Top competition for sheep shearing - 31st March 2023

This event - The Golden Shears - is the world's best-known event of its kind. It tests the skills of sheep shearing. It's been held in Masterton, New Zealand since 1961, and attracts participants from across the world.

Sheep shearing isn't just a farm task, but a sporting activity for shearers like Keryn Herbert.

Keryn Herbert:"If you look at a lot of people who do the competitions in New Zealand in shearing and wool handling, I guarantee you at school they were probably top sports people too."

It's not only about how strong your body is, but also your mind, as Joel Henare explains.

Joel Henare: "You need to be fit, yeah, but, in your body physically, but you also need to have the mental strength as well to be able to pull you through, yeah, so you got everything locked down."

The annual three-day competition involves six shearers in each group, while each individual has 20 sheep to shear. Their skilful and speedy work is watched live on screen by around 70,000 people, as well as huge crowds of spectators.

It's essential for shearers to remove the wool with great care, and to avoid damaging the sheep and the shearer.

Gavin Mutch, from Scotland, describes how challenging it is.

Gavin Mutch: "The sudden burst of intensity you have to have, it's, yeah, it's unbelievable pressure put on your body and the energy levels you use."

'Wool handling' is also part of the event. The wool handlers need to protect and present the wool, and keep the work area running smoothly. Their work is important to the value of the wool at the selling stage. The whole process relies on their skill and efficiency, and so the handlers compete for their own Golden Shears award.