The third annual Canterbury Clash of the Colleges stuck a stunning day at the Ashburton A&P Show.
Established by the New Zealand Rural Games Trust, the Clash of the Colleges is a fast-paced, amazing race-style competition. It offers students hands-on experience in various aspects of the rural sector. Teams of four compete in 16 modules, all run by experts and members of Hinds Young Farmer Club with support from students from Ashburton College.
Agri Futures general manager Daniel O’Regan said the third Canterbury Clash was a huge success and thanked the team at the Ashburton A&P Show for providing an exceptional venue and an event that is a well-run machine.
“We had students from Oamaru to Christchurch participate in the activities that tested students’ knowledge across agriculture and horticulture. It was fantastic to have Rangi Ruru clean sweep the seniors especially as the school doesn’t yet have Ag and Hort classes.”
Senior Awards, presented by the Minister of Rural Communities and Associate Minister of Agriculture, New Zealand First MP Mark Patterson:
- First: Rangi Ruru: Tabitha White, Mikayla Malloy, Milli Pottinger, Charlotte Slater
- Second: Rangi Ruru: Brooke Cooper, Laura Kelso, Sophie Orchard
Junior Awards, presented by Rangitata MP James Meager:
- First: Waimate High School: Jonty Charles, Lewis Gardiner, Blake Paling, Fergus Robertson
- Second: Rangi Ruru: Bonnie Collier, Brie Malloy, Phoebe Hore, Joannah Mulcock
- Third: Waimate High School: Sophie Hargreaves, Briar Craig, Penny Smith, Zaylee Davis
Intermediate Awards, presented by Labour Agricultural Spokesperson Jo Luxton:
- First: Craighead Diocesan: Neve Gordon, Kaitlyn Saywell, Harriet Harley, Georgia O’Sullivan
- Second: Waihi School: George Neal, Sam Westgarth, George Brown, Otto Acland
Gumboot Throwing Awards, presented by the founder of Agri Futures Steve Hollander:
- Senior and overall champion: Charlotte Connolly of Craighead Diocesan.
- Junior Girl: Briar Craig of Waimate High School
- Junior Boy: Blake Paling of Waimate High School
- Intermediate Girl: Georgia O’Sullivan of Craighead Diocesan
- Intermediate Boy: Samuel Westgarth of Waihi School
Modules: include ATV Safety with Telford SIT, Tree Identification with Discover Forestry, Attaching an Insulator with Fencing Contractors of New Zealand, Break Fencing with Gallaghers, Irrigation set up with RX Plastics, Feeds and Weeds with Cates Seeds, Handpiece Setup with local shearers Rocky and Rabbit, Wool Classing with WoolWorks, Gumboot Throwing with the NZ Boot Throwing Association, Sulky Racing with Harness Racing, Resilient Landscapes with Girls Who Grow, Otago University and Future Farmers, CT Scanning with Lincoln University, First Aid with St johns, Recycling with EcoEducate, Animal Welfare with Evolution Vets and Seeds Grains and Pulses with PGG Wrightson Seeds.
Schools involved: Beaconsfield Primary, Ashburton College, Mt Hutt College, Craighead College, Rangiruru College, Waimate College, Waihi and Waitaki Boys’ and Girls’.
MC: Tangaroa Walker from Farm 4 Life, an agri-edutainment creator with over 340,000 followers.
Students were treated to a free BBQ thanks to Value Plus Processing from Tinwald, Fonterra and Farm Source. Special thanks to The Brown Pub in Methven and Cocky.
