Shears special: Fagans, make it a double, please

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On behalf of Shearing Sports New Zealand

July 8, 2012

Shears special: Fagans, make it a double, please

It may be almost 30 years since New Zealand shearing icon David Fagan first won an open shearing title, but there was still time for another dream to come true as he and son Jack both won at the Lakeland Shears in England on Saturday (early Sunday NZT).

Doing their best to uphold Te Kuiti's flagging reputation as the home of the World's best shearers, 50-year-old David Fagan retained the Open title in a thrilling 20-sheep final on the unique herdwicks of the show at Cockermouth in Cumbria, while 20-year-old Jack won the Senior final, going one better than when he was runner-up in the event soon after entering Senior ranks 12 months ago.
With father Fagan having endured a long series of second and other placings since last winning at the New Zeland Spring Shears in Waimate last October it was the first time the pair had enjoyed wins on the same day, a pair of which they'd dreamed since Jack first shore in the Senior class.

David Fagan's victory came in a final which included New Zealand team members John Kirkpatrick of Napier, and Nathan Stratford, of Invercargill. Going for a third win in the opening fortnight of their tour, Kirkpatrick had to settle for second place, while Stratford was fifth.

Jack Fagan fended off the challenge of Cumbrian shearer Michal Salton, while Sean Matheson, from Riverton, in Southland was third.

There was no test match at Cockermouth, and with a 1-1 shared series against Scotland behind them, Kirkpatrick and Stratford, along with the Fagans and other non-team New Zealanders working and competing in the UK compete next at the Great Yorkshire Show on Wednesday.

ENDS

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