championships February 10-11:
Open final: Joel Henare (Gisborne) 175.12pts, 1; Joanne Kumeroa (Whanganui) 212.79 2; Rocky Hape-Taite (Dannevirke) 274.09 3; Pagan Rimene (Alexandra) 365.8 4.
Senior final: Melanie Hillis (Mataura) 132.25 1; Melanie Barrett (Invercargill) 145.212 2; Keisha Te Huki (Dannevirke) 145.288 3; Juliette Lyon (Alexandra) 159.62 4; Keri Henare (Gisborne) 160.912 5; Denise Murray-Karaka (Alexandra) 164.374 6.
Junior final: Foonie Waihape (Gisborne) 170.662 1; Cheri Peterson (Milton) 197.038 2; Anne-Marie Kahukura (Omakau) 232.288 3; Ataneta Puna (Napier) 255.1 4; Niki Gore (Golden Bay) 289.31 5; Shanny Hiko (Hastings) 309.55 6.
South Island Circuit results:
Open final: Joanne Kumeroa (Whanganui) 123.792 1; Keryn Herbert (Te Awamutu) 131.856 2; Tina Rimene (Masterton) 140.03 3; Bernadette Forde (Tuatapere) 147.25 4; Tia Potae (Milton) 149.412 5; Huia Whyte-Puna (Christchurch) 157.03 6.
Senior final: Keri Henare (Gisborne) 102.212 1; Juliette Lyon (Alexandra) 107.736 2; Melanie Hillis (Mataura) 110.9 3; Cushla Abraham (Masterton) 114.424 4; Ebony Turipa (Gore) 118.386 5; Jenna Holland (Tuatapere) 124.762 6.
Junior final: Anne-Marie Kahukura (Omakau) 110.724 1; Foonie Waihape (Gisborne) 125.85 2; Maiden Elers (Mataura) 126.194 3.