Former world champion Gavin Mutch has launched his 2026–27 shearing season in winning style, claiming a thrilling victory at the Great Raihania Shears in Hastings, while a new generation of young shearers and woolhandlers made their mark at the Hawke’s Bay A and P Show.
The 2012 World Shearing Champion, originally from Scotland and now farming in southern Hawke’s Bay, secured his first victory of the new season at Tomoana Showgrounds on Friday, October 23.
Mutch, who has won shearing competitions in more than a dozen countries, edged out Masterton’s David Gordon in one of the closest Open finals of the competition.
Just one-tenth of a point separated the two competitors, with Mutch finishing his 20 hoggets in 16 minutes and 26 seconds, only two seconds ahead of Gordon.
Mutch claimed the title with 57.45 points, compared with Gordon’s 57.55, while Hastings shearer Brook Hamerton finished third.
It was Mutch’s second Great Raihania Shears Open title, having previously won in 2024.
WORLD CHAMPION SHOWS HE STILL HAS THE MAGIC
Mutch and Gordon set a blistering pace in the Open final, finishing approximately two sheep ahead of their four rivals.
The sheep, supplied by the Joan Fernie Trust’s Mangatawhiri Station, were carrying around eight months of wool and provided excellent shearing conditions for this time of year.
Mutch was the only competitor from last year’s Open final to return to this year’s championship decider, having placed third in 2025.
That previous final was won by Northland shearing star Toa Henderson, who completed his 20 sheep in 15 minutes and 57 seconds.
Friday’s victory adds another achievement to Mutch’s remarkable career and demonstrates that the former world champion remains a formidable competitor on the New Zealand shearing circuit.
FATHER AND SON SUCCESS FOR THE MEIKLE WHĀNAU
One of the standout stories of the day belonged to the Meikle family from Oamaru.
While experienced Open competitor Justin Meikle finished fourth in the main championship, his 18-year-old son Tye Meikle claimed victory in the Senior shearing final.
Tye completed nine sheep in 9 minutes and 56 seconds, finishing just 0.042 points ahead of Napier’s Kaivah Cooper.
The result was another example of the strong family connections that continue to shape competitive shearing across Aotearoa.
Brothers David and Joseph Gordon both reached the Open shearing final, while sisters Cushla and Samantha Gordon competed in the Open woolhandling championship.
The Open woolhandling title was won by Cushla Gordon, competing under the name Cushla Abraham in the event report, ahead of Waipawa’s Trish Moke.
JODIESHA KIRKPATRICK MAKES IT THREE IN A FORTNIGHT
Gisborne shearer Jodiesha Kirkpatrick continued her outstanding start to the season, claiming her third Intermediate shearing title in just two weeks.
Kirkpatrick finished more than five points ahead of runner-up Krain Hauiti from Dannevirke, strengthening her position as one of the form competitors in the grade.
Her success came on a significant day for the wider Kirkpatrick family.
Her uncle, former world champion John Kirkpatrick, was among the notable competitors eliminated in the Open semifinals.
However, he remained involved in the competition as a judge, having recently qualified for his judging badge, which was presented at the show.
The milestone reflects the contribution experienced champions continue to make to the sport through mentoring, officiating and supporting emerging talent.
DANNEVIRKE STUDENT CLAIMS JUNIOR CROWN
Young Dannevirke shearer and Feilding High School pupil Alex Wrenn was another standout performer, winning the Junior final.
Wrenn completed his two sheep in 3 minutes and 34 seconds, finishing comfortably ahead of runner-up Stuart Will.
The victory came just a day after Wrenn claimed the Secondary Schools Students Challenge title for the second time.
In the Novice competition, Sam Whiteside of Te Pohue took first place, adding to his growing list of achievements after helping Napier Boys’ High School win the student teams event at the Golden Shears earlier this year.
Iona College pupil Maddy Butler of Waipukurau was recognised as the leading female competitor in the students’ competition.
Their achievements highlight the depth of young talent coming through the region’s schools and rural communities.
LEAH TAMAINU CELEBRATES FIRST SENIOR WOOLHANDLING TITLE
There was also success for Nūhaka’s Leah Tamainu, who claimed her first Senior woolhandling championship.
Tamainu was ranked New Zealand’s leading Junior woolhandler last season and has wasted little time establishing herself at the next level.
After finishing third at the season’s opening North Island competition in Gisborne, she stepped up to claim the Senior title in Hastings.
Tamainu also teamed up with Hinepurotu Hauiti to win the North Island Woolhandling Circuit Teams Challenge.
In the Junior woolhandling final, Pongaroa’s Gemma Buick took the title, ahead of Dannevirke’s Jade Hikawai.
It was another successful family outing, with Gemma returning home alongside her father David and Michael Buick, who placed third in the Senior shearing competition.
STRONG ENTRIES SIGNAL A PROMISING SEASON
The Great Raihania Shears attracted 115 competitors across eight shearing and woolhandling grades, reflecting strong interest in the new competition season.
There were 78 shearers and 37 woolhandlers, with the Novice shearing grade attracting the largest entry of 25 competitors.
Many of those novice competitors had also taken part in the previous day’s Students Shearing Challenge, which attracted 18 entries.
The strong youth participation is an encouraging sign for the future of competitive shearing and woolhandling, industries and sports with deep connections to rural communities throughout Aotearoa.
The North Island competition circuit continues next Sunday at the Wairarapa A and P Show in Clareville, Carterton, before the Manawatū A and P Show competitions return to Manfeild in Feilding on November 7.
GREAT RAIHANIA SHEARS 2026 — MAJOR RESULTS
| Competition | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| Open Shearing | Gavin Mutch | David Gordon |
| Senior Shearing | Tye Meikle | Kaivah Cooper |
| Intermediate Shearing | Jodiesha Kirkpatrick | Krain Hauiti |
| Junior Shearing | Alex Wrenn | Stuart Will |
| Novice Shearing | Sam Whiteside | Lachie Butler |
| Open Woolhandling | Cushla Gordon | Trish Moke |
| Senior Woolhandling | Leah Tamainu | Waiari Puna |
| Junior Woolhandling | Gemma Buick | Jade Hikawai |
| Woolhandling Teams Challenge | Leah Tamainu and Hinepurotu Hauiti | Amy Bell and Miracle Waikato |
A CELEBRATION OF SKILL, WHĀNAU AND RURAL SPORT
From Gavin Mutch’s world-class experience to the emerging talent of Tye Meikle, Jodiesha Kirkpatrick, Alex Wrenn and Leah Tamainu, this year’s Great Raihania Shears demonstrated the strength of competitive shearing across generations.
The competition also highlighted the important role of families, schools, rural communities and experienced champions in developing the next generation of shearers and woolhandlers.
With the 2026–27 season now gathering momentum, the message from Hawke’s Bay is clear: the established champions are still delivering, but the next generation is coming through fast.
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