The Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games transformed Te Marae o Hine, The Square, into a vibrant hub of competition and community over the weekend, with an estimated record crowd of 45,000 plus people enjoying mostly perfect weather and witnessing both sporting royalty and major upset victories!
Founder Steve Hollander declared the 2026 edition the biggest and best yet, thanks to the glorious conditions and the incredible atmosphere created by the crowd.
“What a weekend! The sun shone, the fans turned out in record numbers, and the atmosphere in ‘Palmy’ was absolutely pumping,” said Hollander. “To see such a huge crowd of people packing The Square, cheering on our athletes and having a go themselves, is just phenomenal. It cements Te Marae o Hine as the best central city park in the country and Palmy as the true home of rural sport.”
“Our Rural Games whānau from across New Zealand and Australia love coming here,” Hollander added.
The 2026 Games delivered a mix of expected dominance and stunning results that shook up the leaderboards. In one of the day’s biggest shocks, the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS NZ Men’s Championship saw a changing of the guard, with Stratford’s Shane Jordan taking the title and unseating four-time champion Jack Jordan – his little brother!
The shearing world also saw a new champion crowned, with Masterton’s Paerata Abraham (a former Palmerston North Boy’s High School old boy) claiming victory in his 11th attempt in the Tony Chapman New Zealand Speed Shear Championships. In another tight contest, Tony Bouskill from Putorino in Hawke’s Bay toppled defending champion Tim Garrick to win the Future Post NZ Speed Fencing Championship.
Meanwhile, nine-times Skellerup NZ Women’s Gumboot Throwing Champion, Taihape’s Kristin Churchward, handed over the reins to Christchurch’s Lucy McIntyre.
Dannevirke’s Jarna Mihaere broke his own Manawatu River stones New Zealand Rural Games record
Major Results & Highlights:
- STIHL Timbersports NZ Men’s Championship: In a major upset, Shane Jordan (Stratford) claimed victory, ending Jack Jordan’s four-year reign. Jack Jordan (Taumarunui) finished 2nd, with Quintin Fawcett (Masterton) in 3rd.
- Tony Chapman NZ Speed Shear Championships with StockLines and Starrett: Paerata Abraham (Masterton) sheared his way to the title, finishing ahead of Jack Fagan (Te Kūiti) and Hemi Braddick (Eketahuna).
- Future Post NZ Speed Fencing Championship with Summitt Steel & Wire and Strainrite: Tony Bouskill (Putorino) secured first place, with John Graham (Woodville) in 2nd and Tim Garrick (Gisborne) in 3rd. Garrick did, however, take out the Insulator Challenge.
- Skellerup NZ Gumboot Throwing Champs: The North Island dominated the team events. In the individual men’s, Stuart McNie (Bulls) took top honours (44.20m), followed by Andrew McNie (Bulls) and Doug McNie (Bulls). In the women’s, Lucy McIntyre (Christchurch) was the winner with a throw of 34.63m.
- Sir Eion Edgar Trans-Tasman Highlander Championship sponsored by PTS Logistics and TransAg: Palmerston North’s own Adam Miller claimed the Individual Overall title and helped lead the New Zealand team to victory over Australia.
- NZ Arb Speed Tree Climbing Husqvarna, TreeHub andSilky Saws: The Waikato/Bay of Plenty team of Stephanie Dryfhout and Jonny Muirhead took out the championship title.
- Bathurst Resources NZ Coal Shovelling Champs with McIntosh Farm Machinery: CrossFit Palmerston North Team 3 were the fastest team, while the West Coast’s Royce Green took out the Men’s Singles title.
- Agri Futures Clash of the Colleges: Rathkeale College were crowned Senior Team Winners, while Palmerston North Boys’ High School teams dominated the Junior division.
- The Grumpy Award, given out to those who have gone above and beyond: Jointly awarded to Paerata Abraham for persistence and the win, and Shane Jordan who overcame a long-term serious illness and recently sprained ankle to return to the podium.
Two major hits with the crowd were the Heartland Cottage Petting Zoo and the Steam Traction Engine Society from Feilding which had two engines taking families for rides around The Square – historically The Square, was one of Aotearoa’s largest train junctions.
Missed the action? TV1’s one-hour highlights show will bring all the excitement to screens nationwide on Easter Saturday at 4pm. Hosted by Farm4Life’s Tangaroa Walker and One News Sports Reporter Bonnie Jansen, it will be followed by nine rural sport TVNZ+ programmes that will be released successively in the weeks that follow.
The Winners of the Palmy Bid Great Rural Games Voucher Giveaway were:
- $1,000 – Collum an Irishman now living in Invercargil, he and his wife went on a spending spree before heading home on Sunday
- $600 – Jay a schoolboy from Dannevirke
- $400 – Andrew a builder from Taranaki – who has always wanted to come to the Games before but never been able to.
Full results on the 2026 Ford Ranger NZ Games are below:
STIHL Timbersports #NewZealand Men’s Championship
- 1st Overall – Shane Jordan from Stratford – 76 pts
- 2nd Overall – Jack Jordan from Taumarunui – 58 pts
- 3rd Overall – Quintin Fawcett from Masterton – 55 pts
- Jason Wynyard Memorial Trophy: Robert Dowling of Tuatapere
NZ Axemen’s Association presents the Wood-Mizer NZ Axemen’s Rookies Championship supported by STIHL
- 1st: Morgan Bolstad from Taumarunui
- 2nd: Scott Matthews from Hokitikia
- 3rd: Mathew Gower from Whangamomona
NZAA presents the Tuatahi Axes NZ Axewomen’s Championship supported by STIHL
- 1st: Darcell Apelu of Mt Maunganui
- 2nd: Louise Nalder of Greymouth
- 3rd Mikhayla Lord of Otorohanga
NZ Fencing Competitions presents Future Post NZ Speed Fencing Championship in association with Strainrite and Summit Steel & Wire
- 1st Tony Bouskill from Putorino
- 2nd John Graham from Woodville
- 3rd Tim Garrick from Gisborne
- Insulator Challenge: Tim Garrick
NZ Sheep Dog Trials Association presents the Sam Strahan Sheep Dog Trials with PTS Logistics
Winners Women’s Team:
- Bridget Henson from Kereru with Phoebe – 94 points
- Jo McIntyre from Matawai with Ross & Kim – 80
- Lana Chrystal from Dannevirke with Belle & Fern – 92 points
- Vicki Morris from Piopio with Clap & Doug – 86 points
Men’s Team – second place:
- Andrew McDowal from Hastings with Time – 81 points
- Barry McIntyre from Matawai with Baldy & Stag – 81 points
- Ben Weeks from Matawai with Baldy & Stag – 90 points
- Donovan Morris from Piopio with Snow & Flick – 78 points
NZ Arb Speed Tree Climbing in association with Husqvarna, Silky Saws and TreeHub:
- 1st Team: Waikato / Bay of Plenty: Stephanie Dryfhout and Jonny Muirheard
- 2nd Team: Auckland: Luke Saxer-Tidswell and Brianna Uivel
- 3rd Team: South Island: Brad Fast and Chrissy Spence
- 4th Team: Wellington: Eddie White and Frances Wright-Jones
Skellerup New Zealand Gumboot Throwing Championship
- Women’s: North Island v South Island: North Island
- Men’s: North Island v South Island: North Island
- Women’s Team:
- 1st Lucy McIntyre from Christchurch 34.63
- 2nd Jess Port from Pohangina, Manawatu 30.40
- Kristin Churchward from Taihape: 30.09
- Men’s Team:
- Stuart McNie from Bulls 44.20
- Andrew McNiew from Bulls: 41.02
- Doug McNie from Bulls: 39.73
Bathurst Resources NZ Coal Shovelling Championships in association with McIntosh Farm Machinery
TEAMS:
1st – CrossFit Palmerston North Team 3 (14.73)
2nd – Choppers (16.94)
MEN’S DOUBLES:
1st – Adam Sciascia & Lachlan Fee (18.01)
2nd – Richard Banks Senior (Reefton) & Royce Green (Runanga) (18.11)
WOMEN’S DOUBLES:
1st – Rhiannon & Lydiah (43.16)
2nd – Amy & Abby (55.05)
MEN’S SINGLES:
1st – Royce Green (29.95)
2nd – Lachlan Fee
Sir Eion Edgar Trans-Tasman Highlander Championship
In association with TransAg, New Holland, and The Float Factory
Individual Overall: Adam Miller, Palmerston North
Team Overall:
| Place | Team | Members | Hometowns |
| 1st | New Zealand | Adam Miller Craig Manson Jarna Mihaere | Palmerston North Ashburton Dannevirke |
| 2nd | Australia | Bradman Houston Lachlan Page Luke Reynolds | Sydney Adelaide Sydney |
Individual Event Results:
| Event | Winner(s) | Details / Notes |
| 56lb Weight for Height | Adam Miller Jarna Mihaere | (Tied 1st Place) |
| Caber (18’6, 47kg) | Craig Manson | |
| River Stones Round (1 vs 1: stones for height, open stone put, 80kg Unspunnen) | New Zealand | (Team Victory) |
| 28lb Weight for Distance | Lachlan Page | Australia |
| Natural Stones (100–156kg) | Jarna Mihaere | |
| New Holland 3 vs 3 Tractor Push/Pull | New Zealand | (Team Victory) |
Rural Games records that were broken:
- Lachlan Page from Adelaide, broke Craig Manson’s Games record of 20.84m in the 28lb Weight for Distance with a 21.74m record in extra throws to break the record again.
- Jarna Mihaere of Dannevirke took just over half a second off the Rural Games record in the Stones to Barrel, with 24.82seconds.
Tony Chapman New Zealand Speed Shear Championships with Stocklines and Starrett
| Place | Competitor | Hometown | Time |
| 1st | Paerata Abraham | Masterton | 43.24 |
| 2nd | Jack Fagan | Te Kūiti | 45.65 |
| 3rd | Hemi Braddick | Eketahuna |
Steve Hollander NZ Egg Throw & Catch Championship
| Place | Names | Team / Region | Distance |
| 1st | Hugh Chapman & Robbie Hollander | Australia / New Zealand | 55m |
| 2nd | Kaden S & Byron M | Manawatu Jets | 50m |
| 3rd | Christian M & Nathan W | Manawatu Jets | 40m |
North Island Secondary School Shearing Championship
- 1st Team – Feilding High School with 59.96 points: Alex Wrenn (Shearer), Mac Foreman (Shearer), Anna Harre (Wool Handler), Amelia Player (Wool Handler)
- 2nd Team – Feilding High School with 67.45 points: Hunter Wigglesworth (Shearer), Jack Bailey (Shearer), Ana Waugh (Wool Handler), Maizey Wrenn (Wool Handler)
- 3rd Team – Palmerston North Boys High School with 290.3 points: Wills Madden (Shearer), Oliver Bambry (Shearer), Tom Madden (Wool Handler), Alex Bennett (Wool Handler)
- Individual Awards:
- 1st Individual Quality Shearer: Mac Foreman from Feilding High School
- Best Wool Handler: Amelia Player from Feilding High School
Egg Roulette:
- Adults – 1st place: Ryosuke Kozaki from Japan
- Children:
- 1st: Rueben from Palmerston North
- 2nd Archie from Dannevirke
Courtesy Ford Haystacking a Ute
- 10am: 1st: Steve Morris – 19:62
- 12 pm: Robert – 20:74
- 2pm: 1st Tom – 21.40
NZ Cowpat Throwing Champs with Speights
- Mens: Benny Cuff from Dannevirke with a throw of 31m
- Womens: Rowena Duncum of Auckland with a throw of 24m
- Children’s Cowpat Throwing with Federated Farmers: Poppy Prasser, New Plymouth with 27m
Courtesy Ford Haystacking
- 10am: Jade Williams from Palmerston North 28.64
- 12pm: John Southee from Feilding 15.9
- 2pm: Ronnie from Palmerston North: 28.36
Agri Futures Clash of the Colleges with Massey University, Danone New Zealand and Gallagher
Gumboot Throw:
- Intermediate Girls: 1st Mia (Hiwinui School) 16m, Joint 1st Elsie Giesen (Hunterville School) 15m
- Intermediate Boys: 1st Lochie Coleman (Hunterville School) 18m
- Junior Girls: 1st Bell Berry (Feilding High School) 14m
- Junior Boys: 1st Doug McNie (Feilding High School) 40m
- Senior Girls: 1st Silivia Taeiloa (Horowhenua College) 22m
- Senior Boys: 1st Gibson Morgan (Te Aute College) 30m
Intermediate Team Winners:
- 1st Place: Hunterville School – Team 4 (124 points) Team Members: Lochie Coleman, Elsie Giesen, Kyle Watson, Nelly Harvey, Rylee Huston and Quylla McKay
Junior Team Winners:
- 3rd Place: Rathkeale College – Team 11 (117 points)
- Team Members: Jack Fenemor, Caleb Gammie, Angus Jackson, Fergus McGuinness
- 2nd Place: Palmerston North Boys’ High School – Team 21 (118.5 points)
- Team Members: Lochie Fennell, Jack Pedersen, Ben Ramsay, Eddie Wilson
- 1st Place: Palmerston North Boys’ High School – Team 23 (121.5 points)
- Team Members: Jimmy Linklater, Paddy Rickard, Hugo Skerman, Cruz Webb
Senior Team Winners:
- 3rd Place: Feilding High School: Team 128: Austin Law, Ollie Hawker, Keane O’Fee and George Elder – with 124.5points
- 2nd Place: Rathkeale: Team 57: Isaac Honeysett, Toby Lammas, Zarndy Williams and Haami Telford – with 125 points
- 1st Place: Rathkeale Team 44: Campbell Bassett, Hamish Bunny, Sam Goodwin and Ricki Reynolds – with 129.5 points