Henare Triumphs at World Woolhandling Final

In a stunning display of skill and precision, Joel Henare clinched the World Woolhandling Final - Golden Shears 2026 title, amassing a total of 105.78 points. Henare's performance was marked by an outstanding blend of speed, showcased by a time of 28.898 seconds, and exceptional quality across all categories. Keryn Herbert, not far behind, secured the second position with 122.68 points. Herbert's time was slightly quicker at 28.399 seconds, but Henare's superior handling in oddment and fleece points, where he scored 32 and 46 respectively, compared to Herbert's 33 and 44, made the crucial difference. Charis Morrell and Racheal Hutchinson displayed commendable efforts, finishing third and fourth with totals of 138.36 and 151.16 points, respectively. Morrell's time of 33.362 seconds and Hutchinson's 32.161 seconds reflected the challenging nature of the competition, with the quality of their wool handling reflected in their higher points totals. Marika Braddick and Rosie Keenan rounded out the standings, facing difficulties particularly in the board and fleece categories, which significantly impacted their total scores of 177.48 and 226.67 points, respectively. Henare's balanced performance across all categories, especially in managing the lowest board points of 17 and securing high fleece points, underscored his expertise and clinched his victory in this highly competitive final.