Competition runs hot at 2015 Northland Field Days

Competition was fierce at the 2015 Northland Field Days this year say organisers with the Quad Skills, tractor pulllogging sports and sheep trials all receiving a good number of top flight entries.

Well over twenty thousand visitors flooded into Dargaville between February 26 and 28 this year say organisers with many coming to check out the very popular logging sports, tractor pull and sheep trial events.

Michael Frood took out the main tractor pull competition this year with Robbie Yates and Matt Sandford coming in close behind.

The fearsome Paniora Logging Teams were a major presence at the competition again in 2015 with Paniora Logging Team Two taking out the prize for best team with Paniora Logging Team One taking third place. Hogg held onto second place for the second year in a row.

The 2015 Northland Logger sport Stihl logger of the year award went to Shane Oliver.

The 2015 event saw the introduction of a log loading competition which organisers are eager to bring back in 2016.

Alan van Hartingen took out the quad skills competition with Wendy Schick winning the ladies competition.

Master national Sheepdog trialist Murray Child proved to be too strong in the sheepdog trials again this year taking out first third and fifth position in the open competition with his dogs May, Ace and Dice respectively although Ian Mckinnon did come close with his dog Tess.

The top novice award for the trials went to Erin Bell who the Northland Sheep Dog Association promotions and publicity officer Chris Robertson described as being unlucky at missing out on getting into the final round with her dog Speedy.

"The sheep were really tough this year."

Robertson says he was also impressed by the efforts of trialist Andy Ross.

Ross made it into the finals with both of his dogs, Pip and his novice dog Bruce, who had only taken part in three other dog trials before the Northland event.

While Pip was plagued with tough sheep Bruce was able to take sixth place in the competition.

"It's not an easy event, there's helicopters whirring off, there're people and side by sides going alongside it's a tricky event."

He says though there was a good level of interest in the event. "People came down for their lunch and then stayed a good long time."

Two members of the World Sailing Community, Kristelle Beauparlant and Sam Jack Blue, toured the event grounds on the Friday and Saturday.

Visitors could also take a step back in time at the Honeycraft Pioneers stand.

Displaying furnishings, equipment and goods likely to be found in a Colonial Cottage Pam Parkinson guided visitors through the conditions likely to be experienced by pioneers when they first arrived in New Zealand.

Parkinson says there was almost a constant flow of people going through the tent with her biggest pleasure being seeing the children learn something about their past.

Several youth organisations took part in the Field Days including the Northland Young Farmers Club and the Youth Into Industries initiative, a group dedicated to getting more of Northland’s young people into contracting, forestry and mining roles.

An estimated 32 kids attended the event with tutors saying many showed high levels of promise and enthusiasm.

Organisers were thrilled with the overall event saying it was a very enjoyable experience.

"2015 was a thrilling event and we are looking forward to the event in 2016," says Duggan.

"We have huge plans on making the event and the grounds even better than last year."

Held in Dargaville, two and a half hours Northwest of Auckland, 40 minutes west of Whangarei and one hour South of Kaikohe the Northland Field Days is a fun three day event held at the end of February.

Anybody interested on finding out what events are available can check out the Northland Field Days website: http://www.northlandfielddays.co.nz For media inquires get in contact with Gareth Gillatt at 09 436 1088 or 022 136 8805 or email him gareth@oddjobpr.com

Results:

TRACTOR PULL

Main Plate:

1st Michael Frood

2nd Robbie Yates

3rd Matt Sanford

Consulation Plate:

1st Richard Smith

2nd Debbie Martin

3rd Jye Tau

Best New Entrant:

Penny Searle

Teams:

1st Pulling Away - Mark Phillips, Richard Smith, Penny Searle

2nd We’re Doing It - Lochlan Sidwell, Matt Thomas, Matt Sandford

3rd Pulling It - Jye Tau, Jason Donoghue, Shane Taurua

Carl Phillips Memorial for Sportsmanship:

Dwayne Blitvic

QUAD SKILLS COMPETITION

Open Event:

1st Alan van Hartingen

2nd Kyle van Hartingen

3rd Glenn Mariscal

Ladies Event:

1st Wendy Schick

2nd Megan Browning

3rd Cynthia Mills

Sheep dog trials:

1st Murray Child - May 97/100

2nd Ian McKinnon - Tess 93.5/100

3rd Murray Child - Ace 92.5/100

4th Barney Robinson - Dan 88/100

5th Murray Child - Dice 84.5

Top Novice Erin Ball with Speedy 81(est)

Human sheep dog teams

Northland Field Days

Ballance Agri-Nutrients

Farmlands

SPONSORED PRIZE LIST FOR 2015 COMPETITION

INDIVIDUAL STOCK SAW SPONSORED BY : CABLEPRICE & PRODUCT BY STIHL
3RD TIME OF: 10.25s Troy Stanley
2ND TIME OF: 10.19s Rob Paniora
1ST TIME OF: 9.85s Tu Mau

INDIVIDUAL WOODSPLIT SPONSORED BY : WOODSMAN & PRODUCT BY STIHL
3RD TIME OF: 25.34s Teariki Mataki
2ND TIME OF: 25.25s Rob Paniora
1ST TIME OF: 23.78s Jason Sheen

INDIVIDUAL BARFIT SPONSORED BY : WOODSMAN & PRODUCT BY STIHL
1ST Logger TIME OF: 9.10s Will Hurst
1ST Ladies TIME OF: 14.28s Joy Jones
1ST Novice TIME OF: 21.85s Lisa Bowman

INDIVIDUAL LOGGER WAVE CUT SPONSORED BY : DARGAVILLE FORD & PRODUCT BY STIHL
3RD TIME OF: 10.78s Elton Hawkings
2ND TIME OF: 10.56s Beau Topia
1ST TIME OF: 9.91s Riki Ngakuru

INDIVIDUAL LADIES WAVE CUT SPONSORED BY : DARGAVILLE FORD & PRODUCT BY STIHL
3RD TIME OF: 13.88s Kylee Treadaway
2ND TIME OF: 13.47s Darry Topia
1ST TIME OF: 11.69s Lisa Bowman

SPONSORS WAVE CUT SPONSORED BY : STIHL
1ST Carey – SHAWS WIREROPES

LADIES EVENT SPONSORED BY : BLACKBURNE GROUP & PRODUCT BY STIHL
3RD TIME OF: 13.40s Lindee Mataki
2ND TIME OF: 13.12s Lisa Bowman
1ST TIME OF: 13.09s Shavaun Paniora

HOTSAW SPONSORED BY : FLUIDPOWER & PRODUCT BY STIHL
3RD TIME OF: 7.40s Teariki Mataki
2ND TIME OF: 6.78s Beau Topia
1ST TIME OF: 6.56s Henry Hale

ROPE SPLICE SPONSORED BY : CABLEPRICE
Isaac Sander
Teariki Mataki

TEAMS EVENT SPONSORED BY SHAWS WIREROPES / ROSEWARNE CABLE LOGGERS:
3RD TIME OF: 1.33.16s Paniora Two
2ND TIME OF: 1.29.41s HOG
1ST TIME OF: 1.14.03s Paniora One

NORTHLAND LOGGER SPORT 2014 LOGGER OF THE DAY SPONSORED BY STIHL:
Shane Oliver

GOUGH CAT LOG LOADING EXHIBITION:
4TH equal Ardie Mahu & James Cruck 61.5pts
3RD Greg Blaxland 66pts
2ND Jason Osborne 67.5pts
1ST Boy Paniora 71.5pts

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