N.Z. TRIALS NEXT YEAR

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30919, 27 November 1965, Page 10

N.Z. TRIALS NEXT YEAR

i VEXT year’s New Zealand I championship dog trials iwill be held in Canterbury. The site will be the grounds i of the Tai Tapu Collie Club : on the properties of Miss A. Welsh and Mr D. P. Graham, i at Tai Tapu. | Although the trials will not J begin until June 13, a workling bee was on the job last

week-end erecting buildings and fences to protect these from stock, and scrub cutting on one of the courses. One of the team came from as far away as Omihi.

The national championships were last held on the Tai Tapu grounds in Canterbury’s centennial year—l9so.

There could be 80 to 100 competitors from all parts of the country with up to 150 dogs at next year’s championships. There could be as many as 150 dogs in one event.

The fact that the trials will be held at Tai Tapu will also heighten interest in the club’s own trials due to start on April 27. There could be 20 per cent more entries than usual for this event and competitors could come from as far away as Southland, Otago, Blenheim and Nelson to get accustomed to the course in preparation for the big event. A few even came last year to try out the new long pull course. The club is looking on the club championships as very much of a dress rehearsal for the championships and the same courses will be used as in June.

The club is proud of the new Jong pull course which was used for the first time last year. The hill section is on Mr Graham's property and it comes out on to Miss Welsh’s flats. Some 700 yards long it is believed to be the 1 equal of anything in the coun-

try and it might even be longer and better. The huntaway events will be held on the main hill usually used for the long pull. The new long pull course is much longer than the old. And the short pull, drive and yard will be on an adjacent slope that has been used for club trials for quite a few years.

Dogs have to qualify in trials before they can take part in the national championships. Five points have to be accumulated and one first at a club trial is enough to earn the necessary points and this is equivalent to five fifths. National Trials The national trials will begin on a Monday and will continue all week finishing, it is hoped, on the Saturday afternoon. A social function will be held in Christchurch mid way through the trial week.

In the photograph taken last Saturday on the trial ground are. from left: Messrs G. J. Barclay (Broadfields), G. W. Brice (Otahuna), S. E. Ogg (Otahuna), M. J. Foley (Teddington), D. Haines (Southbridge) and M. Tilson (Broadfields).

Cutting scrub on the long pull course and not in the photograph were Messrs W Gebbie (Teddington), W. J. Lundie (Prices Valley), and T. Barwell (Omihi).