FULL STEAM: King Country shearer Jack Fagan on his way to breaking a world record at Puketiti Station in Piopio last month. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Jack Fagan has joined his dad in some very special company.
The pair are now both holders of solo shearing world records after Fagan’s top effort at Puketiti Station in Piopio in December.
Sir David Fagan has broken many world records and held numerous world and national titles during his illustrious shearing career.
For the junior Jack to have also scooped a world record was special and earned the pair a place in the history books.
“It was tough. I just wanted to go out there and go as fast as I can and see how I get on,” he said. “I managed to break and was pretty chuffed when I had shorn my last sheep at the end of eight hours.”
“It’s pretty special knowing me and dad are the first and only father and son to hold a world record together for this.”
The King Country shearer, who trains to shear sheep in under 20 seconds in mainly-charity Speedshear events, put all his skills to the test when he took on the world record.
Only two days before, on December 20, Taihape teenager Reuben Alabaster had managed to shear 746 sheep at Te Pa Station, southwest of Ohakune, breaking the solo world eight-hour strong wool lamb shearing record of 744 set by Irish gun Ivan Scott in January 2022.
Jack did not manage just one or two sheep better. He sheared a total of 754 sheep with two-hour runs of 191, 183, 190 and 190 sheep, averaging just under 38.32 seconds a lamb caught, shorn and dispatched.
“I feel for Reuben and congratulate him on breaking it, but with them scheduled so close together there was a possibility that something like this could indeed happen,” Jack said.
The record has progressed by 59 sheep over the last 20 years since eventual Golden Shears open champion Dion King sheared 695 sheep west of Napier in 2002.
Jack’s record comes exactly 30 years his father sheared 810 sheep to establish a new nine-hour record – the ultimate goal in shearing world records.
The nine-hour record now stands at 872, and Jack Fagan shore 811 during a five-stand record 12 months ago.
Jack, who has his eyes set on a few more records was full of praise for his rousie on the day, Kelly Perawiti.
“She did a fantastic job and is a fantastic local rousie.”
Being able to hold the event in the King Country was a big boost for Fagan.
“Mark Barrowcliffe and Rusty, the manager at the Puketiti Station, and everyone were awesome. It was a fantastic place to have a crack at the record and when I approached them nearly a year ago, they said yes right away.”
“I wanted to make sure I gave this record a good crack, so I have made sure my eating and training were on point for the past nine months.”
A good crowd gathered to watch the record attempt.
“We had some fantastic supporters spend a bit of time there watching and to cheer me on.”
Jack said the hardest part of the challenge was the mental aspect.
“It was about keeping myself in the game and knowing I could beat Reuben’s effort.
“Physically, I felt fine and within 48 hours I was back shearing sheep; something I thought I wasn’t going to do again until the New Year, but my body recovered incredibly well.”
He said his dad provided him with a few words of wisdom but was more about letting his son give it a good nudge.
Te Kuiti has a big shearing statue that denotes the town as the ‘Shearing Capital of the World’ but when asked if there would be a similiar one erected of him Jack said: “Absolutely not going to happen. No chance.”
The next few months are shaping up as a busy time for the shearer with events being held almost every weekend.
“We have the North Island Speed Shear at Waitete Rugby Club the last weekend in
March and then the following weekend March 3-April 1 is the New Zealand Shearing Championships in Te Kūiti.
“Doing well in those would nice.”
He intends to represent New Zealand again overseas again this year, something he’s done for more than a decade.
“I love the sport. Ever since I was little, it’s something I wanted to do.”
