Juggling skills and safety, tackling tricky high-tension wire (with a mind of its own), all while racing against the clock. That was the tough task for teams competing in the first-ever high school fencing competition.
The Primary Industry Academy Secondary Schools fencing competition was part of the three-day annual conference of the Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) held last week at the Rangiora Showgrounds.
Fourteen teams from agricultural secondary schools across the South Island were given the opportunity to compete in the fencing competition, which is normally the domain of contestants in the Young Farmer of the Year competition.
“It’s taken 10 years of planning to see it happen here today,” said organiser Sarah Foley-Smith, a teacher at Geraldine High School’s Primary Industry Academy.
''The teams from two of four high schools — Geraldine, Rangiora, McKenzie and Akaroa — each had an hour and a half to build a three-wire fence.''
They were all 11th and 12th graders and they worked under the critical eye of conference attendees who were well versed in working with wire rope and poles.
The FCANZ National Fencing Field Day showcased the latest fencing products, tools and machinery for rural, residential and security fencing.
Demonstrations of industry best practices were held, several fencing competitions were held and the first national fencing competition for secondary schools took place.
Sarah says she looks forward to hosting the competition at each FCANZ annual conference from now on.
She says she was very proud of her students from Geraldine High School (GHS) who achieved top places in the competition.
GHS's Tom Batty and Lachie O'Connell each won $2,400 in prizes, winning the challenge by a wide margin over GHS's Cayden Howell and Cullen Bolt.
Third place went to Lachaidh Shannon and Mason Rogal from Akaroa Area School.
Winners List
1st – Tom Batty and Lachie O'Connell GHS $2400 prizes each
2nd – Cayden Howell & Cullen Bolt GHS
3rd – Akaroa Area School Lachaidh Shannon & Mason Rogal 4th Jackson Marriott & Cullen Gordon-Wilson GHS
Best Quality – Tom Batty & Lachie O'Connell GHS
First in Line – Tom Batty & Lachie O'Connell GHS
Try category Best Quality – Althea Smith & Isabelle Atkinson GHS
Best Ending Knot – Althea Smith & Isabelle Atkinson GHS
Best post – Althea Smith & Isabelle Atkinson GHS
Best Chest Block – Innes McKay & Alex Holmes GHS