Fagan wants to go out in style

LAST SEASON: David Fagan is hanging up his handpiece after a stellar career because "the time is right". PHOTO/FILE

Talk Golden Shears and you immediately think David Fagan.

The Te Kuiti shearer has won the open title there an incredible 16 times and will be looking to make it 17 when he returns to Masterton's War Memorial Stadium for the 2015 edition to be held from March 5-7.

It will be a poignant moment when Fagan takes to the stand as it will signal his last appearance at what is widely considered to be the world's major shearing competition.

The 53-year-old is calling it quits, announcing to the Waitomo News this week that he will bowing out of competitive shearing after contesting the New Zealand shearing championships to be held at his home base of Te Kuiti from April 9-11.

It will be the end of a star-studded career lasting more than 30 years, which has seen him register an amazing 632 open-class wins, including five world individual titles and seven world teams titles.

Put simply there has never been anyone like Fagan in the shearing sport, and there probably never will be again. Iconic status is guaranteed.

Fagan told the Waitomo News the time was right to hang up his handpiece while he was still competitive, something proven by his winning of the Geyerland Shears open title in Rotorua; a result preceded by his victory at the national crossbred lamb shearing champs in Winton the previous week.

In fact, so solid is the Fagan form he has been selected to represent New Zealand in two tests against Wales next month.

"Over the years everyone has been on my case about when I was going to stop competing and I was never sure year to year what I'd do," Fagan said.

"But this year I felt the time was right to see the season out and that will be it. Nothing lasts forever and I want to go out while I'm still competitive and not have everyone remember me for how bad I shore.

"I want to finish where I still feel like I can win and that's how I feel right now."

Calling it a day wouldn't be easy, he said. "A big part of why I have competed so long is that I've continued to be successful. A lot of people ask me if I feel my age but when I take to the stage in a final I feel like just another competitor not a number."

While Fagan has a host of achievements to ponder he concedes he will most likely be remembered for his 16 Golden Shears open titles, including 12 straight from 1990-2001.

"I think no matter what happens in the future, there is no taking away 12 in a row in Masterton, which is probably the most unbelievable highlight of my career."

Fagan's retirement won't mean he will be lost to the shearing industry.

He intends to stay on as a member of the Shearing Sports NZ national committee helping organise the 2017 world shearing championships in Christchurch.