A King Country schoolboy has won the novice shearing title at the Golden Shears competition in Masteron.
Josh Balme, 13, is the son of veteran shearer Digger Balme who has competed in Golden Shears Open finals and is back again for another tilt at the title this year.
He shares the honour of being the youngest champion in Golden Shears history with Masterton's David Gordon, who won the title in 2010 also at the age of 13.
At the other end of the age spectrum, New Zealand's most successful shearer David Fagan is seeking his 17th Golden Shears open title, at the age of 50.
On Wednesday, Anne-Marie Kahukura, 20, of Omakau in Southland won the Junior woolhandling title and Fiona Christensen retained the senior title she won last year.
World championship events running in tandem with the Golden Shears start on Thursday.