February 15, 2021
Retirement plans sidelined as Henare too classy
Joel Henare is showing no sign of retiring, picking up his 12 New Zealand Woolhandler of the Year title at the Otago Shears in Balclutha on Saturday.
Doug Laing from Shearing Sports New Zealand says since announcing his impending retirement after winning his 100th open title at the 2018 Golden Shears, the 27-year-old has chalked up another 19 wins.
That’s despite always competing against some of the world’s best woolhandlers, who find themselves outclassed by his experience and drive.
"Essentially he grew up with it. He was taken round the sheds by his mum as a young fellow so he was well known in the industry before he started competing and he would have only been 14 at that stage," Laing says.
The leading challenger on Saturday was Pagan Karauria, of Alexandra, with lake Hawea’s Kelly Macdonald and Tia Potae from Milton third and fourth.
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