Henare Dominates Golden Shears Woolhandling

In a gripping conclusion to the Open Woolhandling Final at the Golden Shears 2025, Joel Henare emerged victorious, showcasing unmatched skill and precision throughout the competition. Henare completed the handling of 10 fleeces in an impressive time of 22.57 seconds, accruing a total of 188.51 points. His closest competition came from Tia Potae, who finished with a total of 198.89 points, just 10.38 points behind Henare. Potae's time was slightly longer, clocking in at 29.45 seconds. Pagan Rimene secured the third spot with a total score of 200.37 points, only 1.48 points behind Potae, making the competition for the runner-up position fiercely close. Rimene finished her handling in 26.86 seconds, demonstrating the high level of competition among the top contenders. Vinniye Phillips, who completed the handling in 30.35 seconds, faced challenges in board, oddment, and fleece points, leading to a fourth-place finish with a total of 294.35 points. This put her significantly behind the top three, illustrating the intense level of skill and precision required in this competition. Henare's victory was marked by his exceptional performance across all categories, particularly in fleece points where he scored an outstanding 101 points, the highest in the competition. His blend points were also the lowest at just 1.00, indicating a nearly flawless blend of the fleeces, a testament to his superior wool handling abilities. This year's Golden Shears Open Woolhandling Final was a showcase of extraordinary talent, with Joel Henare setting a high standard for competitors, demonstrating why he is at the pinnacle of the sport.