First open North Island win by Southland shearer

Leon Samuels, of Invercargill, shears his way to a third place finish at the Rangitikei Shearing Sports North Island Championships in Marton on February 7.

The day before, Samuels won the Aria Waitangi Day Sports Open shearing title in the King Country.

The title was Samuels’ first open win in the North Island. It was also the first win by a South Island shearer in a North Island open class strong-wool final since runner-up and Marlborough shearer Angus Moore won in Kaikohe in 2010.