Te Kūiti’s Jack Fagan has picked up world shearing’s biggest cash prize of more than NZD$20,000 after he shore a sheep in under 20 seconds at an Australian competition.
In a field stacked with Kiwi shearing talent, Fagan won A$20,000 (NZD$22,153) with a final shear of 19.78 seconds at the Oberon Quickshear in New South Wales.
Masterton shearer Paerata Abraham came in second place with a 19.96 second time, winning A$4,000 (NZD$4,430).
In third place was Australia-based Jovon Taiki from Pōrangahau, fourth was Rowland Smith of Maraekakaho, and fifth was Australia-based Hemi Power from Gore.
It was Fagan’s third speed shearing win in a week.
On February 1, he won the Halcombe Speed Tavern Speed Shear near Feilding, and on Thursday, he won the Quota Club Speed Shear in Te Kūiti.
The Southern Shears later in the week is the first round of New Zealand selections for the 2026 World championship team, with Fagan, Abraham, and Smith all among the entries.
