Speed and precision on display at The Ford Ranger Rural Games was timed to perfection once more this year, taking place the weekend after a week-long Level 3/Level 2 lockdown was lifted, and drawing large crowds – especially to the Future Post NZ Speed Fencing Competition, sponsored by Fencing Contractors NZ and Summit Steel & Wire. Competitors had a few more nerves this year due to the new product they were using. The conventional wooden posts have been swapped for plastic posts, which was a first in New Zealand competitions and speed fencing.
FUTURE POST INNOVATION Future Post products are a 100% Kiwi-made innovation and are made from 100% recycled plastics otherwise destined for our national landfills, currently processing around 220 tonnes per month into highly durable, solid, round and square posts. A single 125mm/1.8m
use and performance. For example, nails and staples need to be tapped and embedded first before hitting in as normal (40mm staples recommended). Chainsaw guide teeth also need to be a lot lower to cut through the plastic stay posts as some competitors found out on the day.
COMPETITION CRITERIA There were 2 heats of 5 competitors this year competing for the trophy. In the heats the competitors stood by their post hole borers waiting for the MC to say go. The sound of the post hole borers broke
First heat
breast plate being put in on the correct line and the flat of the half round facing the soil. The top 3 go through to the final. This year, the final saw Tim Garrick, Bradley Fountain and Tony Bouskill fighting it out for the trophy. In the final the competitors mortise in a stay hole in the strainer, shape the stay post to fit snug into mortise. Then dig a stay block in at the correct angle and at least 50mm below the ground level. Two wires are run and tied off at desired height and strained up to 150 gauge, then a line post is augured in the fence line and stapled to the plastic post. First heat competitors L-R: Hayden Walton, Corey Twigley, Tony Bouskill, Tim Garrick, and Jared Nicholson
post holds approximately 320 milk bottles and 1200 plastic bags – more milk bottles and bread bags than most individuals would consume (and throw away) in a year! The challenges using plastic posts is that they are almost twice as dense as regular timber and have very high grip which means a few adjustments need to be recognized for optimum
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ISSUE 61 / JUNE 2021
Speed and precision was required at the battening competition
the silence as competitors augered a hole in seconds. The plastic strainer went in and was rammed up plum. Competitors call time when finished. The judges look for time/speed, correct height and plum inside 10mm each way. The top five go through to the semi-final and repeat the process with a breast plate put in this time on the correct pull for the fence line. Judges look for the WIRED MAGAZINE
