3 minute read
Journey to fencing judge
How do you go from your Trade Certificate in Hairdressing to a Fencing Judge at the NZ National Golden Pliers™ Competition? Marry a highly skilled fencer! (Although Owen was shearing when our paths crossed!)
It goes a little farther back; for sure fencing has been in my blood since I was a young girl.
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Dad worked outstandingly hard, shearing and fencing, during our farming aligned childhood. He had the patience to teach us well and I was off to work with him at every opportunity. From eight years old, I could hold a spade to the back of Dad’s battens, while he stapled. Memories are of heavy concrete posts, lots of barbed wire, ramming wet, puggy holes, Rangitikei clay stuck to your boots and sandpaper hands!
Dad would arrive home from work, I’d hear my name called and know it was time to go and stand on his spade and shovel handles while he diligently sharpened them with a sand stone.
Having our own two boys down the track, I am so very grateful for our parents valuable advice... the most important thing is to have your children with you as much as possible. We have joined Owen on his fence lines, whenever we could, instilling the same values and knowledge; learning fencing!
Previous to starting our family, Owen & I attended the Mystery Creek Fieldays every year, spending many hours watching the Golden Pliers™ & Silver Spades™ Competitions, before he entered both and competed for the next nine years. I was Owen’s number one fan of course and never left the sideline while he was competing, unaware of how much knowledge there was to gain, just through being there watching and supporting.
While taking a look at Owen & John’s doubles line in the Silver Spades™ Competition 2009, two judges asked if I could step aside, so they could look up the line. I commented they needn’t bother; they hadn’t got it right this time! Asking what I thought the problem was, “their post spacing,” was my reply. A grin was exchanged between the two and I was invited to judge!
Kim in judging mode at this years Golden Pliers™ Championship
Judging fencing has made me wish to turn the clock back, so that I could have a go in the doubles with Owen! It would be an amazing experience to complete a fence to the standard we see as judges.
To win the Golden Pliers™ is no mean feat; it’s a six hour marathon for the body and brain. Being prepared requires many words starting with ‘S’; tools need to be safe, sound, serviced, and sharp, always have spares of crucial items (there was a broken batten holder this year). Stamina plays a huge part and always have the specs well read and squared away in your head. Pimp your tools to suit the competition, Owen has a spade at home we call the ‘teaspoon’!
Owen & I both judge these days, doing the circuit of Hawke’s Bay, Taumarunui, Cambridge and Central Districts Field Days, on the build up to Mystery Creek. The eye becomes so keen, that we will be travelling to or away from a competition (or anywhere really) and at 100km’s, either of us will say, “Did you see that?” A fault in a new roadside fence will have been spotted!
Kim and her boys on the farm
It’s a great privilege to be involved in such a prestigious National Competition every year. The development of the Golden Pliers™, Silver Spades™, Bill Schuler and Silver Staples Competitions along with the guideline system for judging, is a pleasure to be a part of.
Years roll around and before you know it, we’re off for another week of all things fencing, with an eager, passionate team of volunteers, competitors, sponsors and supporters!
Kim Petersen
