Fencing wire retainer and a method of constructing wire fences

A method of constructing wire fences, comprising the steps of:

• firstly, driving into a ground surface a plurality of fence posts in spaced apart relation;
• secondly, extending a plurality of wires transversely across the plurality of fence posts;
• thirdly, providing a plurality of fencing wire retainers each of which includes:
• an elongate body having a first end and a second end;
• a hook at the first end of the body having an inner arcuate dimension that is greater than the outer arcuate dimension of each of the plurality of fence posts;
• a wire receiving groove extending transversely across the hook;
• and
• means at the second end of the body for removably securing the body to one of the fence posts;
• fourthly, securing a first of the plurality of transversely extending fencing wires to each of the plurality of fence posts in turn by hooking the first end of the body of a first of the plurality of fencing wire retainers around one of the plurality of fence posts, positioning the first fencing wire within the transverse wire receiving groove and pivoting the body to a position substantially parallel to the fence post, and securing the second end of the body to the fence post thereby maintaining the body substantially parallel to the fence post such that the first fencing wire is confined within the transverse wire receiving groove;
• fifthly, securing a second of the plurality of fencing wires to each of the plurality of fence posts with a second of the plurality of fencing wire retainers, the first end of the second fencing wire retainer overlapping the second end of the first fencing wire retainer, thereby locking the first fencing wire retainer in position until the second fencing wire retainer is removed.

In combination:

• a fence post;
• a fencing wire;
• and
• a fencing wire retainer, the retainer comprising:
• a rigid wire having a substantially straight portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion;
• the first end portion comprising an arcuate portion for hooking around the fence post, a first groove formed between the arcuate portion and the straight portion, and a second groove formed between the arcuate portion and a free end of the first end portion, whereby the first and second grooves together form a wire receiving groove for receiving the fencing wire therein;
• and
• the second end portion comprising a finger for engaging with the fence post to secure the fencing wire onto the fence post and for allowing a longitudinal axis of the straight portion to be disposed substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fence post.