SHEEP DOG TRIALS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13744, 27 May 1910, Page 5

SHEEP DOG TRIALS.

FIRST DAY. The annual trials held by tho Christchurch Sheep Dog Trial Club commenced on the usual grounds on the Cashmoro Hills yesterday. The programme was shortened by cutting out tho yarding competition, owing to its having taken nearly four days to complete the trials last year. Thero wero not so many entries- as usual in the long pull class, but a few more in the huntaway. Xo North Island dogs were entered, but several came from Otago and Southland. The trials wero held a week later, to suit the convenience of Canterbury shepherds, and there was therefore a good entry of local dogs. The judge was Mr W. 0. Rutherford, of Montrose, Mr J. S. Weir was flag steward, and Messrs G. Murray Aynsley and R. M. D. Morten timekeepers. Mr H. Edbrooke, the manager of tho Cashmero Estate, and Mr C. PI Hugonin (the lato manager) did all in their power to assist tho club in carrying out tho arrangements, and the trustees of tho Cashmere Estalo kindly granted tho uso of the ground again for the trials. Th<! sheep used wero merino wethers from the Glens of Tckoa Estate, which wero strong and very suitable for' tbe purpose. The morning was foggy, but it cleared in time to get to work at 0 o'clock, and a very line day ensued, though thero was a heavy fog in the city which prevented many people from visiting tho ground as it was thought tho hills would bo practically obscured. There was, however, a very good attendance. The work of the twenty-four dogs that competed was somewhat irregular, and there wero no outstanding performances. Several dogs that did good work up to the yard failed to pen the sheep, tho only ones to siiccced being W. J. Craig's Fan, A. Turpin's Littlo Pearl, and H. T. Little's Doon. Tho trials will bo continued at 9 a.m. today. Tliero are twelve more dogs still .to compete in Class 1., and tho six leading dogs will be givon a second run, the prizes being awarded on tho aggregate points scored in tho two runs. A commencement will then bo mode with the Huntaway Class. The annual social to the competitors will bo held in the evening at Tattersall's Hotel, commencing at halfpast seven. A. Turpin's Little Flirt was the first tc run. going out in 2min _3sec, but was slow in bringing back, reaching the ring in lOmin IJOsec, and time was called before the sheep wero yarded. W. J. Craig's Fan Tounded tho sheep in lmin 52sec, and though a bit slack at first, brought back quietly, and had tho sheep-in the ring in Omin tOsec. Working steady at the yard the sheep were secured in 13min 13sec. A. S. H. McKerrow's Tib headed well in lmin -Usee, but wasted iv lot of time dodging about on. a ridge of rocks under which tho sheep were standing, and though he did a !ot of unnecessary running about, he brought the sheep in a good line to the ring, which was reached in lOmiii j2sec. The sheep were let out of the ring once, aud working wide at the yard failed to pen before time was up. J. B. Purdue's Sharp went out fast on a good One, and headed the sheep high up, as they had moved off, in lmin 56scc. ihe sheep took a wide turn to tho left in coming down hill, and though the dog worked keenly he faiicd to get them on a good line. The ring vras reached in llmin Usee, but !ho sheep were not held steadily. The dog worked quietly at the yard till the sheep broke away, and time was called before they could b. got into position again. R. R. Pollock's Sam went out slowly, and having to head the sheep high up on the face, took 3min lsec to head, aud losing a lot of time anions: the rocks, the run was given up. R. McAdams's Hazel missed the sheep when above them, and spoilt the heading, and finally rounded them in _mm 36sec. The sheep •were brought back widely to the left, and the ring wa_ reached in lOmin SOscc. The I dog was unsteady at the yard, and failed to !>cn the sheep. T. McKay's Togo headed in 2min osec. and got his sheep blocked again, t a fence. A. Teller's Tip, an imported dog. headed in 2min .16sec, worked kc-en.'y and clo*?e on the .sheep in bringing back, md reaching the ring in Smin s_sec, held them steadily. The dog worked well under command, and, like mo3t of the imported collies, always squatted instead of standing when clo.e to the sheep, but was too much i inclined.to dart at them. Though the sheep j were got into a good position at the yaid. : ho fai'od to secure them. G. L. Rutlvr- : ford's Rogue headed iv 2min ISsec, took his sheep wide to the left, and was not in the • ring till Diuin 33sec had been occupied. Did i not show very good style at the yard, and •: exhausted time. J. W. Clarke's Scott head- • rd well in £mm Ssec, but immediately after- , wards split the sheep, and only two w-jro ; brought back. J. K. Forester's Ross went cut fast and on a gcod line, and headed i-i lmin 32sec; brought back nice and quio".iy, and kept close to the sheep, taking them straight down to tbe ring, where they were : steadied in _mm Msec, and well held. At '• the yard the dog worked very wide at the : turns, and never had the sheop steadied in I a good position for penning. R. R. Pollock's Bob went out fast ana straight, and headed in lmin 45sec. back well, and worked under perfect command. The Bbcr.p were ringed in 6mia 57aec. The dogr

was a bit too keen nt the yard, and tfiough ho had plenty of time in hand he failed to steady the sheep so that they could bo penned. F*. Richardson's Moss mad 6 a wide cast, and losing timo -took 2min SOsec to head. Tho sheep wero brought down quietly, but slowly, .and were: ringed in Oram ]6 sec. Steady work was done at thjo yard, but without success. - James Earshman.a Face went out on an uneven courso in lmin oDscc, brought back very steadily, but was inc'ined to bark: was unstcaay at tho ring, and failed to hold the sheep. A. Turpin'a Little Pearl crossed in heading, and rounded the sheep in lmin 23scc, brought down rather unsteadily, and was too keen at tho ring, but had them in in srain Gsec. After some unsteady work at tho yard, tho sheep wero penned in Omili Bsec. H. T. Little's Doon headed well in Imm 51aec, worked too keenly in bringing back, and the sheep got out of hand, and raced on to tho flat/but the clog recovered them, and had them in the. ring in 7min 45scc, where they were held without a break. Was unsteady at the yard, but penned tho sheep in l.mm 17sec. R.McAdam's Palni headed in 2min 24scc, and brought back on a wide rout, to tho kft. and tho ring was not ■reached till Omiri _ssec had gone. Tho dog was unsteady, and failed to pen. AY. Gricve's Bob went out well, but rushed tho sheep on, reaching them, and divided them, but recovered, and headed in 2min 18sec. In bringing back tbe sheep were split again, and ono was lost. J. H. Purdue's Loy headed in 2min 26* ec, and tho sheep got away by the holding yard, but were brought back, and placed in tho ring in gmin *i3scc. The dog worked quietly, but let the sheep out of the ring once. At tho yard .he ran very wide at the turns, and only got the sheep into position for yarding just as time was called. G. T. Croft's Lassie went out badly, and crossed, the sheep running away to tho left, where they were headed among the rocks in 3min. The dog barked a lot in commencing to bring back, and left the sheep for a rabbit. The Tim was then given up. R. Weir's Bess went _ out well, and made a good turn to avoid crossing, and headed in 2min lsec. In bringing back she smartly took the sheep out from under a ridgo of rock" and worked very steadily, but was inclined to pounce on tho sheep when they stood. The sheep were brought straight into tho ring, where they were held in Omin olsec. Was too keen at the yard, and exhausted time. R. W. Trotter's Lady went out badly, and crossed in heading, split the sheep, and recrossed. _mm .Ssec occupied before properly_getting hold of ihe sheep, and they, afterwards got lodged anion? rocks. T. Hogg's Xoe's headed in 2min 31 .cc, and tho sheep were soon afterwards split, and one lost. W. W. Little's Maud crossed iv heading, which occupied law l 53sec. Was rather slack-in bringing back, but had the sheep placed in the ring in 7min ssec where they were held without a break. The dog did good work nt the yard, and had the sheep in a good position once, but they became stubborn, and further efforts failed.