Oh My Goss ! Record Breaker Gets Win I Shering Competition

New World ewe-shearing record-holder Simon Goss has claimed his first Open competition title nd his first win in any grade in almost six years with victory at the Ohura A and P Show, in remote King Country west of Taumarunui.

Goss last won a competition in the Senior final at the Pahiatua Shears on March 1, 2020, a 13th win in the 2019-2020 season, making him comfortably ranked the No 1 Senior shearer nationwide.

It was a fortnight before the first Covid lockdown, which cancelled nine of the season’s other competitions.

He’s the brother of women’s rugby star and former shearer Sarah Hirini, he switched focus after mother and former Golden Shears Open woolhandling champion Ronnie Goss died a year later, and has set two World records in the woolshed.

In January 2023 he shore 715 lambs in eight hours inn a two stand World record on the family farm t Mangamahu, inland from Whanganui, and on January 5 this year reached the ultimate goal in records shearing with a new nine-hours strongwool ewes record of 732 at Te Pa, between Raetihi and Waiouru.

On a busy Saturday of shearing sports throughout the country, with competitions also at the North Hokianga A&P Show at Broadwood, the Murchison A&P show between Nelson and the West Coast, and major show the Southern Shears shearing and woolhandling championships in Gore, Goss was one of 68 shearers who flocked to Ohura, a township that boasts a population of no more than 180. There were also 18 woolhandler.

Despite the absence of several top guns in the South Island, claimed some top scalps, notably Hawke’s Bay-based Scottish shearer Gavin Mutch, a significant hope for second World title individual title in Masterton next month. Defending World champion Gwion Evans and teammate Llyr Jones, missed out on places in the four-man final, as did new England representative Nick Greaves.

It was at Ohura in 2012 that Mutch had his last win before claiming his first World title, also at the Golden Shears in Masterton, where in 2015 he became the first, and still only, shearer from overseas to win the Golden Shears Open.

On Saturday, Mutch had to settle for second place, Goss winning the race by 0.04 seconds, but expanding the margin to over two points with the better quality. Mark Grainger, of Te Kuiti, was third, and James Ruki, of Piopio, was fourth.

It was a particularly timely win for Goss who in October on merinos claimed maximum first-round points in the PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit, but is now No 14 and at risk of missing the cut for the top 12 if he doesn’t score good points in the last qualifying round on second-shear strong wool at next weekend’s Pahiatua Shears.

Dalton Tangiwai, of Pahiatua, won the Senior final, after a good win at the Rangitikei Shearing Sports North Island championships two weeks earlier. English shearer Tom Charley also extended recent good form by winning the Intermediate final, And Trent Alabaster, of Taihape, won the Junior final.

Occasional competitor Peggy Tohengaroa, of Aria, won the Open woolhandling title, in her first final since placing third at Taumarunui last year, Kelly Barrett, of Kawhia, added the Senior title to a recent major title won at Marton, and the Junior final was won by Miracle Waikato, from Hastings.

RESULTS of the Ohura A&P Show Shears on Saturday, February 21, 2026:

Shearing:

Open final (12 sheep): Simon Goss (Whanganui) 10m 0.05s, 38.3358pts, 1; Gavin Mutch (Scotland/Dannevirke) 10m 0.09s, 40.5878pts, 2; Mark Grainger (Te Kuiti) 11m 27s, 43.5167pts, 3; James Ruki (Piopio) 11m 31s, 46.3833pts, 4.

Senior final: Dalton Tangiwai (Pahiatua) 30pts, 1; Mark Ferguson (Elsthorpe) 32.2pts, 2; Raelor Tarrant (Taumarunui) 32.3267pts, 3; Sarah Bryant (Arohena) 34.6833pts, 4.

Intermediate final: Tom Charnley (North Yorkshire, England) 21.9833pts, 1; Lachie Cameron (Kimbolton) 22.5333pts, 2; Lydia Thomson (Oxford/Hastings) 24.5pts, 3; Kevin Noone (Donegal, Ireland) 25.8pts, 4.

Junior final: Trent Alabaster (Taihape) 21.3pts, 1; Ashlin Swann (Wairoa) 23.5pts, 2; Cam Henson (Woodville) 27.9pts, 3; Kingston Pue (Raetihi) 28.25pts, 4.

Woolhandling:

Open final: Peggy Tohengaroa (Aria) 62.93pts, 1; Te Anna Phillips (Taumarunui) 65.97pts, 2; Leanne Devon 80.02pts, 3.

Senior final: Kelly Barrett (Kawhia) 66.87pts, 1; Laura Bradley (Papatawa) 78.75pts, 2; Leah George (Piopio) 106.5pts, 3.

Junior final: Miracle Waikato (Hastings) 46.53pts, 1; Jayda Millanta (Te Kaha) 51.22pts, 2; Paige Marshall (Kihikihi) 64pts, 3.

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