Knives are out for the trophy

Pak'nSave's Abigail Lane can do no more to prepare for Saturday's interisland battle of the butchers in New Plymouth, and she doesn't need any greater incentive to do well than the chance to represent New Zealand in Britain next year.

She and fellow North Island rep Dion Puncheon, from Whangarei's New World Regent, are hoping that three chickens, slabs of beef, pork and lamb and some of the sharpest knives in the business will be all they need to slice, bone and dice their way to victory against their South Island counterparts, and so win the chance to compete in Britain in 2014.

Abigail and Dion were selected from dozens of other hopefuls to represent the North Island in the inaugural North vs South Battle of the Butchers, and will join three others to form Team North Island. They will have two hours to turn a beef hindquarter, a side of lamb, a side of pork and three chickens into a top shelf butchery display.

Abigail, the only woman in the competition, who won the 2011 Apprentice Butcher of the Year title and came a very close second in the 2012 Young Butcher of the Year, said being female in a predominantly male environment had its advantages.

"I specialise in gourmet meat cuts and pastry. I put all the frilly, girly stuff on products like beef Wellingtons that the guys don't," she said.

The former computer technician added that being selected for the team had been humbling.

"It has created a lot of excitement in the butchery, and even the other departments want to come and have a look at what I'm practising," she said.

Meanwhile 38-year-old Dion has been charming customers at New World Regent for nine years. Now a specialist in boning, he completed an apprenticeship there after leaving a job AFFCo's meatworks at Moerewa, saying he loves his job and the interaction it gives him with people.

He too had been busy practising for Saturday's competition.

"I'm really nervous but I've got great support," he said.

Foodstuffs Auckland managing director Murray Jordan said both Dion and Abigail had done exceptionally well to secure their places in the team, and there was great excitement throughout the stores at their inclusion.

"An industry competition such as this is a great opportunity for both Dion and Abigail to showcase their skills. It's also wonderful to see the talent we've fostered achieving at such a high level, and we'll all be cheering them on," he said.

The winning team will compete later in the year against the current national team, the Wedderburn Sharp Blacks, where the team for next year's international tri-series in Britain will be selected.