Trialists make perfect start to season
After the first two events on the Taranaki sheep dog trials calendar, two competitors have stamped their mark on the leader board.
Mangamingi’s Brad Bielski and his dog, Jade, took out the zig zag hunt at both the Whangamomona trials and the Mangaehu-Stratford event. Their win at Whangamomona came by way of an almost unbeatable score of 99.
Graeme Dickson, from Hawera, mirrored Bielski’s success, winning the straight hunt at both trials with his dog, Bell.
It was a perfect start to the season for Taranaki competitors, with wins in all eight events at the trials.
The Whangamomona trials were held in near-perfect weather on February 15-16. Conditions suited both sheep and competitors and although heading numbers were down, competition was still strong, said Taranaki Dog Trial promotions officer Charmaine Murphy.
The long head was won by Bernie Gower from Mangamingi with Hone and the short head and yard was won by Mark Duffy from Hawera with Bolt.
Duffy also judged the straight hunt in preparation for his South Island championship judging job in May.
The weather took a turn ahead of the Mangaehu-Stratford trials on February 17-18, with heavy rain and flooding causing concern.
Eventually held on damp grounds, competition was again tough.
Dan Murphy from Whangamomona won the long head with his dog Ruby, Graeme Northcott from Urenui, with Wal, won the short head and yard by 4.5 points.
Bielski and Dickson completed the clean sweep for Taranaki in the zig zag and straight hunts respectively. After the opening two trials, the leading heading dog is Murphy’s Ruby with nine points and leading huntaway is Bielski’s Jade with 12 points.
The next Taranaki trial is Waverley-Waitotara on February 24-25.