Fagan recaptures shear glory in UK

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 last Saturday.

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 Zealand Spring Shears in Waimate last October, it was the first time the pair had enjoyed wins on the same day.

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 Southland was third.

Meanwhile, former world shearing champion Mark Conlan, a regular at Golden Shears in Masterton during his impressive career, died last month in Victoria, aged 58.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest shearers Australia has ever produced, he won the world championship at the Perth Royal Show in 1986. This event was staged with the approval of the Golden Shears World Council to coincide with Australia's defence of the America's Cup in the yachting regatta off Fremantle.

Among other titles he won were the last four Australian Golden Shears Open Championships at Euroa in Victoria from 1981-1984, and the South African Open in 1990.

His best result in New Zealand was runner-up to Kiwi shearer Mana Te Whata in the New Zealand Merino Championship final in Alexandra, Central Otago, in 1993.

He shore seven of the Sunbeam transtasman tests alternating between Euroa and the home of the Golden Shears in Masterton, featuring in three home wins and four away.

In his first at Euroa in October 1980, he was joined by older brother John and NSW shearer Ray Anderson in a four-point victory over a New Zealand team including the great Brian "Snow" Quinn.