City and country folk alike are invited to cheer on top shearers from throughout New Zealand and abroad as they make wool fly in efforts to beat their personal best times at next weekend's Te Puna Speed Shear Competition.

A shearer shearing a sheep.

Hosted by the Te Puna Hunting and Fishing Club and major sponsor Farmlands, the event is back on Saturday, January 17, celebrating its 15^th year.

Spokesperson Maree Morton says more than 400 people usually flock to watch the high-pitched hype as shearers try to cut their personal shearing records to win prize money.

'A lot of the city folk have never seen a sheep being shorn – and to come and see these guys do it in 18 seconds is just spectacular.”

Maree says the fastest time in NZ shearing sports is about 16.9 seconds 'on a seriously good day” – and the Te Puna competitors won't be far behind.

'Normally these guys will get it done in around 19 to 21 seconds – they're absolutely moving.”

Maree says rural regulars, including retired shearers and farmers, come to watch too.

'It's a lot of hard work – and the event can be very loud,” says Maree. 'Our MC Digger Balme has come every year and he know all the shearers, he's a shearer himself and has competed in nine Golden Shears Open finals – so he really gets the crowd going.”

The contest is held the same day as Tauranga A&P Show, with many shearers competing at both events.

Starting 5pm, entry to Te Puna Farmland's speed shear is a gold coin with live music from Journey Men.

The Speed Shear classes are veterans of 55 years-plus, senior and open.

'Jim McDonald is over 75 years old who competes in the veterans every year – and the opens are the fast guys.” Plus there's a prize for the best local who has the fastest time over all categories.

Maree says speed shearing is a great spectator sport and she encourages everyone to come along and get up close to the action.

'Top prize for open is $2000, and top prize for senior is $1000 donated by a great group of sponsors.”

There's a Stihl chainsaw raffle, meat raffles and plenty of spot prizes.” The 2015 Farmlands Te Puna Speed Shear starts 5pm at the Top Shot Pub, with prizegiving about 10.30pm.

To find out more, call John Dalziel (Worzel) on 027 577 2632 or Gary Sobye on 027 472 0014 or email tepunahuntfishclub@gmail.com