Fieldays Rural Bachelor finalists announced

30 May 2006
For immediate release

Fieldays Rural Bachelor finalists announced

New Zealand’s top bachelors have been chosen and are getting ready to compete for the ‘Fieldays Rural Bachelor of the Year®’ title at the 2006 Fieldays, 14-17 June.

The Fieldays office received 38 entries, 27 of which made it through to the regional semi-finals which were run by Classic Hits breakfast teams in eight regions around the country.

The breakfast teams put the bachelors through their paces with a range of interviews and on-air heats and the public were given the opportunity to vote for their favourite guy.

The regional selection process was introduced this year and it “worked really well” according to Elysia Shirtliff, competition coordinator.

“We were a bit nervous about changing how the guys were selected but we’ve had both quality and quantity in terms of entries so it has been great.” she said.

“The public have been involved and had their say from the beginning which creates a healthy competitive nature among the entrants and their communities.”

“We’re now looking forward to meeting the eight lucky guys, who come from rural areas from the Deep South to the Far North,” Miss Shirtliff said.

The finalists are: Christen Dimond (28), Farm Manager, Waitomo Caves; Scott Gordon (24), Rural Bank Manager, Whakatane, Garry Hull (38), Equity Manager, Invercargill; Jono King (18), Herd Manager, Reporoa; Damian McCormack (28), Farm Manager, Dannevirke; Warren Nichol, (33), Stock Manager, Makorora; Matiu Noakes (37), Farm Property Maintenance Manager, Motueka; Craig Pollar (34), Dairy Farmer, Whangarei.

The bachelors will battle it out for the ‘Golden Gumboot’ trophy and their share of over $30,000 worth of prizes while experiencing an unforgettable week of celebrity status. They will be hosted in the ‘secret bachelor pad’ for the week with all expenses paid.

2005 winner Tony Buckingham will be handing over the title and trophy at Fieldays. He will be joining the judging panel this year along with the Fieldays Chairman’s wife Olwyn Downing and representatives from Fieldays Strategic partners Telecom and The National Bank. A number of guest judges will also make up the panel including Graham Bell (Police Ten 7), Jeni Pearce, Laila Dookia (C4 presenter) and international model Tamsyn Rose.

Members of the public can see the bachelors in action at the following times:

Wednesday 14 June
10:00am - STIHL Chainsaw Champs Heat - STIHL site
12:00pm – Carrying Flag at Opening Ceremony – Village Green
1:30pm – No 8 Music Contest Heat – Village Green
2.15pm – Meet the Bachelors Heat – Village Green Stage
3:00pm - Fastest Fencer Heat - Fencing Area

Thursday 15 June
10:00am – Skellerup Heat – site G73
11:00am – Farm Fashion Heat– Village Green Stage
12.00pm - BBQ Factory King Heat - BBQ Factory Site, East 55
1:30pm – Cutting Horse Heat – Stock Handling area
3:00pm – Ford Thinking Heat - Village Green
6:00pm – Public evening – The Ale House (Te Awamutu)
Friday 16 June
10:00am – Silver Cups Competition – Waikato Milking Systems site F52, M8
11:00am – ‘For the Ladies’ Heat – Downtown Plaza (Hamilton city)
2.00pm – Telecom Heat – Village Green
3.00pm - Drive a Digger Heat - Excavator Area, Road I

Saturday 17 June
1:00pm - Final presentation – Village Green Stage

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See... Finalist profiles (PDF)

ENDS

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