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AUGUST 15, 2024
‘Best atmosphere on earth’ By Andy Campbell
The rock concert atmosphere of the Welsh shearing competitions is what Te Kuiti shearer Jack Fagan says was the highlight of his recent overseas tour - but he really enjoyed the challenge of the tricky, horned sheep of Yorkshire. “The Royal Welsh would arguably be the biggest shearing competition in the northern hemisphere,” he said. “And there’s a crowd of about 2500 crazy Welsh people singing and cheering and whistling. It’s absolutely
electrifying, the atmosphere is bloody amazing.” Fagan was part of the New Zealand team which Jack Fagan with one of his hand finished UK combs, and the competed in Wales, England framed medal from the Royal Welsh Open. and France.
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“The Welsh crowds are deafening. When there’s a good race between the Welsh and the Kiwis, it’s the best atmosphere on earth. Nowhere else is comparable. We have the Golden Shears and New Zealand Shears, but Kiwis are quite Anglo Saxon at times.“The Welsh are just mad on shearing. They absolutely love it. Te Kūiti is quite tame really compared to Wales.” The highlight for Fagan was winning the Great Yorkshire show in England where they sheared Swaledale sheep. “They have got horns and they are really tricky to shear. I really enjoy the challenge of them and quite enjoy the British breeds. “What’s unique about shearing in Europe is practically every competition that you do, you have got a different line of sheep and a different breed. It’s not like New Zealand where you are shearing cross breeds or second shear every weekend - so all of your combs are the same. “Often you are using different combs in every competition in the UK. It’s all your own gear. It’s quite an art modifying the gear to suit the sheep. It takes year of experience to build up that comb collection, that range you have.” Fagan and teammate David Buick, of Pongaroa, claimed test match wins at the Great Yorkshire Show, in France and the Royal Welsh Show. They also entered open shears and Jack won eight of the 11 he entered and was second once and third twice. France was different and he appreciated the culture and the way the team was looked after. “It was really special, all the commentary. French music played while you are shearing. It’s probably one of the most unique competitions you could do in the whole shearing calendar. A really cool event. Just because of the culture it makes it such a unique event,” Fagan said. He spent eight seasons in France so did not have a problem with the language. And Welsh? “I know enough to make a few people smile when we are having a beer.” • See Top drawer performance, page 15
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An active King Country huntaway named Puzzle injured his carpal (wrist) joint at work and had to have ac plate put in. But being very energetic, he broke the plate - and was facing either amputation, or a new plate. Neither of these two options were affordable for the famer who owned him. The farmer contacted Retired Working Dogs NZ, where staff decided Puzzle had plenty of life left in him. “We decided to fund a new plate and raised money to pay for the surgery, which went ahead last month,” a spokesperson for the organisation, Marie-Claire Andrew said. “But once the vet had a look he decided we didn’t have to replace the plate because it was healing very well; so it’s great we decided not to amputate.” Puzzle had since spent 12 weeks in a foster home and the next step would be to place him in a new pet home, where he could lead a calmer life. “Puzzles’ case is really typical of situations we deal with. These surgeries are expensive and its also a big commitment for a farmer to look after a dog and rehabilitate it for weeks. Every dollar counts on farm.” • See Second time hound, Page 4. Puzzle, pictured in recovery
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