06 July 2011

It was a tough title to win but New Zealand’s new Young Farmer of the Year will be driving the world’s toughest ute for the next year.

Ashburton dairy farm manager Will Grayling is climbing into an Isuzu D-Max as a prize for the National Bank Young Farmer.

So is the young man who ran Will so close for the sought-after title, Tim van de Molen.

The 2011 Contest Champion and winner of the Agri-Sports Challenge each receive complimentary use of a new Isuzu D-Max for twelve months, worth $15,000 each.

Grand Final winner Will took the glory representing the Aorangi region, Agri-Sports champion Tim carried the hopes of Waikato/Bay of Plenty.

“At the end it was very close, a really exciting event to be involved in,” commented the General Manager of Isuzu Utes NZ, Greg MacDonald who watched the action unfold in Masteron.

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“All seven finalists did it tough, so it’s fitting the winners work with the country’s toughest ute – the only ute made by a truck maker,” said Mr MacDonald.

Will Grayling was not confident until right at the end.

“I thought it was slipping away several times – I got off to a rough start.”

“It’s been a pretty challenging week, there were some tough times but I stuck in there. A lot of hard work has gone into this and it’s great to get this result.”

Each Regional Final Winner is off on a hunting safari as part of their prize package.

“This Contest demonstrates all that is smart and trusted in New Zealand farming, so it has much in common with the Isuzu D-Max range,” commented Mr MacDonald.

“Isuzu knows New Zealand - our entire Isuzu D-Max operation incorporating the national import company and all dealerships are locally owned and operated.

“And we know farming, so we understand the trust farmers, of all ages, place in their ute.”

The New Zealand Isuzu D-Max network:

Whangarei Northland Isuzu – Moore Cars
Auckland Central Winger Commercial Isuzu
Waikato Waikato Motor Group
Tauranga Tauranga Isuzu
Rotorua Rotorua Isuzu
Taupo Wings and Wheels
Napier Bayswater Vehicles
Hastings Bayswater Vehicles
Marton, Feilding McVerry Crawford Motors
Nelson Bowater Isuzu
Christchurch Silvester Isuzu
Central Otago Dion’s Isuzu Central
Invercargill Southland Isuzu

ENDS

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