Reigning Golden Shears champion David Fagan has returned to winning form, a week before his bid for a 17th Golden Shears Open title in Masterton.
The veteran shearer won the final of the Taumarunui Jamboree on points at the weekend, after finishing almost six seconds behind the Cam Ferguson of Hawke's Bay.
It was the fourth win of the season for Fagan, 48, and put him into third place on Shearing Sports New Zealand's national rankings.
But he had to make do with fourth place in another weekend contest, the Pahiatua Shears.
That was won by another veteran, Dean Ball of Te Kuiti, in a very tight final that included former Golden Shears champions John Kirkpatrick and Dion King.
For Ball, it was a good build-up to the 50th anniverary Golden Shears, which start in Masterton later this week.
He has shorn in 11 of the past 12 finals, without winning the big title.
