At the end of February, the South African blade shearing team set up a training camp in Pongaroa, ahead of the world championships to be held in association with the 2012 Golden Shears festival.
Hosted by Tony and Falyn Hoggard, the team practiced in varioius local sheds before giving demonstrations at the Pongaroa Hotel and at Pongaroa School.
The practice paid off as the visitors once again cleaned up at the tournament.
The Champion Blade Shearing Team with pupils from Pongaroa School

World Champion 1998 - 2000 - 2008 and now 2012 Zweliwile Hans shows his skill with the blades

A little dance before shearing commences