One of the most prestigious shearing events in the country marks its 53rd year in Alexandra next month and organising committee publicity officer Mervyn Kinaston promises some nail-biting excitement.
The New Zealand Merino Shearing Championships, or the Merino Shears for short, was one of the highlights of the shearing year and the only remaining competition of its kind still held in the New Zealand.
''It is going to be great,'' Mr Kinaston said.
''Last year there was less than a minute's difference in the finishing times of the six finalists in the open shearing section.
''It is always good entertainment,'' Mr Kinaston said.
The competition will be held at the Molyneux Park Stadium, Alexandra, on October 3 and 4, with the action open to the public from 7.30am on both days.
Mr Kinaston said competitors had until September 26 to enter and they had received about 200 in previous years.
There was also the teams event, with two shearers and two woolhandlers in each team, and the teddy bear shearing competition for the children.
The Merino Shears competition provides a total prize pool of $14,000.
The Perth-New Zealand Merino Challenge will also be under way, with New Zealand's Grant Smith, of Rakaia, and Charlie O'Neill, of Alexandra, competing against Perth's finest in Australia the weekend prior to the Merino Shears. The Perth team will return the favour with a repeat match in Alexandra on Saturday evening.
In addition to the teams event and the challenge on the Saturday evening, there will also be a prize-giving and the open shearing final.
Another attraction of the evening will be the fashion show, provided by Nudax. Top shearers likely to take part include Damien Boyle, from Western Australia, who, if he enters, will be out to claim his fifth consecutive open Merino Shears title.
''If he does it, it will be the first time a shearer has managed to win the open Merino Shears title five years in a row.
''The only other person who had come close was Mana Te Whata, of Mossburn, who won it in 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990.
''He also won it in 1993 and 1995 . . . Other leading names are likely to include Invercargill's Nathan Stratford, and David Fagan, of Te Kuiti, who has won just about all the top shearing titles nationally, (with a few international ones as well) apart from the Merino Shears, which eludes him.
Earnscleugh Station and Stonehenge Station will be providing the 1300 sheep required.
By Yvonne O'Hara