A new Te Puna Speed Shear record has been set with a sheep shorn in an impressive 15.3 seconds on Saturday night.

The record, set by Hawke’s Bay shearer Tiara Tipu stunned the crowd, with the previous fastest time being 15.97 seconds.

“He’s a young shearer in his 20s. He’s never shorn at Te Puna before,” said event co-organiser Craig Morton.

“He also shears in Australia.”

The event, marking the 24th year since its inception in 1999, was held at the Point Ale House in Whakamārama. Morton said around $8500 has been raised this year for local community causes.

“We had a packed crowd; you couldn’t swing a cat; there would have been at least 400 people. A lot of older and younger people too; a good mix.”

The crowd watching the competition at the Point Ale House in Whakamārama. Photo/Supplied.

Morton said it was harder to get shearers along to the event, as there are so many other events on, and because shearers often must travel a long distance to Whakamārama after having already completed a day’s work shearing. Despite this, it was a good turnout of competitors.

“We had 26 shearers competing. We were lucky that the rain stayed away,” Morton said.

“It was a great night and it’s good for the crowd to see something like this. They just really love it.”

The two judges – David Hodge from Matatā, and Peter McCabe from Katikati, competed alongside Morton in the Vets section of the competition.

Morton came first in the Vets with a time of 27.52 seconds, while Hodge took second place, and McCabe third.

Romey Bradoul came fifth in the Open Shearer section with a time of 21 seconds. Photo/Supplied.

Shearer Terry Midson won the Best Local section with a time of 20.6 seconds.

In the Senior section, which is generally for shearers who shear under 500 sheep a day, Callum Bosley won first place with a time of 18.5 seconds.

The Open section is for shearers shearing over 500 a day with the top prize of $2000. One of winning shearer Tiara Tipu’s shears was done in less time than his final record score, but it was red-lighted by the judges.

“The judges were very hard on the night,” Morton said.

Jack Fagan took out second place in the Open section with a time of 16.1 seconds, and Digger Balme was third with a time of 16.8 seconds. Kapua Brown, age 16, from Hawke’s Bay secured fourth place finishing his speed shear in 17.6 seconds.

Romey Bradoul who came fifth in the Open Shear with a time of 21.0 seconds provided the 92 sheep for the event.

Digger Balme, Callum Bosley, Jake Fagan selecting sheep for the finals. Photo/Supplied.

Digger Balme is a 60-year-old shearer who has participated in every Te Puna Speed Shear since its inception, and he and his crew travelled up from King Country.

“Digger Balme is an absolute legend,” Morton said. “He turns up every year, does the commentating, sorts out the sheep and competes.”

Balme, Callum Bosley and Jake Fagan selected the sheep for the finals. These are picked before any shearing starts and the sheep are held in a pen in the truck with eight sheep for the senior final and nine sheep for the open final.

“The shearers came, and we had some amazing times on the night.”

Morton is already looking forward to the 25th annual Te Puna Speed Shear in 2026 which is once again planned for the second Saturday of January.

Times for 2025 Shearing Lambs at the Te Puna Speed Shear

Open

1st Tiara Tipu 15.3

2nd Jack Fagan 16.1

3rd Digger Balme 16.8

4th Kapua Brown 17.6

5th Romey Bradoul 21.0

6th Ash Cotton 21.3

7th Forde Alexander 16.1DQ

8th Mel Tuhakaraina 18.5DQ

9th JJ Haupapa 21.1DQ

Senior

1st Callum Bosley 18.5

2nd Terry Midson 20.6

3rd Paul Knyvett 21.0

4th Gary Sobye 21.3

5th Reuben Sobye 21.5

6th John Langlands 23.1

7th Gebhin Willims 35.5

8th Teawa Whaiapu 23.1DQ

Vets

1st Craig Morton 27.52

2nd David Hodge 28.1

3rd Pete McCabe 33.3

Best Local

1st Terry Midson 20.6

2nd Gary Sobye 21.3

3rd Reuben Sobye 21.5