SSNZA/Supplied Napier’s Angela Stevens in the thick of the action at the end of the Āpiti open woolhandling final on Saturday. Southland shearers who loomed as the biggest hopes for a first South Island win in the Golden Shears open final in 32 years are returning home gutted after Covid-19 stripped them of the opportunity. The end of the dream came when the 61st Golden Shears, scheduled to start in Masterton on Thursday, were cancelled after Sunday’s Covid-19 alert level increase. Southland shearers Nathan Stratford, Leon Samuels and Brett Roberts underpinned their prospects by finishing first, third and fourth, respectively, in a six-man final over 20 sheep each at the Āpiti Show in Manawatū on Saturday.