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Heiniger Premier League of Shearing 2026

The Heiniger Premier League brings together some of the best shearers in the country for a season-long battle across seven of the UK’s biggest shows.

From Balmoral to Corwen, competitors will go head-to-head throughout the season, earning points at every round as they chase consistency, speed, quality and the ultimate goal – being crowned Heiniger Premier League Champion.

Alongside the established names, the league also creates opportunities for the next generation, with wildcard entries designed to support rising talent and showcase the future of competitive shearing.

Follow the standings, results, fixtures and latest updates throughout the season right here.

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Premier League Table

Place Shearer Nationality Balmoral Show Staffordshire Three Counties Highland Lochearnhead Royal Welsh Corwen Total
1st Gethin Lewis Welsh 0 16 16 5 14 51
2nd Llyr Jones Welsh 10 8 12 10 5 45
3rd Gwion Evans Welsh 12 10 10 12 0 44
4th Jack Robinson Northern Ireland 6 14 5 5 12 42
5th Richard Jones Welsh 16 12 8 5 0 41
6th Callum Shaw Scotland 0 5 4 16 16 41
7th Matt Smith English 0 5 14 14 0 33
8th Gareth Daniel Welsh 4 5 5 8 0 22
9th Hamish Mitchell Scotland 5 0 0 7 8 20
10th Nick Greaves English 14 0 0 0 0 14
11th Henry Mayo English 4 4 5 0 0 13
12th Ilan Jones Welsh 0 4 4 4 0 12
2026 Open Rankings*

* Updated 1st July 2026. Please note, some competition results are still incomplete as we wait for full results to be published.

Rounds

ROUND 1 – Balmoral Show

ROUND 2 – Staffordshire County Show

ROUND 3 – Royal Three Counties Show

ROUND 4 – Royal Highland Show

ROUND 5 – Lochearnhead Shears

ROUND 6 – Royal Welsh Show

ROUND 7 –  Cneifio Corwen Shears

Open Rankings - Official Scoring & Rules

Open Rankings – Official Scoring & Rules

1. Purpose

The Open Rankings system provides a fair and transparent method of ranking shearers
across all open-class competitions throughout the season.

2. How Points Are Earned

Points are awarded based on:

  • Event category (A, B and C shows)
  • Finishing position

3. Points Structure

A Show – Points Allocation

Position Points
1st 20
2nd 16
3rd 13
4th 10
5th 8
6th 6
Outside 6th 3

B Show – Points Allocation

Position Points
1st 14
2nd 12
3rd 10
4th 8
5th 6
6th 4
Outside 6th 2

C Show – Points Allocation

Position Points
1st 8
2nd 6
3rd 4
4th 2
5th 2
6th 1
Outside 6th 1

Additional Points

Achievement Points
Fastest Time in Final 2
Best Quality Score in Heats 2
Best Quality Score in Final 2
Turn Up at Show 1
Winning National 10

4. Ranking Period

  • Rankings run on a season cycle.

5. Tie-Break Rules

If two competitors have the same ranking points:

  1. Most event wins
  2. Most podium finishes
  3. Highest single-event score
  4. Head-to-head results

6. Eligibility

  • Open to all shearers competing in recognised open-class events.
  • Points are only awarded at approved competitions.

7. Publication of Rankings

  • Rankings updated weekly, after each event, or as soon as possible once results have been submitted by BISCA to Heiniger.
  • Published on the Heiniger UK Official website – www.heiniger.co.uk

8. Removal or Adjustment of Points

Points may be removed if:

  • A competitor is disqualified
  • An event is later deemed invalid
  • A scoring error is corrected

Heiniger Premier League – Official Rules & League Structure

Heiniger Premier League – Official Rules & League Structure

1. Purpose of the League

The Heiniger Premier League (HPL) exists to provide a structured, competitive environment for shearers to compete across a season-long format, showcasing skill, consistency and professionalism.

2. League Format

The HPL is a season-based league, consisting of seven qualifying shows:

  • Balmoral
  • Stafford
  • Three Counties
  • Highland
  • Lochearnhead
  • Royal Welsh
  • Corwen
  • Competitors earn League Points based on their finishing position at each round against other competitors within the league.
  • The competitor with the highest total points at the end of the season is crowned HPL Champion.

3. Eligibility

  • Top 10 shearers from the previous season’s Open Rankings automatically qualify.
  • Two wildcard entries will be drawn before the season.
  • The aim of the wildcard entries is to attract young and up-and-coming shearers and support their development.

4. Competition Rules

4.1 Tie-Breaks

If two or more competitors tie on points, the following tie-breaks will apply:

  1. Highest number of round wins
  2. Highest number of podium finishes
  3. Best result in the final round of the season

5. League Points System

Position Points
1st 12
2nd 10
3rd 8
4th 6
5th 4
6th 3
7th 3
8th 3
9th 3
10th 3
11th 3
12th 3

Additional Points

  • All competitors who complete a round receive 1 point.
  • Making the show final: +2 points
  • Making the show semi-final: +1 point
  • Final rankings will be decided by each competitor’s best six shows, meaning competitors can drop their lowest ranking show.

6. Attendance & Withdrawals

  • Competitors compete at their own free will.
  • If a competitor withdraws from the league halfway through a season, they will be recorded as Withdrawn (WD).

7. Conduct & Discipline

  • Competitors must behave professionally at all times.
  • Abuse of judges, staff, animals or other competitors, or behaviour which could bring the league and Heiniger into disrepute, may result in disciplinary action.

Disciplinary action may include:

  • Warning
  • Point deduction
  • Suspension, depending on severity
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