The Hellers Sharp Blacks

Don’t forget your roots... 

Since 2011 the Hellers Sharp Blacks have had multiple successes in the competition. In 2013 they took home the Pure South Tri-Nation's trophy, beating Australia and Great Britain in a test match held in Wanaka. In 2014 they retained the trophy, once again beating Australia and Great Britain in a test match held in Harrogate, England and they became three-time World Champions in 2015 on home ground in Auckland. In 2016 they faced Australia and Great Britain once again in addition to a new team from France as the competition was renamed the World Butchers' Challenge. The competition was held in the Gold Coast, Australia with France taking out the title in their first year of competing.

2018 in Belfast proved to be no different with the team in black bringing home a silver medal. 2022 saw some significant changes to the team but this didn’t hold them back, with the team bringing home the bronze medal, as they fought hard for a place on the podium against 13 countries from around the world, in Sacramento, USA.

Now, the 2025 Hellers Sharp Blacks team will build on the momentum from their 2022 win, and they’re hungry for it, having experienced that winning feeling and the pride of representing their country on the world stage.

2025 Hellers Sharp Blacks Team: Riki Kerekere (Team Captain, Product Developer) - Skills4Work, Dan Klink (Boning and Trimming) - Mangawhai Meat Shop, Cherise Redden (Garnish and Display) – PAK’nSAVE Glen Innes, Reuben Sharples (Boning and Trimming) - Aussie Butcher New Lynn, Corey White (Product Developer) - Skills4Work, Luka Young (Product Developer) - Foodstuffs North Island, Sam Weller - New World Ravenswood (Reserve)

To find out more about the team, click here.

2025 ANZCO Young Butchers of New Zealand Squad: Morgan Clark (Young Butcher) - Kelly’s Homekill & Butchery, Brad Gillespie (Young Butcher) - PAK’nSAVE Te Awamutu, Anton Rameka (Young Butcher) - PAK’nSAVE Regent, James Smith (Young Butcher) - CHOP Online Meats, Rhys Tamanui (Butcher Apprentice) - Waipawa Butchery.

To find out more about the squad, click here.

Team Sponsors:

Hellers, Rum & Que, Victory Knives, Beef + Lamb New Zealand , New Zealand Pork, Multivac, ANZCO Foods and Active Refrigeration

2022 Team

2022 Team: James Smith (Garnish and Display/Non-Travelling Team Member) – Franklin Country Meats/The Tattooed Butcher, Brydon Heller (Team Manager), Michelle Hopson (Team Manager).