Weekend of Rural Games Championships

Tens of thousands of people joined the fun, as town met country in the heart of Palmerston North at the Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games.

Rural Games Founder Steve Hollander said the sixth annual rural games was blessed with beautiful weather.

More than 30,000 people gathered to enjoy the event and watch competitors go head to head in tests of skill like fencing, shearing and milking.

The Fonterra Have a Go events, where people could take a shot at similar tests as the competitors, including hay stacking, speed milking, gumboot and cowpat throwing, were a highlight for many.

Dunedin’s Kieran Fowler took out the New Zealand Men’s Gumboot Throwing Champion won with a 48.29m throw and then took out the 360 Bill Tapley Memorial Cow Pat Throw with a 37.54m throw. Taihape’s Kristin Churchward retained her top spot at Women’s NZ Gumboot Throw with a 32.93m throw.

The inaugural Southern Hemisphere Highlander Champion is Adam Miller of Palmerston North taking out giants from around New Zealand, Australia and Canada.

The 2019 Norwood New Zealand Rural Sportsman of the Year took out the Speed Fencing Championship.

Team New Zealand took out the ANZAXE championship for the sixth year in a row and Jack Jordan from Taranaki won both saw and axe competitions.

Team Whanganui took out the inaugural The Sam Strahan Memorial Sheep Dog Trial Challenge

The Speed shearing final was between two of Te Kuiti’s favourite sons – Jack Fagan pipped Digger Balme at the post winning the 2020 championship.

New Zealand Rural Games Trust Chair Margaret Kouvelis said the memorable weekend was made possible thanks to the generous support of all our sponsors especially Ford, Fonterra, Husqvarna, Norwood and Palmerston North City Council.

“2020 is going to be a tough year for many. I hope the Games provided welcome relief as we continue to tackle drought and as we start to tackle Covid-19.”

“Together, we the rural communities of Aotearoa will keep the country running by putting food on the shelves. Our forebears went through a lot worse, and we all need to stay strong, keep our chins up and keep an eye on our neighbours – Kia Kaha everyone.”

2020 Ford Ranger New Zealand Championship results

Husqvarna ANZAXE Trans-Tasman Wood Chopping Championship

• 1^st
• 2^nd
• 3^rd
• Winning Saw
• Winning Axe
• Winning Team

• Jack Jordan
• Shane Jordan
• Kody Steers
• Jack Jordan
• Jack Jordan
• New Zealand

Southern Hemisphere Highlander Champion brought to you by Professionals Rural

• 1^st
• 2^nd
• 3^rd

• Adam Miller (Palmerston North) 13.5
• Luke ‘Blue Mountain’ Reynolds 17
• Craig Manson

Trans Tasman Speed Tree Championship brought to you by Treetech, Guardian Tree Services & NZARB

• 1^st Mens
• 1^st Womens
• 2^nd Mens
• 3^rd Mens

• Tiago Miranda (NZ)
• Maja Blasch (Aus)
• Jeremy Millar (Aus)
• James Gigliotti (Aus)

Teams

• 1^st
• 2^nd

• New Zealand 343.41
• Australia

Speed Shearing Championship brought to you by McFall Fuel

Mens

• 1^st
• 2^nd
• 3^rd
• 4^th

• Jack Fagan (Te Kuiti)
• Digger Balme (Te Kuiti)
• Marshall Guy (Taumarunui)
• Rowland Smith (Hastings)

Womens

• 1^st
• 2^nd

• Laura Bradley (Woodville)
• Sarah Higgens (Blenheim)

Gearing Up Championships brought to you by Zilco, Harness Racing New Zealand and Harness Racing Manawatu

• 1^st
• 2^nd
• 3^rd

• Dylan Ferguson (Cambridge) 3.09
• Jay Abernathy (Pukekohe) 3.17
• Kyle Marshall (Cambridge)

Olivestone Spitting Championship brought to you by Tigerturf and Awahuri Olives

• 1^st
• 2^nd
• 3^rd

• Riki Paewai (Auckland) 10.92
• Danny Hemmingway (Palmerston North) 10.4
• Richard Port (Palmerston North) 9.4

NZ Speed Fencing in association with Wiremark & FCANZ and NZFC

• 1^st
• 2^nd
• 3^rd

• Tony Bouskill (Napier)
• Haydon Walton (Gisborne)
• Mike Billinghurst (Fielding)

Skellerup NZ Gumboot Throwing Championship

Womens

• 1^st
• 2^nd
• 3^rd

• Kristen Churchward (Taihape)
• Dell Adams (Taihape)
• Shelly Norris (Christchurch)

Mens

• 1^st
• 2^nd
• 3^rd

• Kieran Fowler (Dunedin)
• Jack Murrell (Taihape)
• Riki Paewai (Auckland)

The Sam Strahan Memorial Sheep Dog Trial Challenge – brought to you by Powerco

• 1^st Team – Whanganui (374 in 15mins)

• Paul Evans with Richie
• Jamie Shrubsall with Whip and Lash
• Steph Tweed with Flirt and Grit
• Alex Matthews with Rex and Bonnie

• 2^nd Team – Hawkes Bay (314 in 15mins)

• Laurie Horsfall with Raid
• Bob Bruce with Jaco and Susan
• Peter Williams with Star and Frank
• David Evans with May and Rose

Egg Throw and Catch Championship brought to you by Williment Travel

• 1^st
• 2^nd
• 3^rd

• Lachie Davidson and Ben McColgan – 58.2m
• Robbie Hollander and Jack Taylor – 50m
• Chase Jordan and Bruce McDonald – 45m

360 – Bill Tapley Memorial Cow Pat Throw

• 1^st
• 2^nd
• 3^rd

• Kieran Fowler – 37.54
• Robbie Hollander – 31.25
• Austin Nelson – 25.9

FMG Russian Egg Roulette

• 1^st
• 2^nd
• 3^rd

• Tipene Peni (Palmerston North)
• Carl Thompson (Palmerston North)
• Matt Shakespeare (Palmerston North)

The Sulky Shop Sulky Race

• 1^st
• 2^nd
• 3^rd

• Fielding High School
• Hockey Manawatu
• RNZAF

MacDougall Wool Fadge Race

• 1^st
• 2^nd
• 3^rd

• Fielding High School
• RNZAF
• Hockey Manawatu

Super Liquor Man & Mutt Race

• 1^st
• 2^nd
• 3^rd
• 4^th
• 5^th

• Brice Hirschberg and Louie – Manawatu
• William Roberston and Harvey – Palmerston North
• Chris Lines and Cooper – Whanganui
• Kurt Armstrong and Storm – Opiki
• Charles Bennett and Kate – Taihape

Allflex Clash of the Colleges

Seniors

• 1^st
• 2^nd
• 3^rd

• Rathkeale 1 (82.85/110)
• Rathkeale 3 (81.4/110)
• Fielding High School (75.55/110)

Juniors

• 1^st
• 2^nd
• 3^rd

• PNGHS 3 (71.2/110)
• PNBHS 6 (70.7/110)
• Fielding High School 9 (68.9/110)