Fencing champion gives field day demo

World and national fencing champion Shane Bouskill, of Hawke's Bay, shows some of the fencing skills that have made him a champion, during a Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) field day at Earnscleugh Station, near Alexandra. He is hel
World and national fencing champion Shane Bouskill, of Hawke's Bay, shows some of the fencing skills that have made him a champion, during a Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) field day at Earnscleugh Station, near Alexandra. He is...
Farm workers travelled from the Maniototo to attend the Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand field day at Earnscleugh Station, near Alexandra, last Friday. From left are Bradley Sutton, of the Styx and the Lake District, Cumbria, UK, Samuel Brad
Farm workers travelled from the Maniototo to attend the Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand field day at Earnscleugh Station, near Alexandra, last Friday. From left are Bradley Sutton, of the Styx and the Lake District, Cumbria, UK, Samuel...
Fencing contractors (from left) Mitchell Lake, of Ida Valley, from Lake Contracting, Brandon Ward, of Winton and Hamish McDonald, of Otautau, and both from Brett Middleton Contracting, were interested in hearing world and national fencing champion Shane B
Fencing contractors (from left) Mitchell Lake, of Ida Valley, from Lake Contracting, Brandon Ward, of Winton and Hamish McDonald, of Otautau, and both from Brett Middleton Contracting, were interested in hearing world and national fencing champion...
Dunstan High School pupils (from left) Bob Watson (15), Ryan Ward (15) and Dylan Tapper (16) attended the field day.
Dunstan High School pupils (from left) Bob Watson (15), Ryan Ward (15) and Dylan Tapper (16) attended the field day.
Fencing contractors Ruben Connelly (left) and Bill Biggar, both of Cromwell's fencing company Precise Contracting Otago, were at the field day at Earnscleugh Station to learn new fencing ideas and improve their techniques.
Fencing contractors Ruben Connelly (left) and Bill Biggar, both of Cromwell's fencing company Precise Contracting Otago, were at the field day at Earnscleugh Station to learn new fencing ideas and improve their techniques.
Catching up on some new fencing techniques are (from left) Brian Neilson, Mike Stafford, and Mike Samuel, all of Alexandra and from Samuel Fencing, as well as son and father team Andrew Abercrombie, of Roxburgh, and Brian Abercrombie, of Roxburgh, from Ab
Catching up on some new fencing techniques are (from left) Brian Neilson, Mike Stafford, and Mike Samuel, all of Alexandra and from Samuel Fencing, as well as son and father team Andrew Abercrombie, of Roxburgh, and Brian Abercrombie, of Roxburgh, from...

The man with a 'PhD' in fencing, world and national fencing champion Shane Bouskill, of Hawke's Bay, was at Fruitlands, near Alexandra, last Friday, demonstrating best practice fencing techniques to 67 students, staff and contractors.

The field day at Earnscleugh Station was part of a series of workshops run by the Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) to promote standards, and provide training to members.

In addition to sponsors' representatives, there were several Dunstan High School students attending.

FCANZ board member John Noakes, Mr Bouskill and Rural Safe health and safety consultant Debbie Robertson, of Taupo, had travelled down on Thursday after holding similar events at Ashburton and Nelson earlier in the week, with 170 people in total attending all three.

Mr Noakes said Mr Bouskill had a PhD in fencing or rather, ''Post Hole Digging''.

He said the day had been ''fantastic'' with an excellent turnout.

''It was about sharing ideas, and we had our partners to talk about different products,'' Mr Noakes said.

''The day was about doing the basics well and showcasing the best of the best.

''We also helped out with [contractors'] business side of things, making it smarter so they make more money for what they do.''

Mr Noakes said they were considering holding a fourth field day, but not until next year as there were quite a few fencing competitions being held in the North Island during the next few months.

Samuel Fencing contractor Mike Samuel, of Alexandra, said they were grateful to Earnscleugh Station for allowing them to hold field day on their property.

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