Dog trial titles scooped by North Islanders
North Island dog trialists made a clean sweep winning all four titles at the South Island Sheep Dog Trial Championships.
While there were strong entries from the South Island, northern competitors managed to scoop the top spots during the competition, marked by the death of Canterbury dog trialist Gary Woods.
Dannevirke’s David Shield and Clyde won the long head event and Poverty Bay’s Merv Utting took the short head and yard with Fern, amassing the top tally of 194.75 points.
Te Pohue’s Stuart McNeill and Ranger emerged first in the zig zag huntaway and Whatatutu club member Allen Irwin and Chase won the straight huntaway.
Among the better performing southern trialists were Omarama’s Rick Aubrey and Toby, third in the long head.
Wanaka’s Jock Meehan and Ben were third in the straight huntaway with Waimate’s Paul Collins and Butch fourth in the same event and fifth in the zig zag huntaway.
Omihi’s Neil Evans and Tess were fifth in the short head and yard and Eion Herbert and Ben from Tapawera were fourth in the same event and he and Storm were fifth in the long head.
Organisers praised the community support which helped make the event a success.
The competition, hosted by the Otago Sheep Dog Trial Centre, was held from Monday to Friday last week at Warepa, near Clinton, with between 200 and 230 competitors and attending.
Host club Warepa Collie Club president Tony Miller said it was humbling to see so many south Otago clubs come together to help put on a great event.
‘‘Throughout the week I was getting texts from locals who had nothing to do with the club, who were just there to help.’’
Their help came in handy when wet weather set in on Wednesday.
Miller said while the weather got a bit wet, the organisers had prepared for it and with help from the community they were able to manage the conditions.
The other dampener on the event was the death of Woods on Wednesday.
But the event continued on, and Miller said at least he had died doing something he loved.
The quality of competitors and the effort they made to travel, some quite far, was a humbling experience, he said.
‘‘It’s one of those opportunities to see the best dogs and the best stock men in the country compete. It was pretty amazing.’’ close to 400 dogs
Miller also commended the landowners Matt Lawlor and Teresa O’Riordan who opened their farm up, and along with two other local farmers, provided hoggets for the competition.
Throughout the week competitors praised the quality and consistency of the hoggets, Miller said.
The 1250 hectare LawlorO’Riordan sheep and beef property has been the base of the Warepa Collie Club since before the couple moved to the property 16 years ago.
Lawlor said he had never been to a South Island Sheep Dog Trial Championships before the event landed on his doorstep.
He was happy to accommodate the competition.
‘‘The guys who come here they’re really passionate about it.’’
He once tried to give sheep dog trials a go, but it wasn’t for him, and his dogs weren’t up to the standards of those competing, he said.
The national championships are being held in Gisborne starting on May 31 with an expected 273 competitors with 480 dogs.