Tension board for straining wire netting

A tension board for straining net style fencing materials composed of a first plurality of spaced apart substantially horizontal wires and a second plurality of spaced apart substantially vertical wires, said board comprising an elongate member having a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal extent at least corresponding to the distance between the first and last of said horizontal wires, a third plurality of spaced apart apertures extending along said member, and a fourth plurality of wire grippers, the number of said fourth plurality being less than the number of said third plurality, said wire grippers being connected to said elongate member at selected ones of said spaced apart apertures, each of said wire grippers comprising four interconnected arms, one end of the first and second arms being pivoted to each other, one end of the third and fourth arms being pivoted to each other;

• the other ends of the first and second arms being pivoted to the other ends of the third and fourth arms;
• one pair of said pivoted arms being shaped to form a wire clamp;
• a spring extending between an adjacent pair of said arms and arranged to close said wire clamp;
• and two of said arms having elongate extensions which form handles which, when gripped, open said wire clamp.