NEW ZEALAND DOG TRIALS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29227, 10 June 1960, Page 25

NEW ZEALAND DOG TRIALS

Two Himtaways Decided

(From Our Own Reporter) BLENHKIM, June 9 An improvement in the weather jnade for better conditions and easier handling on the third dav of the New Zealand and South Island sheep dog trial championships at Blenheim today. After two days of overcast, cold weather, the sun broke through shortly after midday, and there was a bigger gallery of spectators on the grounds. The zig-zag huntaway was completed before lunch, and both the South Island and New Zealand championships were won b" R. J. Mulloolly. of Gisborne, with Paul. This was the first championship class to be completed, and running in the straight huntaway began shortly after. The two heading classes are likely to go on until late on Saturday.

Mullooly's Paul scored 97 i points in the first run, and 93J points in the run-off. Points allotted by the judge (Mr E. F. Burch, Te Awatnutu) were 48 for hunt, 25 for style, and 20 J for noise.

R. L. Harris (Kaikoura), with Jim, had a variation of only tv.o points over the two runs, and this took him from fifth place in the South Island championship to second place in the New Zealand final. His scoring in the final run was 48 lor head. 25 for style, and 20 for noise, dropping only by half a point on noise below the Score of the winning dog. Results were:—

South Island Ziz-Zag Huntawav Championship (113 runs).—R. j. Mullooly’s i Gisborne) Paul. 974 points; N. T. Barton's (Blenheim) Tjpo, 96 J; A. Paterson (Oamarul Fan. 96; W. McSporran’s (Hawke’s Bay) Clyde, 95}; R. L. Harris’s (Kaikoura) Jim, 95; G. I. Mundell’s (Hawke’s Bay) Scott, and R. G. Passmore’s (Napier) Chief, 944. New Zealand Zig-Zag Huntawav Championship (second run points in parenthesis).—R. J. Mulloolv’s Paul, 191 points, (aggregate 934); R. L. Harris’s Jim. 188 (93); A Paterson’s Fan, 1874 (914); N. T. Barton’s Typo. 185 (964); R. G. Passmore's Chief. 174 J (944); W. McSporran’s Clyde, 1674 (95J): G. 1. Mundell’s Scott. 94J (failed at first flags). Mr Burch said that the course had brought out all the good dualities in the dogs. Running up a ridge, it tended to be loose and slightly light in slope, which made control harder. The general standard of entries was quite good under the conditions. but throughout the class the sheep had been very touchy, and did not -want to climb the hill. The dogs had difficulty in handling them.

The champion dog, Mullooly’s Paul, made a very good run in the first event. Points were lost through being a little slow on contact at the start, and slightly loose at the first poles. The sheep had been to the left between the first and second, and second and third sets of poles, and had slightly opened up near the finish. In the run-off, the sheep had tended to wobble and had not drawn well, he said.

At the end of the dav the judges commented that the standard of the work was about the same. Although there was better light, the sheep were just as touchy.

Top Dogs Top dogs, without order of preference, were:— Long Head.—E. D. Pratt's (Taumaranui) Queen. L. C. Gallien's (Waipukurau) Don, P. Gibbs's (Wakefield) Jack 11, B. N. Connor's (Waipukurau) Kip, M. L. Kerr's (Southland) Queen. G. J. Brennan's (Feilding) Boy, P. Kiddey’s (Central Otago) Meg. Short Head.—R. H. Davis’s (Rotorua) Pet, T. S. Harwell's (North Canterbury) Fay, J. W. Laugeson’s (Kaikoura) Spark. A. G. Stead's (Hastings) Patch, P. Gibbs’s (Wakefield) Jack, C. J. Crutchley's (Ranfurly) Bob. Straight Huntaway.—J. H. Signal’s (Taihape) Smoke. J. J. Smith's (Kaikoura) Stone. Dudley Morrison’s (Dannevirke) Scott, R. J. Mullooly’s (Gisborne) Ben, M. L. Kerr's (Southland) Mac. K. L. Stackwell's 'Waipukurau) Rusty, and E. D. Pratt's (Taumaranui) Cloud. Association’s Officers Mr J. T. Matson, of Christchurch, was re-elected patron of the New Zealand Sheep Dog Trial Association at the annual meeting on Wednesday night. Mr A. G. Stead, of Hastings, was re-elected president of the council, and Mr J. A. C. McKenzie. Oamaru, was re-elected vice-president. Life members’ badges were presented by Mr Stead to Messrs L. A. Charleson (Waikaka), L. Lopdell (Napier), R. J. MacDonald (Dannevirke), M. A. Matheson (Middlemarch), J. T. Matson (Christchurch), and A. C. Morton (Palmerston North).

A remit from the Hawke's Bay centre, that in the event of a judge ordering a re-run, the initial run be cancelled and judging be confined to the re-run. was carried. A Wairarapa centre remit that there be no pegged line up centre huntaway courses at championships was also carried.

A remit from the Wanganui centre that the entrance to the drive be 11 yards deep was defeated, a second remit that clubs which had a drive at an angle to the pull be allowed a chain square at the entrance was carried.