Surgeon turns hand to trials
Once you get into sheep dog trials, you’re in the sport for life, Eric Weir says. It’s a claim the 84-year-old is well qualified to make, having been involved with trials since he was a teenager.
‘‘I got my first dog at 18 and I missed a few years but I’ve been actively involved for about 53 years,’’ he said. ’’It’s hard to give it away. It was my dad’s sport when I was you and once I got into it, I just stayed with it.’’
Weir was one of 113 people taking part in the annual Taranaki indoor sheep dog trials in Hawera at the weekend.
A record 236 dogs were put through their paces at the threeday competition, each of them herding sheep through eight obstacles in the indoor arena at the Egmont A&P Showgrounds.
Event co-ordinator Graeme Northcott said the event was going from strength to strength, attracting competitors from around the North Island and interest from further afield.
‘‘We’ve had inquiries from the South Island but with the roads the way they are after the earthquakes, we didn’t have anyone come up this year,’’ he said.
Among those making the trip to Hawera was Whanganui’s Erin Ball. Originally from Northland, the 16-year-old had followed her father into dog trials and was in her fifth year of competition at the Taranaki event.
Erin was competing with her heading dog, Speed, and said she enjoyed the challenge and unpredictability of the sport.
‘‘You can train a dog to a certain level but then it’s all about the sheep you get and how you handle it out there on the day,’’ she said. ’’I don’t like to pressure myself too much so I’m just hoping to get around [the course] today.’’
Erin was one of 25 women taking part, a number Weir said was good to see in the traditionally male-dominated sport.
‘‘It’s wonderful to see women coming into it and doing so well,’’ he said. ‘‘They seem to be able to bond with the dogs in a different way.’’
That bond between man - or woman - and dog was one that fascinated retired surgeon Fridtjof Hanson. An equine enthusiast, Hanson had always admired dog trials from afar.
‘‘It’s the triad - man, horse and dog,’’ the 76-year-old said. ’’They’re man’s best friends and they can do anything.’’
Hanson retired from his role as a general and vascular surgeon at Taranaki Base Hospital and became involved in a research project on the effects of using a bit on horses.
‘‘I started getting more and more interested in animal behaviour and their body language,’’ he said.
‘‘I started to realise how beautiful and precise it is. Watching the dogs work, there is so much detail to it, so much subtlety, it’s just a fascinating study.’’
Hanson had spent about four months training his border collies, Rory and Luath, for the competition and was one of three novices to tackle the course.
Northcott said it was good to see new faces at the competition and although competing for the first time could be daunting, the outcome was never certain.
‘‘Whether you’re a novice or not, if you get sheep that don’t cooperate, you can end up struggling,’’ he said. ‘‘Everyone here has had their share of difficult sheep.’’
Profits from the event are donated in alternate years to the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust and Hawera St John.
This year a cheque for $3000 was presented to the TRHT. ❚ Results page 14.