Jack Fagan, second right, was the top performing individual in the CP Wool UK tour test at the Cothi Shears. Photo/File
New Zealand has been beaten in the first of four shearing tests in Wales despite a gallant effort by test match rookie and late substitute Jack Fagan.
The Te Kuiti shearer, son of shearing legend Sir David Fagan who ended his 33 years of Open-class shearing in a series in
Wales two years ago, was the top performing individual in the CP Wool UK tour test at the Cothi Shears on Friday (Saturday morning NZST).
Alhough last to finish - 26 seconds after Welshman Gwyn Lloyd Evans was first to finish the sheep, taking 13min 11sec - Fagan shore clearly the cleanest pen of sheep and had best overall points, beating Evans by 0.35pts.
It was not such a good day for teammate and World champion John Kirkpatrick, of Napier, however, and with Evans and teammate Ian Jones posting second and third best points Wales was able to take the win by 1.85pts.
Fagan, who will shear again with Kirkpatrick in the second test at Lampeter today (Sunday morning NZST), was a late replacement for team member Rowland Smith, preparing for a World record bid in Cornwall on Monday.
