NZ shearers downed in Lakeland test – but still take prizes

NZ shearers downed in Lakeland test – but still take the prizes

The New Zealand shearing team suffered a narrow loss to England early today (NZ time) at the Lakeland Shears in Cockermouth, Cumbria.

But the 0.55pts defeat in the first of two tests being shorn in England within five days was compensated-for by a near cleansweep of placings by New Zealanders in the Lakeland Shears Open final, and a victory in the Senior final.

Team member Dion King’s victory was the seventh New Zealand win in a row on the herdwicks of the Lakeland Open final, and there was a New Zealand trifecta, with Invercargill shearer Troy Pyper the runner-up, and third place going to King’s test-match teammate, Tony Coster, of Rakaia.

Irish shearer Ivan Scott, who shears in New Zealand most summers, was fourth, and fifth was Te Kuiti shearer Jack Fagan, son of legendary New Zealand shearer and former multiple Lakeland title winner David Fagan.

King, who 24 hours earlier led New Zealand to a test-match win over Ulster and won another Open final at the NISSA Shears in Northern Ireland, was the top individuual in today’s match but he and Coster were still beaten by the England pair of Adam Berry and Anthony Rooke.

The Lakeland Shears Senior final provided another triumph for Taumarunui shearer Guy Fraser, who has won three big titles in the last month, after arriving in the UK without a single previous victory to his name.

Having opened their CP Wool and Primary Wool Co-Op Shearing Sports New Zealand team UK tour with a loss to Scotland, King and Coster have a 1-2 record ahead of the second test against England at the Great Yorkshire Show on Wednesday.

Coster is, however, unavailable for the remaining tests, and King will be joined by David Fagan for the match and four tests against Wales over the following 10 dsays.

Results from the Lakeland Shears at Cockermouth, Cumbria, on Saturday, July 11, 2015:

International (20 sheep): England 111.55pts (Adam Berry 14min 48sec, 54.25pts; Anthony Rooke 15min 45sec, 57.3pts) beat New Zealand 112.1pts (Dion King 14min 40sec, 53.85pts; Tony Coster 16min 08sec, 58.35pts).

Lakeland Shears Open final (20 sheep): Dion King (Hastings, New Zealand) 14min, 51.05pts, 1; Troy Pyper (Invercargill, New Zealand) 14min 11sec, 51.2pts, 2; Tony Coster (New Zealand) 15min 34sec, 53..65pts, 3; Ivan Scott (Kilmacrennan, Ireland) 14min 22sec, 54.1pts, 4; Jack Fagan (Te Kuiti, New Zealand) 15min 27sec, 55.9pts, 5.

Lakeland Shears Senior final (12 sheep): Guy Fraser (Taumarunui, New Zealand) 11min 35sec, 41.667pts, 1; Nick Harding (Holsworthy, England) 12min 20sec, 44.75pts, 2; Peter Redhead (Manchester, England) 13min 10sec, 45pts, 3; Catherine Mullooly (Matawai, New Zealand) 12min 35sec, 45pts, 4; Alister Shaw (Saline, Scotland) 11min 32sec, 46.266pts, 5.

The Lakeland Shears were first held in 2003, when the Open final was won by Taranaki shearer Paul Avery. Winners over the last 10 years: 2006 Kieran McCullough (Northern Ireland), 2007 John Kirkpatrick (New Zealand), 2008 Gavin Mutch (Scotland), 2009 James Fagan (New Zealand), 2010 John Kirkpatrick (New Zealand), 2011 David Fagan (New Zealand), 2012 David Fagan (New Zealand), 2013 Rowland Smith (New Zealand), 2014 John Kirkpatrick (New Zealand), 2015 Dion King (New Zealand).

ENDS

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