There are many events for competitors in both the World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships and the Southland All Nations events to enjoy as part of their trek south in the New Year.
Last minute preparations for competition can be fine-tuned for those travelling to Southland early at the annual Northern Southland Full Wool Shearing Championships in Lumsden on Friday 20 January, followed by the Southland Shearing and Woolhandling event and New Zealand Crossbred Lambs Champs in Winton on Saturday 21 January.
Then, the week prior to the World Championships, international competitors have the opportunity to learn from some of the best shearing and woolhandling trainers in New Zealand at the International Training Days at Mount Linton Station in Western Southland.
The final chance to polish preparations will be at the Otago Shearing and Woolhandling Championships at the Balclutha Town Hall on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 February.
The World Championships are themselves being held at ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill from 8 to 11 February, the first time in the Champs' 40-year history that it has been hosted in New Zealand's South Island.
For those wishing to extend their stay after the World Champs, Gore is the place to go with the annual Southern Shears on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 February at the Gore A&P Showgrounds.
To fill out the busy calendar, Speed Shears will be held at Railway Hotel in Otautau on 19 January, Middle Pub Winton on 20 January, Colac Bay Hotel on 21 January, the Otago Shears in Balclutha on 3 February, a pre-Champs event in Gore organised by the Mataura Licensing Trust on 4 February and then post-Champs at the Longford Tavern in Gore on 16 February.
There is certainly no shortage of competitions to gain experience and upskill in early 2017.
Last minute preparations for competition can be fine-tuned for those travelling to Southland early at the annual Northern Southland Full Wool Shearing Championships in Lumsden on Friday 20 January, followed by the Southland Shearing and Woolhandling event and New Zealand Crossbred Lambs Champs in Winton on Saturday 21 January.
Then, the week prior to the World Championships, international competitors have the opportunity to learn from some of the best shearing and woolhandling trainers in New Zealand at the International Training Days at Mount Linton Station in Western Southland.
The final chance to polish preparations will be at the Otago Shearing and Woolhandling Championships at the Balclutha Town Hall on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 February.
The World Championships are themselves being held at ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill from 8 to 11 February, the first time in the Champs' 40-year history that it has been hosted in New Zealand's South Island.
For those wishing to extend their stay after the World Champs, Gore is the place to go with the annual Southern Shears on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 February at the Gore A&P Showgrounds.
To fill out the busy calendar, Speed Shears will be held at Railway Hotel in Otautau on 19 January, Middle Pub Winton on 20 January, Colac Bay Hotel on 21 January, the Otago Shears in Balclutha on 3 February, a pre-Champs event in Gore organised by the Mataura Licensing Trust on 4 February and then post-Champs at the Longford Tavern in Gore on 16 February.
There is certainly no shortage of competitions to gain experience and upskill in early 2017.
2017 Events Calendar
19 January
Otautau Speed Shears at Railway Hotel, Otautau
20 January
Northern Southland Shears including NZ Full Wool Championships at Lumsden.
20 January
Winton Speed Shears at Middle Pub, Winton.
21 January
Southland Shears including the NZ Crossbred Lamb Championships at Winton Racecourse, Winton.
Entries to Carolyn Mainland, 72 Cook Road, Mokotua, RD5, Invercargill, 9875. Ph 03 2395706 or email mainland@farmside.co.nz.
21 January
Colac Bay Speed Shears at Colac Bay Hotel
28 - 29 January
Edendale Vintage Machinery Club's 30th Annual Crank Up
Featuring Special Guest Sir David Fagan. Note: no shearing events
For details click here.
1 - 2 February
World Championship International Training Days at Mount Linton Station, Western Southland.
Open to all World competitors to upskill with some of the best Shearing and Woolhandling Trainers in New Zealand.
Register at http://www.worldshearingchamps.com/page/training-days/
3 – 4 February
Otago Shearing and Woolhandling Championships including the NZ Woolhandler of the Year at Balclutha Town Hall, Balclutha.
Entries close 1 February to Bruce Walker, PO Box 82, Milton 9241. Phone 027 4927093 or email bruce-walker@hotmail.com
5 February
MLT Speed Shears in Gore at Gore A&P Showgrounds (Details to come)
8 – 11 February
World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships including Southland All-Nations events at ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill, New Zealand.
All Nations events open for entry in following categories:
Registrations at http://www.worldshearingchamps.com/shop/
16 February
Gore Speed Shears at Longford Tavern, Gore
17 – 18 February
Southern Shears including the South Island Shearer of the Year at Gore A&P Showgrounds, Gore.
Otautau Speed Shears at Railway Hotel, Otautau
20 January
Northern Southland Shears including NZ Full Wool Championships at Lumsden.
- Shearing starts 8am at Selbie's Woolshed, 874 State Highway 6, Five Rivers. Open, Senior, Intermediate & Junior.
- Woolhandling starts 9am at North Range Woolshed, 483 Sutherland Road, Castlerock. Open, Senior & Junior.
20 January
Winton Speed Shears at Middle Pub, Winton.
21 January
Southland Shears including the NZ Crossbred Lamb Championships at Winton Racecourse, Winton.
- Shearing starts at 10am with Open, Senior, Intermediate & Junior
- Woolhandling starts at 8am with Open, Senior & Junior.
Entries to Carolyn Mainland, 72 Cook Road, Mokotua, RD5, Invercargill, 9875. Ph 03 2395706 or email mainland@farmside.co.nz.
21 January
Colac Bay Speed Shears at Colac Bay Hotel
28 - 29 January
Edendale Vintage Machinery Club's 30th Annual Crank Up
Featuring Special Guest Sir David Fagan. Note: no shearing events
For details click here.
1 - 2 February
World Championship International Training Days at Mount Linton Station, Western Southland.
Open to all World competitors to upskill with some of the best Shearing and Woolhandling Trainers in New Zealand.
Register at http://www.worldshearingchamps.com/page/training-days/
3 – 4 February
Otago Shearing and Woolhandling Championships including the NZ Woolhandler of the Year at Balclutha Town Hall, Balclutha.
- Shearing – Teams, Open, Senior, Intermediate & Junior
- Woolhandling – Open, Senior & Junior.
Entries close 1 February to Bruce Walker, PO Box 82, Milton 9241. Phone 027 4927093 or email bruce-walker@hotmail.com
5 February
MLT Speed Shears in Gore at Gore A&P Showgrounds (Details to come)
8 – 11 February
World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships including Southland All-Nations events at ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill, New Zealand.
All Nations events open for entry in following categories:
- Speed Shear: Open, Senior.
- Shearing: Open, Senior, Intermediate
- Blade Shearing: Open
- Woolhandling: Open, Senior
Registrations at http://www.worldshearingchamps.com/shop/
16 February
Gore Speed Shears at Longford Tavern, Gore
17 – 18 February
Southern Shears including the South Island Shearer of the Year at Gore A&P Showgrounds, Gore.
- Shearing – Open, Senior, Intermediate, Junior & Novice.
- Woolhandling: Open, Senior & Junior