Welsh shearers Gwion Jones and Ian Jones were possibly the surprise packet as they qualified in fourth place for tonight's teams final at the World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships in Invercargill.
Regarded as a new team and one for the future, they also shore in the individual semi-finals, where they were eliminated from the title race.
The six finalists for the individual machine shearing title, the glamour event, include three favourites, two of them among the three finalists who also shore in the 2014 final in Ireland, and World lamb shearing records holder Ivan Scvott, of Ireland.
Regarded as a new team and one for the future, they also shore in the individual semi-finals, where they were eliminated from the title race.
The six finalists for the individual machine shearing title, the glamour event, include three favourites, two of them among the three finalists who also shore in the 2014 final in Ireland, and World lamb shearing records holder Ivan Scvott, of Ireland.
Qualifiers for the machine shearing final: John Kirkpatrick (New Zealand), Gavin Mutch (Scotland), Nathan Stratford (New Zealand), Ivan Scott (Ireland), Jack Robinson (Northern Ireland), Hamish Mitchell (Scotland)
Qualifiers for the Machine Shearing teams final: New Zealand (John Kirkpatrick/Nathan Stratford), Scotland (Hamish Mitchell/Gavin Mutch), Wales (Gwion Evans/Ian Jones), Northern Ireland (Ian Montgomery/Jack Robinson), Ireland (Stranley Allingham/Ivan Scott), Australia (Shannon Warnest/Jason Wingfield).
Qualifiers for blade shearing individual final: Mayenserke Shweni (South Affrica), Tony Dobbs (New Zealand), Phil Oldfield (New Zealand), Bangani Joel (South SAfrica), Ken French (Australia), Johnathon Dalla (Australia)
Qualifiers for the Machine Shearing teams final: New Zealand (John Kirkpatrick/Nathan Stratford), Scotland (Hamish Mitchell/Gavin Mutch), Wales (Gwion Evans/Ian Jones), Northern Ireland (Ian Montgomery/Jack Robinson), Ireland (Stranley Allingham/Ivan Scott), Australia (Shannon Warnest/Jason Wingfield).
Qualifiers for blade shearing individual final: Mayenserke Shweni (South Affrica), Tony Dobbs (New Zealand), Phil Oldfield (New Zealand), Bangani Joel (South SAfrica), Ken French (Australia), Johnathon Dalla (Australia)