Golden Shears boilover - World champ Henare to miss 2019 defence

Reigning World champion woolhandler Joel Henare is out of the race to defend his title in France this year after being eliminated from New Zealand team selection contention at the Golden Shears in Masterton today.

Henare, winner of World individual and teams titles in Masterton in 2012 and Invercargill in 2017, was eliminated in a selection series semi-final, finishing last of the eight hopefuls and being left to watch four rivals battle tonight for the two woolhandling places in the Shearing Sports New Zealand team for the championships in Le Dorat, Central France, on July 1-7.

Qualifying for tonight's series final are new Master Woolhandler Pagan Karauria, of Alexandra, 2010 World teams title winner Keryn Herbert, of Te Kuiti, Gore woolhandler Chelsea Collier, and 2008 World champion Sheree Alabaster, of Taihape.

Henare, who last night announced he is retiring from transtasman international competition, is, however, still in the running for a 7th consecutive Golden Shears Open woolhandling championship, with the semi-finals and final to be held later today.

Joel Henare