Best shearers in the state crowned

In stunning new facilities the best sports shearers and wool handlers in the state ramped up the energy at Campbell Town Show.

Huge crowds packed the $1.5 million Centre of Excellence for Shearing and Wool Handling for its first major event since opening late last year, with seven stands showcasing the best in the business while more sheep than ever before were shorn.

The state finals on Friday saw Sam Byers of Ross continue his dominance, winning the open final, while Jess Whatley of Western Creek also demonstrated her speed and consistency, taking out the woolhandling championship.

Also taking home championship titles were: Senior Shear winner Emily Spencer, Senior Woolhandling winner Ashlee McConnon, Intermediate Shear winner Will Grey, Novice Wool winner Olivia Mae and  Novice Shear winner Jayden Bowerman.

The Tim Fish memorial senior shearing winner was James “Bobcat” Spencer from Cressy, the novice shearing Tim Hughes Memorial winner was Brodie McGuinness and Jess Whatley topped off a great show with the Jan Flood Memorial Trophy.

Byers backed up on the Saturday for the start of the 2026/2027 season to win the open shearing finals – a marathon task where 16 sheep were shorn instead of the traditional eight-10, all in under 30 minutes.

With the pressure on, Byers managed his lot in 23 minutes – the final time combining with points for the quality of the job putting him just in front of brother Jack in second place and Robbie Glover in third.

The 26-year-old said it was a great setup in the new shed. “It was easier to move the sheep in and out and the new machines were good to use,” he said.“Having a new wool press also meant it was easy to get the wool ready to go back to local farmer David Taylor who supplied the sheep.”

Byers will contest the Nationals for the fifth time in open class and will be aiming to replicate last year’s performance and join the Australian team.

Runner up in the Open Shearing was New South Wales’ Nikki Gutler, one of only three females, including Tasmanian Nikita Jamson, on the boards.

Kristy Bone of Nhill, Victoria, won the open woolhandling section followed by Tasmanian Victoria Lang.

Other winners were James Spencer in the senior shearing, Maia Rauhina in the senior woolhandling, Nikita Jamson in the intermediate shearing, Brodie McGuiness in the novice shearing and Jessie Spencer in the novice woolhandling.

The Tasmanian team heading to the Nationals in Warrnambool in October will be: Sam Byers, Jack Byers, Robbie Glover, Jess Whatley, Tiff Collins, Victoria Lang, Emily Spencer, Isaac Palmer, Ashlee McCohbnnon, Georgina Viney, Will Grey, Bayley McCarthy, Olivia Mae, Gemma McGuinness, Jayden Bowerman, Tom Mathews.

Also heading to the nationals are shearing manager Jackson Jones, shearing judges Shane Bryant and James Spencer, wool manager Amelia Byers, and wool judges Nikkita Panton and Sam Baker.