Napier shearer John Kirkpatrick has won the prestigious open title at the Golden Shears competition for the third time.
The runner-up Rowland Smith, who was competing in the open section for the first time, was neck and neck with Kirkpatrick for a large part of the competition in Masterton.
He lost ground only on the last five or six sheep.
King Country shearing legend David Fagan, who had been chasing a 10th title, finished third.
