Henderson Gets One Back On Fagan At Home Show In Whangarei

New Zealand 2025 UK tour members Toa Henderson and Jack Fagan staged an early-summer reunion to take centre stage at the Whangarei A and P Show today, the first shearing competitions in Northland for the 2025-2026 season.

Entries were light, as usual in the north, with just 21 shearers across five grades, and one way or another the pair were always going to finish second, but the showdown was still a popular watch at the one-day show at Barge Showgrounds, with Henderson out for revenge after being beaten by Fagan in the event last year.

It was Henderson, the local hero, the 2025 Golden Shears, New Zealand Shears and Royal Welsh Open champion, who came out on top shearing 20 lambs in the three-man final in 12m 54s,beating Te Kuiti shearer Fagan by 33 seconds.

Also claiming the best shearing points on the board, with Fagan the best in the pens, Henderson won by 1.15 points overall, with third place, as was the case last year, going to Northland lifestyle blocks shearer Phil Wedd, based in Silverdale, who, despite the comparative spectator role, described it as an “awesome” final.

Tommy Stevenson, of Dargaville, successfully defended the Senior title, shearing the 12 lambs in 12m 59s and claiming victory 1.89pts over Dargaville shearer Michael Boyd, who had the better quality points.

The Open had eight entries, Senior seven, and the Intermediate, Junior and Novice two each, with five in the Veterans event.

Fagan got his payback in the Open speed shearer a time of 18.78s, while Henderson shore 20.46s, and Paul Hodges shore 23.32s for third place. Stevenson won the Senior speed shear.

One of two shows on the last day of the pre-Christmas Shearing Sports New Zealand season, it was the first of the six Northland A ad P show shearing championships this summer. Others are:: January 17, Kaikohe; February 7, North Kaipara, at Paparoa; February 14, Northern Wairoa, at Arapohue (Dargaville); February 21, North Hokianga, at Broadwood; March 14, Kumeu; March 21, Warkworth.

RESULTS from the Whangarei A and P Show Shears at Barge Showgrounds on Saturday, December 6, 2025:

Open final (20 lambs): Toa Henderson (Kaiwaka) 12m 54s, 50.2pts, 1; Jack Fagan (Te Kuiti) 13m 27s, 51.35pts, 2; Phil Wedd (Silverdale) 16m 10s, 60.7pts, 3.

Senior final (12 lambs): Tommy Stevenson (Ruawai) 12m 55s, 48.58pts, 1; Michael Boyd (Dargaville) 14m 13s, 50.47pts, 2; Lee Cheyne (Te Kauwhata) 17m 25s, 62.67pts, 3.

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