February 8, 2026 • 6 mins
We catch up with shearer Rowland Smith, who has just made the Shearing Sports New Zealand team for the 2026 Golden Shears World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Roland Smith. Congratulations on making the New Zealand side for
the World Sharing Champs. No doubt you'll be keen to
repeat that twenty fourteen victory.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Good afternoon, Good afternoon, Jamie. Yeah, cheers mate. It was
the brutal old battle at Martin on the weekend, so yeah,
pretty leeved to actually make the team. So it's yeah good.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
So six of you had to share off for one
spot and it was similar I think with the wall
handling where Marika Braddock of Eketahuna got to join Joel Hennahray.
Of course you joined Tower Henderson and the New Zealand team.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Yeah, that's right, it was both. Both selection finals were
held at Martin in the afternoon on Saturday, and what
an awesome job they did. The line of sheet they
had for us was awesome. They so it's exactly how
the world final will be. It was ten four wall,
ten second share what we had to do in the
final and it was Yeah. They were strong, physical sheep
(00:57):
and I think everybody came off there pretty better than bruised.
And you know, everything was left out on the board,
which is good to see.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
You didn't get home by that much.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
No, no, it was half a point back to Hemi Braddock,
So yeah, very very close the whole. I like say, everybody,
you know, there's nothing left in anyone. It means a
lot to all of them. And the hardest, well, one
of one of the hardest things in our country is
making our team on two shares can represent it the world.
So you know, every top open sharer is fighting for
(01:28):
that black single. You know, it's pretty awesome to be
a part of.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
You mentioned Hemi Braddock, any relation per chance to Marika.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Pretty sure their brother and sister and it was her
sister last time in Scotland that was representing New Zealand.
So yeah, the what a power house family in the
sharing industry.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
You are going to be pairing up with Toyer Henderson,
who has been over the past couple of seasons anyhow,
the form sharer in New Zealand sharing.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Yes, yeah, yeah, Northland boys. So you know, obviously I'm
from the far and off as well, about twenty minutes
away from where Tour is and sort of grew up
sharing together, worked for his dad and stuff when I
was a young guy. And yeah, what a powerhouse Share
of Tour is such a awesome to watch. He's explosive
and you know, exciting. So now I'm super lucky to
have him as my teammate. I'm really looking forward to
(02:18):
that team's event and try and bring it home.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Yeah, well, you'd have to start as reasonably hot favorite,
so I think in New Zealand conditions to win the
team title. But you are also after the individual title.
You'll not only have to head off your teammate, you're
going to head have to head off your brother who's
sharing it for England.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Yeah yeah, yeah, No, Matt's over here at the moment.
He's actually staying at home, so I might be able
to throw a few sneaky punches in there and the
ribs that beforehand. But no, it's pretty awesome to be
a part of family like that. And you know, it's
great to see him part of the team, and you know,
he's proud, he's proud to live where he is now.
His family's all brought up over there, and he's super
(02:58):
excited to be here. And he's definitely a big threat.
He is very good for wall sharer and he's a
very powerful shareer, so there's no mistaking that he's certainly
here to try and win.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
So what does the next month hold for you, because
it's just over well just under four weeks till Golden
Shares and World Champs weekend at Masterton and the Memorial
Hall there. The roof will be quite literally lifted off.
But I know, let's be honest, roll and you'd sooner
be puddling around on your digger or driving attractive and
sharing these days, wouldn't you.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yeah, it was a hard decision to actually make to
compete in the final. It was I. You know, if
I it was lucky enough to make the team, it's
certainly going to make the next four weeks extremely hard.
We're busy time of the air for us, lots of
lambs coming on soon, We've got some lands on still
and all the new grass is going in at the moment,
starting this week. So we're certainly tapped out, if you
(03:54):
want to call it that. And I don't share anymore
at all, so I'm definitely going to have to try
and share some sheep, and yeah, keep training and be
as fit as I can be. It's certainly not as
easy as when I was a full time share. It's
a second nature and you naturally fit, but definitely definitely
not calling myself fit or a natural share anymore.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
So I'm assuming and I know that Dave, Sir David Fagan,
towards the end of his career didn't do many I
hope I'm not speaking out of turn here, didn't do
many full days in the shed. You've got to train
yourself for twenty sheep, not eight hundred.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Yeah, exactly, it does. It didn't, but like that, you
can shoot out to the shed and do an hour's
work and it all sort of comes rushing back to here.
But I've been out of the shed that long now,
it's sort of a not second nature anymore. So if
I can, I will get a few days of sharing
him to try and make it nice and snappy again.
(04:51):
It's like anything, you know, the more prepared we can be,
the less there's no room for mistakes at the end.
So now I'm definitely taking it pretty fair, seem pretty
pretty proud to be putting net flex thing let on
for potentially the last time.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
So yeah, well it's we've we talked about Lindsay Vaughn
going down on a Blazer glory. This is your chance,
quite literally, I think it's the last chance to learn
for you to go out on a blazer glory.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Yeah, yeah, certainly, certainly not looking at doing too much
or more of it, so you know it is it
is a huge honor to put that thing let on
and to you know, to be able to finally have
a crack it and seeing at the world. You know,
we're titled how good is that? You know they're our
sheep and you know we brought out sharing them, which
(05:38):
is going to be Yeah, it's going to be pretty
pretty exciting and I'm really looking forward to it.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
And how good's farming and hawks by at the moment
Roland Smith, after that brain you've had recently.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Yeah, certainly looking gooder than it's look. It's said as
early days yet every can be an interesting month and
so can March. But yeah, now the drill drills come
out of the shed this week, so we'll well some
are fellow How good that you getting all that rain
on our some are fellow ground So we can start
chilling now, which is pretty awesome. I've certainly been given
(06:10):
a bit of a hand at the moment.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Well, Roland Smith, We're very proud of you, along with TOA. Henderson,
the Sharers representing us in the World Championships and Joel
hannahra and Marika Braddock as well in the war handling.
It's going to be fantastic, can't wait.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Yeah, awesome, looking forward to it mate, and we'll keep
in touch.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Good on you. There we go. Roland Smith added to
the New Zealand Sharing team for the World Sharing Championships
in Marsterton in early March.
Roland Smith. Congratulations on making the New Zealand side for
the World Sharing Champs. No doubt you'll be keen to
repeat that twenty fourteen victory.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Good afternoon, Good afternoon, Jamie. Yeah, cheers mate. It was
the brutal old battle at Martin on the weekend, so yeah,
pretty leeved to actually make the team. So it's yeah good.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
So six of you had to share off for one
spot and it was similar I think with the wall
handling where Marika Braddock of Eketahuna got to join Joel Hennahray.
Of course you joined Tower Henderson and the New Zealand team.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Yeah, that's right, it was both. Both selection finals were
held at Martin in the afternoon on Saturday, and what
an awesome job they did. The line of sheet they
had for us was awesome. They so it's exactly how
the world final will be. It was ten four wall,
ten second share what we had to do in the
final and it was Yeah. They were strong, physical sheep
(00:57):
and I think everybody came off there pretty better than bruised.
And you know, everything was left out on the board,
which is good to see.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
You didn't get home by that much.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
No, no, it was half a point back to Hemi Braddock,
So yeah, very very close the whole. I like say, everybody,
you know, there's nothing left in anyone. It means a
lot to all of them. And the hardest, well, one
of one of the hardest things in our country is
making our team on two shares can represent it the world.
So you know, every top open sharer is fighting for
(01:28):
that black single. You know, it's pretty awesome to be
a part of.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
You mentioned Hemi Braddock, any relation per chance to Marika.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Pretty sure their brother and sister and it was her
sister last time in Scotland that was representing New Zealand.
So yeah, the what a power house family in the
sharing industry.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
You are going to be pairing up with Toyer Henderson,
who has been over the past couple of seasons anyhow,
the form sharer in New Zealand sharing.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Yes, yeah, yeah, Northland boys. So you know, obviously I'm
from the far and off as well, about twenty minutes
away from where Tour is and sort of grew up
sharing together, worked for his dad and stuff when I
was a young guy. And yeah, what a powerhouse Share
of Tour is such a awesome to watch. He's explosive
and you know, exciting. So now I'm super lucky to
have him as my teammate. I'm really looking forward to
(02:18):
that team's event and try and bring it home.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Yeah, well, you'd have to start as reasonably hot favorite,
so I think in New Zealand conditions to win the
team title. But you are also after the individual title.
You'll not only have to head off your teammate, you're
going to head have to head off your brother who's
sharing it for England.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Yeah yeah, yeah, No, Matt's over here at the moment.
He's actually staying at home, so I might be able
to throw a few sneaky punches in there and the
ribs that beforehand. But no, it's pretty awesome to be
a part of family like that. And you know, it's
great to see him part of the team, and you know,
he's proud, he's proud to live where he is now.
His family's all brought up over there, and he's super
(02:58):
excited to be here. And he's definitely a big threat.
He is very good for wall sharer and he's a
very powerful shareer, so there's no mistaking that he's certainly
here to try and win.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
So what does the next month hold for you, because
it's just over well just under four weeks till Golden
Shares and World Champs weekend at Masterton and the Memorial
Hall there. The roof will be quite literally lifted off.
But I know, let's be honest, roll and you'd sooner
be puddling around on your digger or driving attractive and
sharing these days, wouldn't you.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yeah, it was a hard decision to actually make to
compete in the final. It was I. You know, if
I it was lucky enough to make the team, it's
certainly going to make the next four weeks extremely hard.
We're busy time of the air for us, lots of
lambs coming on soon, We've got some lands on still
and all the new grass is going in at the moment,
starting this week. So we're certainly tapped out, if you
(03:54):
want to call it that. And I don't share anymore
at all, so I'm definitely going to have to try
and share some sheep, and yeah, keep training and be
as fit as I can be. It's certainly not as
easy as when I was a full time share. It's
a second nature and you naturally fit, but definitely definitely
not calling myself fit or a natural share anymore.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
So I'm assuming and I know that Dave, Sir David Fagan,
towards the end of his career didn't do many I
hope I'm not speaking out of turn here, didn't do
many full days in the shed. You've got to train
yourself for twenty sheep, not eight hundred.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Yeah, exactly, it does. It didn't, but like that, you
can shoot out to the shed and do an hour's
work and it all sort of comes rushing back to here.
But I've been out of the shed that long now,
it's sort of a not second nature anymore. So if
I can, I will get a few days of sharing
him to try and make it nice and snappy again.
(04:51):
It's like anything, you know, the more prepared we can be,
the less there's no room for mistakes at the end.
So now I'm definitely taking it pretty fair, seem pretty
pretty proud to be putting net flex thing let on
for potentially the last time.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
So yeah, well it's we've we talked about Lindsay Vaughn
going down on a Blazer glory. This is your chance,
quite literally, I think it's the last chance to learn
for you to go out on a blazer glory.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Yeah, yeah, certainly, certainly not looking at doing too much
or more of it, so you know it is it
is a huge honor to put that thing let on
and to you know, to be able to finally have
a crack it and seeing at the world. You know,
we're titled how good is that? You know they're our
sheep and you know we brought out sharing them, which
(05:38):
is going to be Yeah, it's going to be pretty
pretty exciting and I'm really looking forward to it.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
And how good's farming and hawks by at the moment
Roland Smith, after that brain you've had recently.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Yeah, certainly looking gooder than it's look. It's said as
early days yet every can be an interesting month and
so can March. But yeah, now the drill drills come
out of the shed this week, so we'll well some
are fellow How good that you getting all that rain
on our some are fellow ground So we can start
chilling now, which is pretty awesome. I've certainly been given
(06:10):
a bit of a hand at the moment.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Well, Roland Smith, We're very proud of you, along with TOA. Henderson,
the Sharers representing us in the World Championships and Joel
hannahra and Marika Braddock as well in the war handling.
It's going to be fantastic, can't wait.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Yeah, awesome, looking forward to it mate, and we'll keep
in touch.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Good on you. There we go. Roland Smith added to
the New Zealand Sharing team for the World Sharing Championships
in Marsterton in early March.
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