Shears legend Fagan wins again

Te Kuiti shearing legend David Fagan backed-up his vow to end a competition career of 37 years on a competitive and hopefully winning note with victory at a local sports day in the remote King Country township of Aria today.

Having just announced he will end his career at the New Zealand championships in his home town of Te Kuiti in April, the 53-year-old five-times World champion scored his third win in three weeks, the second in a row over 2012 World champion Scotsman and Taranaki farmer Gavin Mutch.

Fagan had won the New Zealand crossbred lambs title at Winton on January 17 and the Geyserland Shears Open final at the Rotorua A and P Show on January 25.

Third today was Mark Grainger, of Te Kuiti, and James Ritchie, from Napier, was fourth.

“Nice to win it for the 17th and last time,” said Fagan, who will tomorrow shear in the North Island championships in Marton before heading south for the inaugural Hilux New Zealand Rural Games invitation Speedshear in Queenstown on Sunday.

ENDS