Taumarunui fencers Bill Brewer and Simon Green have set a world record of 11 minutes and 38 seconds for stapling 30 battens on a nine-wire fence at the inaugural Fairbrother Speed Fencing Challenge.

The competition attracted about 20 competitors who put their stapling skills to the test last at Grasslandz Agricultural Machinery Expo in the hot summer sun at Eureka near Hamilton last week where Bill and Simon took away the $1000 first prize.

Simon Green (right) and Bill Brewer Winners: Fairbrother Speed Fencing Challenge.

Fairbrother Industries sales manager Ken Lawson says the event attracted fencing contractors as well as young farmers and who don't enter formal fencing competitions.

'This competition is a world first from Fairbrother Industries, New Zealand's innovators in fencing and agricultural equipment. Fairbrother Industries is proud to sponsor the speed fencing challenge as fencing is an essential element of farming and this fencing challenge is a great opportunity for people to showcase their skills.

'We will be running this event again at the 2016 Grasslandz and also hope to be running similar but smaller battening contests at regional field days.”

The event was judged by two highly experienced fencers and fencing competition judges, Wayne Newdick and Nick Liefting, who monitored for quality standards and ensured that for each nine faults, contestants had to add another batten.

Team Time Prize money

1. Bill Brewer, Simon Green 11m 38s $1,000
2. Tim Stafford, Jeff Joines 14m 9s $500
3. Troy Brooky, Cameron Beaven 14m 11s $300
4. Gordon Hansen, Jarrad Nicholson 15m 24s $100
5. Rex Graham, Blair Eade 20m 13s $100
6. Ben Boys, Thomas Wilson 23m 51s $100