The 2024 State Finals took place in Bendigo alongside the Australian Sheep and Wool Show. The weekend showcased some impressive performances in shearing and wool handling.

Saturday featured the Northern Central Sport Shear competition, marking the season’s first event. Josh excelled in this competition, qualifying first in his heat and semi-final before clinching the win in the final. Reflecting on his performance, Josh commented, “Saturday didn’t go as planned, but I used it as a practice run for Sunday.”

Sunday highlighted the Victorian Circuit Final. Josh continued his outstanding performance by top-qualifying in the semi-final and securing his third consecutive state open shearing win. Meanwhile, Kirsty achieved a strong fourth place in the semi-final, which earned her a spot in the final. She then triumphed in the final, marking her second consecutive win in the open state wool handling final. This also signifies the second year in a row that both siblings have won the title together.

Both Josh and Kirsty have earned their places in the Victorian Team for the Nationals in Katanning, WA, this October. They will be competing for a spot in the Australian Team, which will represent Australia at the World Titles next year. Currently ranked third in the country, Josh aims to secure another win and continue his representation of Australia. Kirsty’s dream is to join her brother in the Australian Team. “My ultimate dream is to stand in green and gold with my brother. It’s a long and challenging journey, but we invest a lot of time, money, and practice into these goals. Hopefully, this year could be our breakthrough.”

This article appeared in the Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 24 July 2024.