Te Kuiti’s Jack Fagan came from behind to win the New Zealand Corriedale Championships at the NZ Agricultural Show in Christchurch last week, the first shearing event in the new Southern Series.
Fagan finished 18 seconds behind Scotsman Gavin Mutch but took the title with fewer penalty points.
“I’ve been down to this show for the thick end of the past 10 years and this is actually my first win in the South Island so to do it on these Corriedales, which I’ve never shorn at work, I’ve only shorn them at shows, is very special,” he said.
Fagan finished just ahead of Southland shearer Nathan Stratford with Mutch third.
Fagan attributed his win, in part, to a new fitness regime.
“I’ve given up drinking coffee and all that carry-on,” he said.
He is also preparing for an attempt on the world lamb shearing record.
“I’m doing eight hours of lambs on December 22 trying to beat Ivan Scott’s tally of 744, which is no mean feat and it will be a very hard day but will be very rewarding too if I can pull it off.”
The Corriedale Championships was the first event on the Southern Series and is also part of the PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit.
A new competitive shearing competition, the Southern Series offers increased prize money and exposure to a global television audience.
Initially it will include a tour of NZ competitions before going global, taking in shows in Europe, North America and Australasia, with events beamed live on television world-wide.
