News of Saturday’s action, including Dame Valerie Adams winning the NZ gumboot throwing championship, brought even greater numbers to The Square in the city centre to watch top rural sportspeople and have a go themselves.
Dame Valerie, a Toyota ambassador, was on top form again giving young athletes some throwing tips in the Kids ‘n Country cowpat tossing contest and posing for selfies with spectators around the ground.
The day began with the NZ speed tree climbing Trans-Tasman championship.
After two disciplines – a work climb featuring tasks on different branches and a footlock race straight upwards – Australia took the team title with Byron Bay’s Terry Boston first, ahead of three-time world champion Scott Forrest from Kawerau, Bay of Plenty.
The country’s best female DIYer was then decided with a final test on stage after yesterday’s play barn-building elimination round.
Hawera policewoman Carly Toiaroa took women’s DIY challenge title with her mother, Roselle Ballantine from Palmerston North.
Regional rivalry was at stake as sheep dog trials returned to the games after a year’s absence in association. Mixed four-person teams of the best dog handlers from Manawatu and Wairarapa competed in the main events arena with the local team of Merv Williams, Kathryn Oliver, Don White and Tim Stevenson taking the win.
The NZ coal shovelling championship had added poignancy with this year’s 50th anniversary of the Strongman Mine disaster in which 19 people lost their lives. West Coast miners competed and helped manage the event with individual men’s and women’s titles going to Tyrell Green and Kylie Banks respectively.
Current and former members of national teams including Black Caps, Black Sox softballers and Black Diamonds baseballers then lined up in the NZ egg throwing and catching.
Final placings saw last year’s runners up, amateur athletes Nick Hornstein (Melbourne, Australia) and Robbie Hollander (Dairy Flat), go one better to win the trophy from Central Stags cricketers Bevan Small and Dane Cleaver in second and Black Diamonds Riki Paewai and Taylor Simmons in third.
The day, and the games, ended with one of the blue riband events – the NZ speed shear championship.
The ten best shearers in the country including the current and previous world champions Johnny Kirkpatrick and Rowland Smith were whittled down to a thrilling two-sheep final of Dion King (Napier) against Jimmy Samuels (Marton). Dion led throughout to take a narrow win and cheers from an enthusiastic crowd.
Games founder and trustee Steve Hollander said the move to Manawatu this year had paid off in spades.
“Our first two years in Queenstown were fantastic but the welcome we’ve received here in the agri heartland of New Zealand has been phenomenal. I feel as though the Games have found their spiritual home,” he said.
