FAGAN RULES AGAIN - By Des Williams Even against the yardstick of his own amazing career, David Fagan's effort in regaining his Golden Shears open crown at Masterton last Saturday night almost defies description. The Te Kuiti 41-year-old faced a five-pronged attack led by defending champion John Kirkpatrick of Napier, who in turn had Dean Ball, Paul Avery, Alan MacDonald and Dig Balme intent on grabbing their own slice of Golden Shears history. But the two top favourites left the others behind as they progressed through their respective pens of 20 sheep, slashing more than a minute off the previous best time with Fagan (15.27) eventually gaining a 16-second time cushion which proved decisive in contributing to his victory - by a mere two-one-hundredths of a point. Well beaten last year by Kirkpatrick, Fagan this year had reasons aplenty for wanting his title back: a place in the New Zealand team for the world championships at Edinburgh in June; his two young children were in the audience for the first time ("to see what dad does!"); he didn't want to end his career on 13 Golden Shears crowns, and his aging mum was also present to witness the spectacle. Fagan has many times in his 20-year tenure at the top displayed unfathomable resolve in winning major championships from seemingly hopeless positions but he re-defined the depths of his will to win on Saturday night. With Kirkpatrick edging out to a half-sheep lead midway through the contest, Fagan had one of his shorn sheep come back on the board instead of going down the porthole and his handpiece became dislodged from the down tube in the melee to put the sheep away. The champion retained his composure and gradually wore his younger opponent down. It wasn't the tidiest shear of his life, but the standing ovation Fagan received from 2000 people in the hall at the end of the evening provided fitting tribute to this maestro of the shearing board. New Zealand beat Australia in the biannual shearing and woolhandling test matches, giving them a two-nil series victory following their wins at Esperance, Western Australia, last October. Woolhandlers Joanne Kumeroa (Wanganui) and Tina Rimene (Cromwell) have won the two-berths in the New Zealand team for the world championships in Scotland, joining Fagan and blade shearers Peter Race and Bill Michelle of Timaru. The second machine shearing position will be taken by the winner of the New Zealand open at Te Kuiti on 29 March. Results: Golden Shears 2003: Golden Shears open: David Fagan, Te Kuiti, 56.070 1; John Kirkpatrick, Napier, 56.090 2; Dean Ball, Te Kuiti, 59.180 3; Paul Avery, Stratford, 59.960 4; Alan MacDonald, Otangiwai, 61.420 5; Dig Balme, Te Kuiti, 61.170 6. Wrightson National Championship: David Fagan, Te Kuiti, 66.772 1; James Fagan, Te Kuiti, 67.638 2; Joe Clarke, Wanganui, 67.915 3; Darin Forde, Winton, 69.434 4; Tony Coster, Rakaia, 71.303 5; Mana Te Whata, Mossburn, 71.512 6. Supershear Tru-Test Trans Tasman test: New Zealnd (Dion Morrell, Darin Forde, John Kirkpatrick) 191.961 1; Australia (Hilton Barrett, Jason Wingfield, Beau Guelfi) 209.862 2. AgResearch senior: Richard Timu, Waipawa, 40.995 1; Robert Nikora, Dannevirke, 41.745 2; Danny Scott Balfour, 41.950 3; Adam Brausch, Dannievirke, 42.320 4; Kieran McCullough, Northen Ireland, 43.240 5; Steve Capstick, England, 48.090 6. Trust House intermediate: Ringa Paewai, Dannevirke, 40.975 1; Simon Hales, Dannevirke, 41.365 2; Cam Fergusson, Waipawa, 43.320 3; Andy Mainland, Invercargill, 45.700 4; Jamie Mita, Masterton, 46.330 5; Arwel Jones, Wales, 47.955 6. Wrightson Junior: Ian Montgomery, Northern Ireland, 33.555 1; Harold Peri, Otane, 33.760 2; Brendon Braddick, Eketahuna, 34.820 3; James Tutuvaha, Masterton, 34.980 4; Cole Pewhairangi, Mataura, 35.305 6. YFC Blue Ribbon open: James Fagan, Te Kuiti, 33.240 1; Nathan Stratford, Invercargill, 34.060 2; David Buick, Pongaroa, 37.670 3; Richard Timu, Waipawa, 38.605 4; Tuma Mullins, Dannevirke, 42.020 5; Neil Fagan, Te Kuiti, 42.820, 6.  Woolhandling: Novartis Animal Health (NZ) open:Leah Brensell, Alexandra, 174.344 1; Gina Nathan, Alexandra, 181.248 2; Joanne Kumeroa, 192.000 3; Tina Rimene, Cromwell, 194.354 4.  World championships selection: Joanne Kumeroa, Wanganui, 142.792 1; Tina Rimene, Cromwell, 186.768 2; Bernadette Forde, Tuatapere, 212.910 3; Veronica Goss, Kimbolton, 226.062 4. Supershear Tru-Test Trans Tasman woolhandling test: New Zealand (Tina Rimene and Ronnie Goss) 452.600 1; Australia (Aroha Garvin and Dave Summers) 529.916 2. Te Puni Kokiri senior: Kristie Matson, Wanganui, 187.240 1; Stacey Houkamau, Dannevirke, 204.640 2; Lamer Tohiariki, Invercargill, 234.190 3; Angie Stoney, Taihape, 244.430 4.  MWI - Primary Wool Co-Op junior: Tania Feilding, Gisborne, 193.704 1; Pikihuia Marton, Masterton, 196.834 2; Cara Darlington, Dannevirke, 235.306 3; Rebecca Braddick, Eketahuna, 259.460 4. Williams and Kettle North Island circuit open: Joanne Kumeroa, Wanganui, 174.282 1; Waina Peneha, Masterton, 195.378 2; Veronica Goss, Kimbolton, 203.766 3; Mary Blackman, Taihape, 206.064 4. MWI North Island circuit senior: Keryn Herbert, Te Awamutu, 185.060 1;Kristie Matson, Wanganui, 199.904 2; Leeanne Gray, Dannevirke, 207.694 4; Stacey Houkamau, Dannevirke, 221.830 4.  Agriculture ITO North Island circuit junior: Margaret Wirihana, Palmerston North, 159.998 1; Sunnie Hughes, 170.906 2; Emma Bolton, Taihape, 171.700 3; Rebecca Calder, Taumarunui, 185.684 4.  Woolpressing: Farmlands/Woolpacks singles: Jeremy Goodger, Masterton, 68.600 1; Dallas Wipaki, Taihape, 91.300 2. Farmlands / Woolpacks pairs: Willie Sharp and Carl Cocks, Masterton, 48.500 1; Duncan Metekingi and Joe Metekingi, Raetihi, 54.300 2. Farmlands/Woolpacks womens pairs: Annabelle Rimene and Paula Puha, Masterton, 77.200 1; Rose McGee and Siobahn Mason, Masterton, 89.800 3. Des Williams Last Side Publishing Ltd Tel ++00 7 843 4944 Fax ++00 7 843 8944 Mob 0274 833 465