Going to the dogs and loving it
Roger Tweed loves his dogs.
The Lawrence man has been competing in dog trials for more than 30 years.
With three huntaways and two heading dogs in toe, Tweed competed in the South Island Sheep Dog Trials Championship, at Leithen Valley Farm, near Greenvale, this week.
Gemma, a huntaway, was his crown jewel during the week, taking out the top spot in the straight hunt event.
Tweed began his long career in dog trials at a young age after heading along to a collie club with his brother.
‘‘I thought it was pretty cool,’’ he said.
Ever since, Tweed has been raising pups and working with sheep.
Competing in dog trials always came part and parcel with rearing dogs, he said.
But something he loved about the sport was the variation in competitors.
‘‘Dog trialling hasn’t got a use-by date, it’s a lovely mix of young and old.’’
There was no definitive key to what makes a huntaway a good dog during trials. A mix of good noise and good training helped, Tweed said. Gemma won a South Island title at the championships in Wanaka two years ago.
‘‘Her good thing is she’s a really clever wee dog, and that’s her fault as well,’’ Tweed said.
Robin McKenzie, of Clinton, with huntaway Ned, won the zig zag hunt event.
Despite having a couple of heading dogs, McKenzie admitted he favoured huntaways. ‘‘I just always have more luck with them.’’
The zig zag hunt win was the first South Island title McKenzie had won in a ‘‘long’’ trialling career, he said.
McKenzie began dog trialling because there was a family history in the sport, he said.
‘‘I left school and had dogs and went mustering.’’
A North Islander went away with two titles. Steve Murphy, of Whangamomona, won both the short head and yard and long yard events with heading dog Kei.
Southland dog trial president Trevor Roughan said it had been a great week and the weather had held out for the trials.
The national sheep dog trials begin May 25 in Whanganui.