Former fencing winner Stephen Hooper now wired as a judge

Farmer Stephen Hooper has been organising and competing in Waverley fencing competitions for 30 years. Photo / New Zealand Fencing Competitions

Stephen Hooper - with various partners - has been the top competitive fencer at the Waverley A & P Show six times.

He's also organised the competition for 30 years, sometimes virtually on his own.

He was recognised by winning the best trade exhibit trophy at the show last week, and was given a chocolate cake as a bonus.

With a 200ha sheep, beef and dairy grazing farm in Kohi Rd, near Waverley, Mr Hooper has been building fences on his own farm and for others for years.

He was mentored in competitive fencing by Frank Prince, and won ribbons of every colour before claiming the top prize. But that can't last forever.

"Eventually it revolves around. You can't be on the top all the time. Eventually you lose," he said.

These days judging and organising keeps Mr Hooper in touch with the sport.

"Everyone is matey. You catch up with people four or five times a year. I have made some real good friends through the fencing competitions."

There are more young people competing now. Most are either fencing contractors or farmers. They get $350 each for a win, and there are product giveaways. "Having more competitions they come up the ranks a bit quicker, and they have more people to help them."

The first competition Mr Hooper was involved with was in 1986, for a Young Farmers event. There was another, at a Waitotara Sports Day. Then he and a committee had a competition at every Waverley Show except the 1994 one, which was too wet.

There are competitions in other North Island regions now, and there has been a national final at the Mystery Creek Fieldays since 1978.

The Waverley competition has changed over the years. Sometimes people have had to build deer fences and make wooden gates.

The commonest fence type now is a five-wire electric one. It can be put up by two people in about two hours. It's easy to take down and the donated materials can be sold on for money to fund the next competition.

Mr Hooper has a few methods of getting fencing materials needed. Sometimes they are sponsored. Or he will buy or borrow the posts and stays, and give them back, marked, to the owner.

Taking entries is easier now, with New Zealand Fencing Competitions' Vanessa Stafford taking them online. And payments can be made through internet banking.

It's easier to find competitors, too. Mr Hooper used to have to canvass for them at shows, and sometimes ran singles competitions when there weren't enough entrants.

At Waverley long-time competitor Wayne Newdick has won nine times, with different partners. This year's winner was the national doubles champion Shane Bouskill, competing with his son, Tony.

The fastest time in each competition is recorded. Teams finishing after that lose one point for each minute later but they can also lose points on sloppy work.

"The fastest person off doesn't always win it. I've seen someone come off 15 to 20 minutes slower and still win," Mr Hooper said.

He's been organising for so long that other people ask him how to do it.

"The committee has been me for probably the last 15 years, so what I decide goes. There's no questioning, but I usually ring a couple of mates to get their opinion."

He's liable to be doing it all again next year.

"The only way you lose this job in Waverley is to die. There are not a lot of young people stepping up."