Dating back to 1972, the National Shearing Circuit is a prestigious competition celebrating excellence in the skill of shearing. PGG Wrightson has stood as a principal sponsor for two decades.
A longstanding partnership forged in 2001 between PGG Wrightson and the event has been sustained, evolving into a collaborative sponsorship with Vetmed, a notable figure in the realm of animal health products. As a result, the event will be proudly titled the PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit.
The competition spans five rounds, commencing in Alexandra during October with the fine wool section. The journey then progresses to Waimate for full wool hoggets, followed by the Corriedales stage in Christchurch in November. Come Waitangi Day, the focus shifts to lambs in Rangitikei, culminating in February's final leg in Pahiatua with second shears.
Culminating in Masterton, the circuit's pinnacle sees the top 12 shearers, determined by their accumulated points across the five rounds, competing on the eve of the Golden Shears.
2024/2025 Shearing Circuit dates
| VENUE | DATE |
CHAMPIONSHIP | BREED |
| Alexandra | 4-5 October 2024 |
NZ Merino Shearing Championships | Merino |
| Waimate | 11-12 October 2024 |
NZ Spring Shears | Romney Full Wool |
| Christchurch | 14-15 November 2024 |
NZ Corriedale Shearing/Woolhandling Championships | Corriedale |
| Marton | 1 February 2025 |
Rangitikei Shears | Romney Lambs |
| Pahiatua | 23 February 2025 |
Pahiatua Shears | Romney Second Shear |
| Masterton | 27 February - 1 March 2025 |
Golden Shears | Multi Breeds |
National Shearing Circuit News
Video or image
Canterbury Shears: The show must go on
The Canterbury Shears’ national Corriedale shearing and woolhandling championships are confirmed to take place in November, despite the Canterbury A&P Society's decision to cancel the New Zealand Agricultural Show. Despite the decision not to host the show this year, shearing and other sections have...
Video or image
Nathan Stratford drives off in new car after PGG Wrightson/Vetmed Shearing Victory
Nathan Stratford, the multi-breeds shearing legend, added another feather to his cap as he was awarded a brand-new Hyundai Santa Fe for a year at a presentation held at PGG Wrightson in Invercargill. This event marked his third victory of the PGG Wrightson/Vetmed National Shearing Circuit, a feat...
Video or image
PGG Wrightson extends National Shearing sponsorship to 45 years
PGG Wrightson has extended its sponsorship of one of shearing’s most prestigious and demanding events. Established in 1973, the PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit pits the top shearers against each other based on versatility over five separate rounds. In terms of competitive shearing...
Video or image
Nathan Stratford shines again taking out his third PGG Wrightson/Vetmed National Shearing Circuit
Nathan Stratford, a multi-breeds shearing legend, has once again claimed victory at the prestigious PGG Wrightson/Vetmed National Shearing Circuit, securing his third win at the Golden Shears in Masterton on Saturday night. Setting a New Zealand record with 18 trans-Tasman tests under his belt since...
Video or image
Wool Report: Insights into market resilience and industry trends
In a recent interview with Rowena Duncum from The Country, Grant Edwards, the General Manager of Wool at PGG Wrightson, provided valuable insights into the current state of the wool market and highlighted significant developments within the industry. Market Overview Grant Edwards began by discussing...
Video or image
Nathan Stratford's quest for trans-Tasman glory in the PGG Wrightson / Vetmed National Shearing Circuit
New Zealand’s most experienced trans-Tasman test-match shearer is set to go another round as favourite to win the PGG Wrightson / Vetmed National Shearing Circuit. With one preliminary round remaining, on second-shear sheep at the Pahiatua Shears on Sunday, Southland gun Nathan Stratford is...
Video or image
Two wins, a service award, flying, a road trip - the weekend of right honourable Stratty
Prolific winning Southland shearing legend Nathan Stratford has won a lot of titles in more than 30 years of competition shearing but still had time for something different at the Canterbury Shears’ New Zealand Corriedale shearing and woolhandling championships in Christchurch on Thursday and Friday...
Video or image
Nathan Stratford on target for 20th National Shearing Circuit final
Two-times National Shearing Circuit champion Nathan Stratford has set sail for a possible 20th final in the annual all-breeds championship with maximum points in the first three rounds of the 2023-2024 PGG Wrightson/Vetmed series. The Southland gun first reached the final in 2000, when it was won by...
Video or image
Southland gun Samuels makes it a double
Southland shearer and New Zealand representative Leon Samuels completed a double of the traditional first two titles of the shearing sports season when he reclaimed the Waimate Spring Shearing Championship open shearing title in Waimate on Saturday. Samuels, winner of the national fine wool...
Video or image
Canterbury Shears: The show must go on
The Canterbury Shears’ national Corriedale shearing and woolhandling championships are confirmed to take place in November, despite the Canterbury A&P Society's decision to cancel the New Zealand Agricultural Show. Despite the decision not to host the show this year, shearing and other sections have...
Video or image
Nathan Stratford drives off in new car after PGG Wrightson/Vetmed Shearing Victory
Nathan Stratford, the multi-breeds shearing legend, added another feather to his cap as he was awarded a brand-new Hyundai Santa Fe for a year at a presentation held at PGG Wrightson in Invercargill. This event marked his third victory of the PGG Wrightson/Vetmed National Shearing Circuit, a feat...
Video or image
PGG Wrightson extends National Shearing sponsorship to 45 years
PGG Wrightson has extended its sponsorship of one of shearing’s most prestigious and demanding events. Established in 1973, the PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit pits the top shearers against each other based on versatility over five separate rounds. In terms of competitive shearing...
Video or image
Nathan Stratford shines again taking out his third PGG Wrightson/Vetmed National Shearing Circuit
Nathan Stratford, a multi-breeds shearing legend, has once again claimed victory at the prestigious PGG Wrightson/Vetmed National Shearing Circuit, securing his third win at the Golden Shears in Masterton on Saturday night. Setting a New Zealand record with 18 trans-Tasman tests under his belt since...
Video or image
Wool Report: Insights into market resilience and industry trends
In a recent interview with Rowena Duncum from The Country, Grant Edwards, the General Manager of Wool at PGG Wrightson, provided valuable insights into the current state of the wool market and highlighted significant developments within the industry. Market Overview Grant Edwards began by discussing...
Video or image
Nathan Stratford's quest for trans-Tasman glory in the PGG Wrightson / Vetmed National Shearing Circuit
New Zealand’s most experienced trans-Tasman test-match shearer is set to go another round as favourite to win the PGG Wrightson / Vetmed National Shearing Circuit. With one preliminary round remaining, on second-shear sheep at the Pahiatua Shears on Sunday, Southland gun Nathan Stratford is...
Video or image
Two wins, a service award, flying, a road trip - the weekend of right honourable Stratty
Prolific winning Southland shearing legend Nathan Stratford has won a lot of titles in more than 30 years of competition shearing but still had time for something different at the Canterbury Shears’ New Zealand Corriedale shearing and woolhandling championships in Christchurch on Thursday and Friday...
Video or image
Nathan Stratford on target for 20th National Shearing Circuit final
Two-times National Shearing Circuit champion Nathan Stratford has set sail for a possible 20th final in the annual all-breeds championship with maximum points in the first three rounds of the 2023-2024 PGG Wrightson/Vetmed series. The Southland gun first reached the final in 2000, when it was won by...
Video or image
Southland gun Samuels makes it a double
Southland shearer and New Zealand representative Leon Samuels completed a double of the traditional first two titles of the shearing sports season when he reclaimed the Waimate Spring Shearing Championship open shearing title in Waimate on Saturday. Samuels, winner of the national fine wool...