FARM FENCER, BOUSKILL
FINISHED WITH 10PT
MARGIN OVER RUNNER-
UP TIM
STAFFORD
When it comes to farm fencing you can put a ring around Hawke's Bay as to who's the best in the land.
At Fieldays, Smedley Station instructor Shane Bouskill retained the Golden Pliers title he won at the Hawke's Bay Show last October while 14-times winner and Porangahau farmer Paul van Beers and son Jason won the Silver Spade pairs title.
Bouskill's influence was also shown in the Silver Staples cadets and students pairs, where Smedley claimed the first two placings. The event was won by Wilton Weekes and Tyler Morrison, and the runners-up were Ben Gallaway and Watarawi Ngata.
Waipawa fencer Jack Richardson was runner-up in the other major event, the Bill Schuler Novice, which was won by Waiuku wildcard Daniel Hunt, who also won Best Quality first year.
The big surprise was Paul van Beers' early departure from the Golden Pliers, finishing ninth in the heats and missing out on a place in the top eight for the final.
Bouskill was still left to contend with a strong line-up of experienced competitors on the 40-metre post, wire and battened fence line.
Unperturbed by the wet conditions -- just another day in the life of the average farm fencer -- Bouskill finished with a 10pt margin over runner-up Tim Stafford, of Marton, and also took the Best Quality fence award.
It was much closer in the Silver Spade, contested on a complex course of a 40-metre netting and battened fence, one electric, and the making of a pre-fabricated wooden gate. The Van Beers won by 0.891 of a point from runners-up Stafford and Levin fencer Matt Jones.
Hunt's win in the Bill Schuler Novice came after he initially missed out on a place in the final, re-entering the field when Gisborne qualifier Haydon Waldron had to return home. The competitions were run by New Zealand Fencing Competitions, a volunteer organisation formed last year, with a input from judges who volunteered their time.
Hawke's Bay Show general manager Brent Linn said the organisation was proud to have had the Golden Pliers at the 150th show last year, and planned to have farm fencing back as a significant attraction this year.
