Team NZ intact after Baty circuit win

The World champion New Zealand woolhandling team of Gisborne’s Joel Henare and Mayryanne Baty has been kept intact for next season’s Transtasman series after Baty’s win today in the North Island Open woolhandling circuit final it the Golden Shears in Masterton.

It was only the third individual win of her Open-class career, but the most important, ranking alongside the World Championships New Zealand team selection final second placing in November which led to the pair’s success at the championships in Invercargill last month, where she was also runner-up top Henare in the individual final..

The Circuit final provided automatic selection in the 2017-2018 Transtasman team, with Henare who retained his place by winning the New Zealand Woolhandler of the Year final in Balclutha a few days before the World Championships.

With Henare not in today’s final, she went to the man himself fir advice on how to run the final on both full wool and second-shear sheep – as long as she wouldn’t use it against him if they were to meet again in the Golden Shears Open final tonight.

Image:
Maryanne Baty

Result:
North Island Woolhandling Oopen Circuit final: Maryanne Baty (Gisborne) 1237.38pts, 1; Sheree Alabaster (Taihape) 137.664pts, 2; Carmen Smith (Pongaroa) 162.864pts, 3; Keryn Herbert (Te Awamutu/Te Kuiti) 170.85pts, 4.