Fagan Wins Welsh Speedshear, And Then Turns To The Blades
King Country shearer Jack Fagan has warmed up for his defence of the Royal Welsh Show's Open all-nations shearing title with a sixth win in the Welsh International Speedshear, and a third place in the show's Novice bladeshearing.
The speedshear win came on Sunday in the electric atmosphere of the Builth Livestock Market which is packed each year for the event hosted by the Troedrhiwdalar YFC, on the eve of the start of the four-day show which traditionally has gate figures of over 60,000 a day.
The runner-up was Welsh test team member Llyr Jones and third was Merion Jones, who earlier in the night had pipped Fagan for the honour of fastest in the heats, where one of eight early red-light eliminations was Wools of New Zealand tour teammate Toa Henderson.
The next day he was in the six-shearer blade shearing final, with only the best helping in the pens in England blades legend George Mudge. The event was won by Norwegian shearer Odd Kristian Håland, and among others was 2010 Wolrld woolhandling champion Bronwen Tango, who was fourth.
On Wednesday Fagan and Henderson shear in both the Open competition and the second test of the series against Wales, having been beaten in the first test at the Cothi Shears on Saturday and hoping to square the series heading into the final match at the Corwen Shears three days later.
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