World-class fencers will battle it out for title

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Owen Petersen

Correction: Incorrect date for the Silver Spades final (25 June). Correct date Friday 15 June.

May 11, 2007

World-class fencers will battle it out for “Golden Pliers” title at Mystery Creek Fieldays

The world number three and current New Zealand singles fencing champion will defend his Golden Pliers title at the Mystery Creek Fieldays,13-16 June 2007.

Owen Petersen, a fencing contractor from Owhango in the King Country, has been the Golden Pliers champion for the past two years and recently came third at the World Power Fencing Championship, held in Germany last May.

He says he is looking forward to defending his title at the Mystery Creek Fieldays this year, however says winning certainly doesn’t come easily.

“There is always tough competition at the Golden Pliers event. Each year my aim is to make it to the final – it’s important never to take it for granted that you will even makes it this far with the competition out there,” he said.

Owen, who has been fencing for the past 11 years, will be competing against some of New Zealand’s best fencers including nine-times Golden Pliers champion Paul Van Beers, and Wayne Newdick, who holds the world battening record.

The competition, which first began at the Te Rapa National Fieldays in 1969, has been an annual fixture at the Mystery Creek Fieldays since 1971 and is the only national singles fencing competition in New Zealand.

Former Golden Pliers participant and judge for this year’s competition, Rob Best, said the competition is also a great way for younger fencers to learn from the best in the industry.

“Golden Pliers is the highest level of competition on the fencing circuit and therefore a great training ground for young fencers. It is fantastic to see young guys coming through thirsty for knowledge and wanting to compete,” he said.

The Silver Spades doubles fencing competition will also be held at the Mystery Creek Fieldays and will see New Zealand’s best fencers competing side-by-side.

Both competitions are a true test of endurance and skill with judges marking the singles and teams competitors on speed, quality and appearance. Judges will also test the fence for loading, footing strength and wire tension.

The eight finalists for the Golden Pliers competition and the six teams for the Silver Spades finals will be decided on at the heats beginning on Tuesday 12th June. Finals will start at 8am on Thursday 14 June and at 8.30am on Friday 15 June respectively.

The winner of the Golden Pliers competition will not only walk away with the coveted Golden Pliers trophy, but also $5,000 cash, while the doubles teams will compete for the Silver Spades trophies and $2,000 in cash.

Wiremark is proud to be principal sponsor of the Golden Pliers and Silver Spade competitions and support quality workmanship at a highly regarded event. Wiremark is the quality mark that appears on all New Zealand-made fencing wire.

Wiremark will be shouting lunch on its site at the Fieldays between 11.30am and 1.30pm each day of the competition, from Wednesday June 13 to Friday June 15. Visitors to the site will also have the opportunity to enter the Wiremark Mystery Weekend Competition, as well as take away a goodie bag which includes a complimentary copy of ‘Fencing the Proven Way’, Wiremark’s fencing tips booklet.

For more information on how to enter the Golden Pliers please contact Lianne Dunbar at the Mystery Creek Events Centre on 07 843 449. Entries close June 1 2007.

ENDS

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