Wool Champ Henare Scores Waimate Title at Last

Wool Champ Henare Scores Waimate Title at Last

Young Gisborne dad Joel Henare continued his triumphant rebound from the disappointment of an unsuccessful World title defence earlier this year when he won the New Zealand Spring Shears open woolhandling final in Waimate yesterday(Oct 11).

Just 22 and in his 9th season of open-class woolhandling, it was one of the few titles he hadn’t won, but he was totally in charge as he made it three-out-of three since he failed to reach the World Championships semi-final in Ireland in May.

He won the All-Ireland All Nations final the same day and opened the new home season by winning the New Zealand Merino Championships open final in Alexandra last week.

Between times he rushed home from the Northern Hemisphere to join partner Erica Reti for the birth of their second child, and, now living in Dunedin, he was in August named a Master Woolhandler, at the age of just 22.

There were 21 starters in in what was one of eight individual events at the championships in South Canterbury and Henare was the top qualifier in the heats and the semi-final.

He then scored easily the best board, oddments and fleece score in the final, after just being beaten for time honours by Te Awamutu woolhandler Keryn Herbert.

Dannevirke woolhandler Rocky Hape-Taite ultimately claimed second place, as he had behind Henare in the finewool event at Alexandra, and at Waimate last year behind Herbert, who today had to settle for third place overall. The fourth finalist was Kodi Hawkins, of Martinborough.

There were all-Hawke’s Bay quinellas in both lower-grade woolhandling finals, with Peketai Puna, of Napier, scoring his first win in the Junior final, and Kelly Luke, of Wairoa, winning the Senior title.

Raupunga sisters Jade and Creedence Culshaw had to settle for the second placings, Jade falling just short of winning the Junior title her sister won last year. Creedence, who went on to win last season’s Golden Shears Junior title, figured in a close Senior final today, having also been runner-up last week at Alexandra.

Many of the competitors are now heading north for the first North Island competition of the season, at the Poverty Bay Show next weekend.

ENDS

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