The World champion New Zealand woolhandling team of Gisborne's Joel Henare and Mayryanne Baty has been kept intact for next season's Transtasman series after Baty's win today in the North Island Open woolhandling circuit final it the Golden Shears in Masterton.
It was only the third individual win of her Open-class career, but the most important, ranking alongside the World Championships New Zealand team selection final second placing in November which led to the pair's success at the championships in Invercargill last month, where she was also runner-up to Henare in the individual final.
The Circuit final provided automatic selection in the 2017-2018 Transtasman team, with Henare who retained his place by winning the New Zealand Woolhandler of the Year final in Balclutha a few days before the World Championships.
With Henare not in today's circuit final, she went to the man himself for advice on how to run the final on both full wool and second-shear sheep.
Result:
North Island Woolhandling Oopen Circuit final: Maryanne Baty (Gisborne) 1237.38pts, 1; Sheree Alabaster (Taihape) 137.664pts, 2; Carmen Smith (Pongaroa) 162.864pts, 3; Keryn Herbert (Te Awamutu/Te Kuiti) 170.85pts, 4.
It was only the third individual win of her Open-class career, but the most important, ranking alongside the World Championships New Zealand team selection final second placing in November which led to the pair's success at the championships in Invercargill last month, where she was also runner-up to Henare in the individual final.
The Circuit final provided automatic selection in the 2017-2018 Transtasman team, with Henare who retained his place by winning the New Zealand Woolhandler of the Year final in Balclutha a few days before the World Championships.
With Henare not in today's circuit final, she went to the man himself for advice on how to run the final on both full wool and second-shear sheep.
Result:
North Island Woolhandling Oopen Circuit final: Maryanne Baty (Gisborne) 1237.38pts, 1; Sheree Alabaster (Taihape) 137.664pts, 2; Carmen Smith (Pongaroa) 162.864pts, 3; Keryn Herbert (Te Awamutu/Te Kuiti) 170.85pts, 4.
