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Home / The Country

Listen: Meet the golden master of fencing and fleecing

The Country
9 Apr, 2018 02:39 AMQuick Read

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John Fagan competing in the veterans shearing grade one final at the Golden Shears International Shearing Contest in 2010. Photo / Lynda Feringa

John Fagan competing in the veterans shearing grade one final at the Golden Shears International Shearing Contest in 2010. Photo / Lynda Feringa

Today on The Country Jamie Mackay spoke to a man he refers to as "New Zealand's only agrarian "Double All Black."

John Fagan holds a special place in New Zealand farming as he is the only person to win both the Golden Shears and the Golden Pliers, saying "it's a nice honour," to hold both titles.

Fagan won the Golden Pliers Fencing Competition four times in 1973, 74, 76, and 77 and took out the Golden Shears in 1984. Not only that, he held the nine-hour ewe shearing record and the nine-hour lamb shearing record concurrently in the early '80s.

If Fagan's name sounds familiar it is with good reason. His younger brother is shearing legend Sir David Fagan. John played a big role in forming Sir David's career with good old fashioned family competition

"Sibling rivalry is a great thing. I thoroughly enjoyed my time competing with David."

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Also in today's interview: John Fagan comments on the New Zealand Shearing and Woolhandling Championships in Te Kuiti.

Listen below:

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Sir Colin Meads and an agrarian 'Double All Black'

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