EACH year the Farm Weekly Shears showcases tireless hard work, God-given talent and unwavering dedication to the shearing industry - this year was no different.
Despite the fact numbers were down which forced the Make Smoking History Williams Gateway Expo shearing organisers to remove the intermediate and senior divisions from the regular program, those who participated in the novice, under 21 and open competition did so whole heartedly.
Three gun shearers contested Tambellup local and WA shearing icon Damien Boyle's open title which he took from the previous winner Mark Buscumb, Williams, in 2015.
It was a hard-hitting competition between the four men - Richard Sturis, Manjimup, Todd Wegner, Nungarin, Callum O'Brien, Pingelly and Damien Boyle.
But try as the trio might, their efforts weren't quite enough and by the end of the heats and the division final (where he shore the first of his 10 sheep in one minute and 20 seconds) Damien Boyle remained the title holder with a score of 64.80 and 16 minute overall time.
Mr Boyle edged out Mr O'Brien who finished second with a score of 68.20 (15m 06s), Mr Wegner who finished third on 70.75 (14m 33s) and Mr Sturis who took fourth place with 127.85 (17m 19s).
The first heat of the under 21 competition in which competitors were made to shear four dry sheep each also made for interesting watching as brothers Jayden and Lachlan Smith, Cranbrook, battled it out for bragging rights.
The pair recently came through the novice category and this year marked the first time entered in the under 21 competition.
The brothers went blow for blow right up to the beginning of the second round which saw Caleb Rodney and Rawiri Tawhiao, Katanning, take to their handpieces.
Mr Tawhiao had a solid lead in the final heat but a plain-bodied sheep from Mr Rodney's catching pen soon sent him shooting into the lead as far as the clock was concerned.
In the end it was Mr Rodney who took home the generous cash haul for first prize with an overall score of 86.90 and time of nine minutes and 23 seconds.
Jayden Smith took out second place with a score of 92.50 (14m 15s), while Mr Tawhiao scooped third with 168.15 (10m 3s) and Lachlan Smith fourth on 198.30 (13m 21s).
This year's shears saw the novice division attract two young shearers - two less than last year.
The category requires competitors to shear one sheep and is open to those who are less experienced or have shorn less than 5000 sheep in their lifetime.
The category also has no time penalties.
WA College of Agriculture, Harvey, student and recent recipient of the year 11 Neville Munns Memorial Encouragement Shearing Award, Danielle Mauger, was the only female shearer in the competition.
She pipped fellow novice shearer and WA College of Agriculture, Cunderdin, student Bailey McDonnell in the final with a score of 74.00.
Mr McDonnell finished on 90.00.
Chief adjudicator and WA shearing industry veteran Kevin Lawrence said he couldn't be more proud of the young up-and-comers who competed on the day.
"They did a mighty job - in fact everybody did," he said.
"Considering some of the sheep were a bit tough the shearing was of an outstanding quality right across the board.
"Overall the day went very well, it's just a bit disappointing that our numbers were down this year."
Competition organiser Gavin Fowler was also disappointed with the lack of numbers but said it wasn't enough to dampen the spirits of those involved or discourage them from returning next year (hopefully with a few friends in toe).
"One hundred sheep were shorn today and everybody did an excellent job," he said.
"Many thanks must go to the Expo staff who were involved, the volunteer wool classers and rouseabouts as well as the WA Shearing Industry Association for all of its generosity."
Mr Fowler also thanked Farm Weekly, BP Williams, Chris Hogg, Narrogin Cabinets, K & L Medlen, S & B Schulz, Heiniger, Crackers Contracting, S & R Cowcher, T & K Kokich, Ross Flynn, Ben Kealy (Landmark Williams), Williams Stud Breeders, AWI, Williams Woolshed, West Coast Wools, P & H Williamson and Cliff Hall for their ongoing support.
