Rural sports attract record turnout

Event hailed a success after Covid-19 break, with highlights of the best action hitting TV screens soon

The New Zealand Rural Games triumphantly returned to Palmerston North after a year-long hiatus because of the pandemic. The three-day event earlier this month at Te Marae o Hine / The Square attracted about 45,000 people, making it the largest edition of the games yet.

Competitions in various rural sports such as wood chopping, coal shovelling, sheep shearing, gumboot throwing, and egg throw and catch packed the event’s schedule.

The quality of sportspeople on display was world-class, Rural Games founder Steve Hollander says.

“It was a fantastic weekend for rural sports and, in terms of attendance, Saturday was our busiest day yet.”

One standout performer was Jarna Mihaere from Dannevirke, who set a new Rural Games record in the stones category of the Sir Eion Edgar Southern Hemisphere Highlander Championship.

Mihaere’s time of 25.43 seconds smashed the previous record by more than 15 seconds.

Palmerston North’s Adam Miller is the Southern Hemisphere Highlander Heavy Champion.

Central Hawke’s Bay’s Tony Bouskill took out the Speed Fencing Championship, pipping his son Tony at the post.

Manawatu¯ team Choppers (Norm Cherry, Shane Campbell, Ali Collis and Daniel Blenkiron) won the New Zealand Coal Shovelling Championship. Blenkiron was second in the men’s singles.

Marton’s Jimmy Samuels won the Men’s Speed Shearing Championship

Whanganui’s Daniel Purcell won the inaugural Golden Loader Championship.

Taumarunui’s Jack Jordan took out the Timbersports Men’s Championship — the morning after being named the New Zealand Rural Sports Awards Supreme winner.

Feilding High School won the North Island Secondary School Shearing Championship while a team from Napier Boys’ High School came second. Palmerston North Boys’ High School was third.

Lachie Cameron from Feilding High School was the first individual

It was a fantastic weekend for rural sports and, in terms of attendance, Saturday was our busiest day yet. Steve Hollander, Rural Games founder

Reefton’s Richard Banks senior won the men’s New Zealand Coal Shovelling Championship at the Rural Games in Palmerston North. Marton’s Jimmy Samuels (left) won the men’s Speed Shearing Championship.

quality shearer while Grace Carman from the same school won best wool handler. The Rural Games one-hour highlight programme hosted by Greg O’Connor and Olivia Caldwell screens on TV3 on Saturday at 5pm. It will be replayed on April 8 at 9.30am.