Hanson Clinches Victory at Golden Shears 2026

In a closely contested North Island Woolhandling Circuit - Golden Shears 2026 event, Ngaio Hanson emerged victorious with a total score of 97.40 points. Hanson's performance was marked by a balanced scoring across all categories, with her time of 27.004 seconds earning her 5.40 time points, complemented by 34.00 board points, 20.00 oddment points, 33.00 fleece points, and an impressive 5.00 blend points. Marika Braddick was hot on Hanson's heels, securing the second position with a total of 102.00 points. Braddick took slightly longer, finishing in 34.004 seconds and accruing 10.00 time points. Her score was notably competitive in the oddment and fleece categories, with 12.00 and 36.00 points respectively, although her blend points doubled that of Hanson's at 10.00. Keryn Herbert claimed the third spot, showcasing exceptional speed with the fastest time of 21.831 seconds among the top competitors, which translated to 4.37 time points. However, Herbert's total of 107.37 points was affected by a higher accumulation of oddment points (33.00) and board points (31.00), despite a solid performance in fleece points (34.00). Vinniye Phillips rounded out the top four with a total score of 132.76 points. Despite a competitive time of 23.797 seconds, Phillips faced challenges in board and fleece management, which reflected in her higher board points (49.00) and fleece points (45.00), alongside 10.00 blend points. This event highlighted the tight competition among the participants, with the top performers displaying strengths in different categories. Hanson's win was particularly notable for her ability to maintain a low score across all areas, demonstrating a well-rounded skill set in woolhandling.