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.
Jack Fagan with one of his hand finished UK combs, and the framed medal from the Royal Welsh Open.
“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 competed in Wales, England and France.
“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 Kuiti 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 and the open final at Martel in France.
They also entered open shears and Jack won eight of 11 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 season in France so did ot have a problem with the language.
And Welsh? “I know enough to make a few people smile when we are having a beer.”
