Leah Tamainu Dominates Junior Woolhandling Final

In the highly competitive Junior Woolhandling Final at the Golden Shears 2026, Leah Tamainu emerged as the clear winner with an impressive performance, showcasing her skills across all categories to clinch the title with a total of 51.36 points. Tamainu completed her handling of 4 fleeces in just 56.817 seconds, achieving the lowest time points of 11.36, coupled with a remarkable board points score of 40. This combination of efficiency and precision distinguished her from her closest competitor, Waiari Puna, who finished with a total of 57.67 points. Puna's time was significantly longer at 1:23.352, resulting in higher time points of 16.67 and slightly higher board points of 41. The competition for the third and fourth places was notably tight, with Caitlin Murphy and Opal Ramsay finishing with total scores of 68.12 and 68.67 points, respectively. Murphy's time of 1:15.611 and time points of 15.12, combined with her board points of 53, placed her just marginally ahead of Ramsay. Ramsay, who completed her task in 1:08.350 with time points of 13.67 and the highest board points of 55, showcased the competitive nature of the event. However, it was Tamainu's exceptional balance of speed and accuracy that ultimately secured her victory in the Junior Woolhandling Final, marking a significant achievement in her career.