Henare Shears to Victory at Golden Shears 2026

In a stunning display of skill and speed at the Golden Shears 2026 Open Woolhandling Final, Joel Henare clinched the title with an impressive score of 122.89 points. Henare's performance was highlighted by the fastest time of the competition at just 29.465 seconds, contributing to his low time points of 5.89. His remarkable handling of the fleeces earned him the highest fleece points at 60.00, a feat matched only by Pagan Rimene, who finished in third place. Logan Kamura followed in second place with a total of 133.45 points. Despite facing a slightly slower time of 32.447 seconds, Kamura's blend points were on par with Henare's. However, his higher oddment points at 48.00 compared to Henare's 27.00, indicated a notable difference in their handling techniques. Pagan Rimene secured the third spot with 136.86 points, showcasing consistency across the board. Rimene's time of 35.860 seconds was the slowest among the top competitors, yet her equal fleece points with Henare emphasized her prowess in fleece handling. Keryn Herbert, finishing fourth with 141.00 points, also demonstrated commendable skills, particularly in managing her time effectively with a completion of 29.994 seconds, just slightly behind Henare. However, her higher board points at 36.00 and oddment points at 42.00 reflected areas where she lagged behind the leading competitor. The competition was a tight race that highlighted the precision and efficiency required in woolhandling, with Joel Henare emerging as a standout performer. His victory was not just about speed but also his exceptional ability to manage every aspect of woolhandling, from time to board, oddment, fleece, and blend points, leading him to the top of the leaderboard.