NZFC South Island Doubles Fencing Competition

The NZFC South Island DOUBLES FENCING COMPETITION at the Southern Field Days largely brought about a new set of competitors’ to last year’s NZFC fencing competition at SIAFD. It also furthered NZFC goals to run annual national level fencing competitions in the South Island.

With the Southland location many of last year’s competitors decided to wait for next year’s competition at Kirwee, allowing for a new contingent of fencers to take up a line. There was an interesting combination of partners starting with Father/Son team of Brian and Andrew Abercrombie from Abercrombie Fencing. Foster Price entered without a partner (possibly a new trend), but ended up teaming with Lyndon Wallace. Lyndon was cornered the day before having just competed in the Young Farmers competition, He was keen and without question jumped at the chance. Foster has started fencing a year ago and views the competitions as a chance to learn new skills and techniques. Nick Stanger and Troy Love teamed up for the first time, having a conversation over the phone to introduce themselves having never met in person. Nick Terry lost his partner and managed to get one of Greg Olivers employees, Greg Leng to make up a team. Ben Haugh was saving his hide for the rodeo and entered two teams of his employees– with Kyle Winiata and Jesse Sullivan gaming stepping up having limited fencing experience between them.

The competition line was a departure to the competition norm with half the fence line being Goldpine Roundwood product including a box stay and half the fence line being Waratah brand hot dipped galvanised Jio Star Y posts with a Waratah Ezi pipe end assembly system. The Wiremark 5 wires had 3 electric with Strainrite insulators strained to 100 kgs and 2 non electric wires strained to 150 kgs. A Hurricane mesh gate and latching post completed the competition line. The Strainrite irrigator crossing was set up adjacent to this competition line.

David Byrnes from Waratah runs through the Judges demo fence with the competitiors

With all bar two of the competitors’ never having competed before they had admirable results, with time penalties rather than workmanship adding to the penalty points

The site was mining tailings so it was decided to pre drive the strainers both wooden and Waratah end strainer BUT competitors had to hand dig four Superposts with spades and crow bars so were not offered a easy way out.

I’ve been associated with the fencing industry for a while now and I’ve come to respect the sponsors whose companies are committed to the New Zealand fencing industry. These Sponsors not only sell products into a crowded marketplace but these sponsors also make a huge commitment to support our businesses and livelihoods. So thank you to Chad Van Zyl from WIREMARK® for coming down and helping out. Warren, Michael and Barry from Stockade for having their Post and staple guns on demo, providing the barbeque and cooking. David Byrnes from Waratah who spent the day at the competition and looked after the competitors during the Judges briefing. Laurence and Brad from Steel and Tube/Hurricane for finding product at the last minute. For the competitors getting to know these people and the ability of having a direct link to their product knowledge is invaluable to your business.

The value in competing is the awareness of why the concept of industry standards is important to fence line construction, learning new techniques, verifying your old techniques, talking with others, the barbeque at the end when you catch-up with everyone including sponsors. Nick Terry competed at last years Kirwee competition, also at the Rural Games speed fencing, commenting that he’s” keen to do more, build up my own speed borer and I’d like to compete in the North Island. I see real benefits from taking part in these competitions, new ways of doing things, meeting new people from within the industry”.
Chris Anderson of Anderson Fencing commented, “I thoroughly enjoyed it, would do it again and would like to see more competitions created down South”.

Next year’s planning for the NZFC Fencing competition will soon be underway and we welcome the input of South Island fencers to help grow competitions on the Mainland.

Chris Anderson and Dan Wilson nearing the end.