World record shearing: Another Fagan has a go

World record shearing: Another Fagan has a go

Yet another member of the illustrious Fagan shearing family from King Country may today make a belated entry into the record books after becoming an 11th-hour ring-in for a challenge which started in a woolshed south of Te Kuiti at 7am today.

Craig Fagan, 44-year-old nephew of former record breakers Sir David and John Fagan and cousin of record-breaker James Fagan, has replaced Canterbury shearer Aidan Copp, who has been forced out of the three-stand record bid after breaking a thumb.

Fagan, South Island-based Ringakaha Paewai and King Country shearer Peter-lee Ratima will tackle the three-stand eight-hour lambshearing record of 1784 which has gone unchallenged for 17 years.

The attempt, the third World shearing record attempt in New Zealand in less than three weeks, will take place at the Carter family farm off Sargents Rd, via Tikitikii Rd, between State Highways 3 and 4.

There are four runs of two hours each, separated by morning and afternoon smoko and an hour for lunch with the attempt due to finish at 5pm.

The current record was set by King Country shearers Digger Balme, Roger Neil and Dean Ball at Te Hape, near Bennydale, on January 8, 1999, when Balme set was then a new solo record of 621, a record now held by Irish shearer Ivan Scott at 744.

The attempt has been put together by shearing contractor Mark Barrowcliffe, who last season staged a successful five-stand record attempt in which South Island-based Paewai shore 618 and which also included the now-injured Copp.

In today's wool-weigh, the wool comfortably exceeded the 0.9kg average needed, with an average weight of of 1.34kg per lamb.
The record will take place at Mike Carter’s farm on Sargents Rd, off Tikitiki Rd south of Te Kuiti, and will be over four runs of two hours each and finish at 5pm, with an average of almost 75 per hour by each shearer need to claim the record.In yesterday’s wool-weigh before the World Sheep Shearing Records Society judges who are overseeing the attempt, the wool from a pen of sample lambs averaged 1.34kg a lamb, comfortably exceeding the minimum requirement of 0.9kg.

Five judges are officiating, headed by Australian official Mark Baldwin.

ENDS

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