Mr Warnest, along with 200 other shearers and wool handlers from across Australia and New Zealand, were in town for the National Shearing and Wool Handling Championships.

The 11-time national champion competed in the seventh and final heat on Friday shearing four sheep as fast and clean as possible. 

With a stellar time, he advanced to the finals on Saturday and eventually took top spot.

Mr Warnest holds two world titles and runs a ‘learning shearing and wool handling school’ through TAFE.

Meanwhile, Sophie Huff of Victoria won the Somerset Engineering Open Wool Handling.

Miss Huff was against 30-odd other wool handlers and had to handle three fleece to make the finals.

Warialda Pastoral and Agricultural Association president David Coulton highlighted the Trans-Tas test on Friday evening against Australia and New Zealand.

“I’ve never seen fleece come off a sheep faster. The men were powering through on Friday.”

He said Australia was lead by Daniel McIntyre from Glen Innes in New South Wales.

“We don’t win against the kiwis often and it was a fierce competition but Australia triumphed,” he said.

The score was 291-308 judged by a complex system of penalties and mathematical equations.

“Another highlight from the weekend was the state competition which New South Wales won.”

Eight hundred Lemani Merino stud were provided by Steve Symons from Ashford, 460-cross breeds and 700 Merinos were provided by Bareela Pastoral Barraba and a couple hundred came from Barwick Partnership in Gravesend.

“On Friday we held the heats and Saturday saw the semi-finals, finals and the national teams compete. Each event was hotly contested. We had the best of the best on show.”

Spectators were out and about on Saturday, cheering on local competitors and supporting their overseas favourites. “I cannot begin to describe the atmosphere on Saturday.

“The P and A were very proud to be given the honour to host this event and I want to thank everyone who helped.

“Overall it was a spectacular event.”