It was just the fourth open-class speed shear win for Dickson, the other three were all in 2023, in strong company at Matiere, Halcombe and the Southern Field Days at Waimumu, near Gore.
Dickson’s mind has now turned to the Golden Shears open championship and the Friday afternoon heats, where more than 90 shearers will shear six sheep each to reach the top 30 for the quarterfinal shootout on Friday night.
Having ended his senior career with three wins and a New Zealand Shears third placing in 2021, Dickson’s dream of making the top 30 has been thwarted by two years of Covid cancellations and attending a wedding last year.
Meanwhile, Gore shearer Brodie Horrell, shearing first off in the senior speed shear final, did all that was needed to protect New Zealand’s honour in the face of challenges from two English shearers when he shore his final sheep in 20.79s.
Just over half a second separated the three, with Jack Hutchinson, from County Durham, shearing 20.611s for second place, while Callum Bosley, from Cornwall, was third with a time of 20.635s.
The championships continue today with the senior shearing and open and senior wool handling heats.
The transtasman wool handling test match will be the feature of the night programme.
