Pure South on board for butchery tri-nations

Sharp BlacksAlliance Group’s export brand Pure South has been confirmed as principal sponsor of the annual butchery test match which will now be known as the Pure South Butchery Tri-Nations.

The competition will see the best British and Australian butchers travel to Wanaka in March to take on New Zealand’s Wedderburn Sharp Blacks.

Murray Brown, general manager, marketing, Alliance Group, said it was fitting that a strong and successful export meat brand in Europe and Asia was backing a world-class competition.

“We’re pleased Pure South is supporting some of the world’s top butchers as they battle it out for the top honours. After a decade representing Alliance Group’s lamb in more than 65 countries world-wide, Pure South is now well-established as a brand associated with outstanding quality. Millions of consumer look for Pure South whenever their shopping or dining. It symbolises all the key elements of Alliance Group – pure southern location, world-class technology, production techniques and a proud heritage.”

2013 will be the inaugural Tri-Nations, following on from two years of Trans-Tasman battles between New Zealand and Australia.

Australia has come out the victor of both previous encounters by the narrowest of margins, so the Wedderburn Sharp Blacks, sponsored by Beef + Lamb New Zealand, will be looking for redemption on their home turf next year.

The competition will be accompanied by a study tour which will see 60 butchers from across the three nations travelling the Central Otago region.

Fresh meat for Wedderburn Sharp Blacks

Six of New Zealand’s best butchers have been chosen to represent New Zealand in the 2013 Wedderburn Sharp Blacks team.

After a battle between the four remaining 2012 Wedderburn Sharp Blacks and six new challengers the best butchers overall were chosen.

The result was two new additions to the team, with all those from 2012 maintaining their positions. The 2013 team is: Paddy Kennedy, Allenton Meat Centre, Ashburton; Peter Martin, Mad Butcher Onehunga, Auckland; Peter Tuapawa, Victoria Park New World, Auckland; David Timbs, Peter Timbs Meats, Christchurch; Bruce van der Nett, Pak’nSave, Taupo; and Corey Winder, Ashby’s Fine Meats & Deli, Christchurch.

The Sharp Blacks compete annually and after two years of trans-Tasman rivalry, the new team will be competing in the first tri-nation competition  – New Zealand, Australia and Great Britain – in 2013.

Newcomers to the competition, Britain, will be raising the stakes making the 2013 test match the most competitive yet.

Competition organiser Kim Doran, from Retail Meat New Zealand, says with Britain entering the mix the competition has reached new heights for the industry.

“The test has become a highly anticipated event on the industry calendar and with the new addition of Britain things will only become more exciting.”

Building these international relationships can only be a good thing for the New Zealand meat industry,” says Doran.

Earlier this year, the current team lost by only a fraction to Australia which means the new team will be looking for redemption in 2013.

The 2013 tri-nation match will be held in Wanaka on 9 March.