As proud sponsors of the Driffield Show's Fencing Competition on 18th July, Hampton Steel will see their stock fence put to the test by none other than World Champion Fencer, Nick Liefting. The New Zealander is flying in specifically to compete at Fencing News' own Annual Fencing Competition and will be teaming up with 2009 and 2010 winner Mike Ford. Now in its fourth year, this is a real coup for the Yorkshire show where Nick and Mike will be up against stiff competition, which includes last year's winner, Charlie Hubbard.

Nick has been a fencing contractor in the Auckland area of New Zealand for 38 years and competing for 37, "competition fencing is very different from fencing on a farm", he said.

"You can have the best farm fencer in the world and they won't get anywhere in a competition. You're not fencing for a farmer; you're fencing for a completely different client - a judge. They're not looking for what you've done well, they're looking for what you've done wrong. A lot of competitors find that hard to handle."

It is important to look at how points are allocated, Mr Liefting said.

"In the heats of the Golden Pliers in New Zealand' A competition Nick has won on more than one occasion, 'there are a lot of points allocated for time, whereas in the final things like wire tension carry a lot of points.'

It's not just a young man's game, Mr Liefting says.

"I liken it to an endurance event. If you look at marathon runners or people who compete in iron man races, you seldom find many successful ones in their early 20s. When it comes to stamina, often the older person does better. In the final of the Golden Pliers, on the odd occasion there might be a competitor in their 30s, but most are in their 40s. Two of us are more than 50."