The annual test, keenly contested by Australia and New Zealand shearers for the past 55 years, pits the three best shearers from each country over six Merino wethers, three full-wool Romneys and three ‘second shear’ Romneys (with half-a-year’s growth). Penalty points are awarded for time, second cut and skin cut infractions, so the lowest point score wins.

Mr McIntyre said the Australians always aim to be 1.5 sheep ahead of the Merino component once shearing is underway, as the New Zealanders are more accustomed to shearing Romneys. The Australian team achieved that goal to win overall.

The test was part of the Golden Shears event – one of the biggest in the world – held in Masterton. Mr McIntyre said there were 3000 people watching in the stadium and a further 20,000 – mostly in Australia and the UK – watching the on-line stream over the internet.

Mc Intyre said he didn’t do too well shearing the Romneys in the lead-up open competition at the Golden Shears, but his performance in the test secured him the title of best shearer and the Joseph Paewai Memorial Trophy for best quality points.

He was a clear winner on 84.682 points. The Australian team’s total was 260.81, bettering the home team’s score of 280.21

The scorecard now stands at 28 wins for New Zealand and 27 wins for Australia. Mr McIntyre suspects quite a bit of money was lost by those gambling on this year’s outcome as New Zealand was a keen favourite.

The teams will meet again at the Australian National Shearing Titles in October.

Mr McIntyre made the NSW team through his win in the open category at last year’s Dubbo Show, going on to make the national team as one of the country’s top three shearers, along with Shannon Warnest of South Australia and Jason Winfield of Victoria.

He said he gets in plenty of practice, shearing most of the year at a rate of around 225 sheep a day. On selection, though, he adds in some cardio fitness training.

“Your heart rate gets up to 145-150 (beats per minute) in the shearing shed,” he said.

“In competition it could be that before you start, and then peak at 180.”

The New Zealand trip was a second honeymoon of sorts for him and wife Jammie who celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary on February 28, the middle day of the three-day competition.

“And they made sure everyone in the stadium knew it,” he said.

Much of the week around the competition was spent practice shearing and checking out shearing sheds, although Mr McIntyre said a highlight of the trip was a visit to the Castle Point Races, where the horses run along the beach.

Next on his agenda is another win at the Dubbo Show in early May to qualify for this year’s state team. It’s his last chance as Inverell, one of the other qualifying shows, was on while he was away.

His national team mates are off to Ireland for the world championships (only the top two national representatives go to the ‘worlds’, he holds the third position). Mr McIntyre, though, has his eye set on the next world championships set for 2016, ironically back in Australia.

He competed at the world championships once before, in 2005, when they were held in Toowoomba. At that time he came runner-up, to his teammate Shannon Warnest.