Golden Pliers absent in this year’s fencing competition
Fencers are no longer competing for the Golden Pliers after Wiremark withdrew its sponsorship.
Fencing competitors at Fieldays this year are competing for money and prizes, but not the coveted Golden Pliers award.
Forty-five years since the Golden Pliers were part of the first Fieldays fencing competition, sponsorship of the event has fallen short and the Golden Pliers have failed to appear.
“It’s probably due to Wiremark withdrawing its sponsorship. They own the Golden Pliers, it’s sort of what draws all the really good competitive fencers,” said Brewer.
Some fence components weigh up to 100kgs but the competition requires more than just strength and agility, according to one of the event organisers Bill Brewer.
“Those are probably the two most important things but you have to have a bit of brains to know what you’re doing. Methods and experience helps,” says Brewer.
Farmers from across New Zealand compete up to eight hours in the scorching Waikato sun to complete a conventional nine wire, three batten fence.
This year there are nearly all new faces in the finals with no previous champions competing.
Competitor Tony Bouskill of Napier has entered the last three years and made it to the finals once, making him the only old face in this year’s final.
After one competitor has finished his fence every other competitor loses a point for every minute they fail to finish.
The judges then go through and check the quality by testing the plumb and tension of the fence.
This year the first prize is $5000 along with sponsorship prizes that include chainsaws and vouchers.
