A Test Match But Not as We Know It

Media release
10 April 2013

A Test Match But Not as We Know It

It’s an unlikely set of sports gear - three chickens, slabs of beef, pork and lamb and a set of sharp knives, but two of Northland’s top butchers are hoping it’ll be the tools they need to slice, bone and dice their way to victory against their North Island counterparts.

New World’s Karl Ter Borg and Jeremy Garth were chosen from dozens of other hopefuls to represent the South Island in the inaugural North vs. South Battle of the Butchers – with the chance to represent New Zealand in Britain next year.

The pair will team up with three other butchers to form Team South Island, and will have only two hours to turn a beef hindquarter, a side of lamb, a side of pork and three chickens into a top shelf butchery display. The inter-island duel will take place on Saturday 20 April, in New Plymouth.

It’s the first time in a 30-year career that New World Nelson City’s Karl Ter Borg will actually compete in his trade – much to the amusement of his butchery department colleagues.

“I used to train New World’s butcher apprentices and would encourage the guys to enter these sorts of competitions so when this one came up I thought I better have a go myself. The guys have been teasing me with the usual jokes but everyone has been really supportive and Greg Guy (store owner) is even sponsoring me. I feel pretty proud of our butchery anyway but it’s really great to know I have so many people behind me,” says Karl.

Team mate, Jeremy Garth from New World St Martin’s is hoping his sausage- making secrets will be the team’s winning ticket against their north island rivals. The 24 year-old is a seasoned competitor and gourmet meats specialist, winning the 2011Young Butcher Upper South Island competition.
“I love creating gourmet cuts of meat and am really looking forward to the competition – I’ve even been practicing a few sneaky cuts at work!”

Foodstuffs South Island CEO, Steve Anderson says both men are highly-skilled butchers and their North Island competitors will need to be at peak performance to stand a chance of beating them.

“Karl and Jeremy are highly regarded butchers, and this is a great opportunity for them to show off their top-notch skills. We’re all cheering for them and of course we’d love to be able to rib our mates in the North Island that we’ve beaten them,” he says.

Karl and Jeremy will be joined by Nolton Laing and Nicholas Tobin from Harris Meats in Cheviot, and Timmy Watson from Ashby’s Fine Meats and Deli.

The winning team will go on to compete later in the year against the current national team, the Wedderburn Sharp Blacks, this will determine the top butchers in the country who will travel to Britain for the international tri-series in 2014.

ENDS

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