South Island Field Days FCANZ Fencing Competition

As the alarm goes off at 3:30am, “Why?” is the only word that springs to mind. "Come to school on the bus", I said, "no rush, we will cut a track once you all arrive", I said. Then we entered the Doubles Fencing competition and our timeline changed somewhat. Fortunately, Outdoor Ed needed to pop a tramp on the calendar which reduced our 16 favourite friends to 6 but with the first pickup in Pleasant Point, she was a bit of an early start. Optimistically, the gear list for the day included blanky and pillow but the teenagers were unexpectedly alive so early in the morning and it was tunes of a similarly unexpected genre through to Rakaia. “Singing” Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus at the top of their delicate wee voices had the superior driver begging for another strike day and it was with desperation that a light bulb moment ensued - feed them! Can’t sing if they’re eating. So it was pies all round at the Rakaia Bakehouse followed by a brief period of blissful silence as we boosted through to Kirwee.

So it has rained and the Bear Grillz of PIA had organised gumboots and a tow rope. Smiling nicely and batting our eyelashes at the gate got us into the restricted parking area. A sea of mud left, right and sideways off all tracks had our superior driver questioning the pushing power of the teenagers. The desire to make a good impression overcame the perks of a good park and we unloaded fence side and headed off to park in a paddock far, far away … for 2 wheel drive vehicles. Inconspicuously parking amongst EVs and nana cars our team leader parked and made a hasty exit to the 4WD area to enter the grounds alongside other Mud Grippy vehicle owners. Now is a good time to remind the GD Community Bus Trust of my request for a 4WD van - please… am batting eyelashes!

So Quinn & Aidan are entering the Double Fencing Competition. This is a big deal. To explain: It is the only qualifying round in the South Island for the National Finals. Contestants generally are hard-out, experienced fencing contractors. So a couple of teenagers from GHS looked right at home.

Our fencers met us there. Apparently, it is not the done thing to arrive in a minivan, towing a trailer…. Quinn had packed 2 of every power tool known to man; an impressive line up for some school kids.

Did I mention it was cold? Very! Luckily PIA is kitted out head to toe by Highstreet, topped off with Woolworx beanies. Onsite just after 7 am to get our bearings, set up and start making friends. We had been doing a bit of practice at school and are very grateful for the help received from Struan Moore from Strainrite, the team at Stockade, plus Toby How Fencing and Ben Haugh Fencing.

The lads had to build 2 fences, one with a pivot crossing and the second, a 5 wire electric, angle and box stays, build and hang a gate, build a boarded section, dig in 3 posts and ram Y posts. We had a plan and agreed that it was more important to finish the build and get good feedback rather than worrying too much about time. We certainly lost points on time but the feedback and experience was invaluable. The great thing about the fencing contractors community is that they are all so helpful and generous in sharing their time and expertise, which we certainly made the most of. While we didn’t (and didn’t expect to) place, we certainly didn’t disgrace ourselves in the big boys world, managing to hold our own in a few sections including: Box assembly, angle stay, gate build and rails. The compere was quite impressed that the lads had gone to such extremes in order to get a day off school and that their reason for entering was that Mum/Sarah made me. Good job!

Meanwhile…. The intrepid PIA “A” team were let loose around the field days gleefully returning to describe the other school students onsite in formal uniform and school shoes in the ankle-deep mud. Maps were distributed with a carefully highlighted plan of attack - sites to visit and homework to get completed including photos and thank yous to all our sponsors and research into how to spend the PIA budget. Fortunately, the Buy button couldn’t leave the fencing.

Completion of the fencing saw a 2 hour power shop ahead of us beginning at Fonterra (PIA sponsors). Joy! There was a tanker driving simulator, MFS (Mrs Foley-Smith) leapt into the driver's seat ready to have confirmed her driving expertise of epic proportions when informed that you have to be over 16. Damn ID at home. So the hot seat is given up to Lydia, Charlotte and finally Ella. The first 2 were able to clearly demonstrate the superiority of female drivers worldwide with Ella experiencing a brief “Male” moment in stalling, familiarising herself with verge-side driving and climaxing in a roll. A small bribe saw Ella’s score deleted from all records and a more acceptable ranking reinstated. We have Goody’s driving on speed dial and several sessions are now booked. After relaxing in the members-only area it was off to introduce ourselves to Animal Tanning Services whom we are visiting next term in Invercargill. Amongst the wide variety of plush skins and rugs we found a cat. OMG thoughts abound as to the uses of fluffy beyond the grave.

Off to see Mark Holder (ex student) at Bushbuck to remind him he needs to release a women’s range, and then a sneaky wee stop at a distillery by the team leader to restock the gin cupboard. Photos with Crusaders and grunting with the best at the tractor demonstrations capped off the day.

Back to fencing for the prizegiving and pack up. Our next step is the Cadet Fencing competition in June at the National Field days at Mystery Creek. So getting judged and great feedback from official judges and sorting a plan of attack for the next level was awesome. A massive thank you to the FCANZ team, Nick Terry, Leanne & Nick Stanger, Collin and Noksee for running such a great day, looking after and including us- and sharing your talent and expertise. And a huge thank you to our sponsors: Stihl, Strainrite & Stockade. Man we learnt heaps.

5.30pm saw us hopping back to the minivan, discussing towing strategies as we went. One lonely minivan was left in the paddock, meaning there were no witnesses to our exit strategy. Bursting into song as we waited in the endless line of traffic was certainly something our fearless driver will remember, perhaps not fondly. This time it was One Direction: what a treat! We may or may not have done a Macca’s run thereby improving the music after Ashburton.

16 hours after pick up the class were tucked up at home. Teenagers are amazing, never ceasing to amaze me with their knowledge and attitude. I ran into one stall holder who was impressed with our group politely declining the goodie bag (not realising that the stern word had come from on high at the beginning of the day regarding grabbing free stuff we didn’t need). While the audio assault was enough to lower the level of the newly acquired gin bottle it was a fantastic day and we look forward to our next adventure next term with the Level 2 Trip Down South followed by Mystery Creek.