SHEEP DOG TRIALS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 26 June 1924, Page 10

SHEEP DOG TRIALS.

. THE CHAMPIONSHIPS. It will be of interest to quote the judge's remarks on the work of dogs from Taranaki which secured places in the various events. Three places were secured in the Long Head and the Short Head, and also in the Hunt a way, a very good record for the province. Remarks were as follows: — ' LONG HEAD. R. Guthrie’s (Waitotara) Chep ... 1 Went out well to the right, making a splendid head in lmin 4t)sec. Lifted sheep nicely, and made a good straight pull, a tritie fast on the fiat, and sheep got past ring, recovered nicely and landed sheep in ring in oinin 23sec, in good condition. With the exception of sheep getting out once held well, and was under good command throughout. Completed a very even run in Bmin 42sec. Points: 17, 16, 3, 11 —total 47. A. F. McKenzie’s (Dannevirke) Bonny Jean 2

Took a good cast on the right, and made a clean head in lmin 49sec. Did not answer command too well when starting to pull, and got off line on flat, brought sheep steadily into ring in omin 3sec, steadied first attempt. Held without letting sheep out of ring with nice clean- work. 'Completed in Bmin 40sec. Command better at hand. Points: 17, 14,*4, 10 —total 46.

W. Y. Mclntyre’s (Inglewood)Chief 3 Cast to right, but kept boring on the cast, and headed too. close in 2min Isec. Lifted sheep nicely and made tWe best pull in this class. Sheep came into ling 1 in good order in omin 23sec. Sheep got twice out of ring, otherwise held well. Command good alter getting sheen. Completed in Omin 4osec. Points: 15, 161, 3, 11 —total. 45

M. M. Scott’s (WaverJey) Scotty ... 5 Went out freely on a good line to right, making a good clean head in lmin 3osee. United sheep carefully and pulled in fair fine, a little too fast, and sheep ran through ring in 4min 45see. Only fair work at ring. Time called just before completing.' Under good command. Points: 17. 15, 2, 10 — total 44. SHORT HEAD. M. M. Scott’s (Waverlqy) Scotty ... 2 Went out free and fast on a good left-hand cast, making a good clean head in lmin 7see. A good pull with the exception of getting off line a little to the left coming to flags. Good steady drive nicely through hurdles first attempt, good drive to pen, dog having control of sheep all the way. Got good position at the pen and yarded in 13min 22sec. At the pern this dog kept getting out of position repeatedly, undoing liis work, thereby taking longer to pen his sheep than was necessary. Points; 10, 9,4, 4, 4. 8,6, 10 —total 00. J. 0. Dunlop’s (Mereqiere) Lad ... 3

Cast to left, went out tree .and fast, but after striking the hill kept coming in on his cast; recast, and got nicely round sheep in lmin lsec. Lifted sheep nicely, pulling, improved after coming off hill. Sheep came nicely t6"haj*d and through flags. Off line a little in first drive, nicely through hurdles first attempt, but off line a little after getting through. , Got good position at pen, and, after a touchy sheep breaking three times, yarded with good clean work in 14min 54sec. Command better at hand than on hill. Points; 8,9, 3,4, 3,9, 5, 10—total 51.

R. Guthrie’s (Waitotara) Chep ... 4 Cast to Tight, went out on good line to> near sheep, where dog came in on cast and headed rather close in lmin. 24sec. Lifted sheep steadily, pulled in good line, but too fast; and sheep missed flags. Deg rather hard to control when pulling. Good work getting sheep back through Hags. Off -line in first drive and missed hurdles, got through second attempt; only fair drive to pen, but got good position and yarded without trouble first attempt-' in Bmin 24sec. Command fai rthroughout. Points: 9,8, 2,3, 3,9, 6, 10 —total 50. HUNT AW AY. LI. Guthrie’s (Waitotara) Toss ... -2 This dog alscr. put up 1 a good run, taking his sheep through all the flags on. good lines with plenty of noise and under splendid command, but made one mistake Agoing through last flags and split sheen, but not badly; recovered nicely, and completed a line run in omin SOsec. Points: 17. 9,6, 12— total 44.

A. Edgecombe’s ,(Patea) Tweed ... 1 Pub sheep clean through first flags, good line to second set, through which sheep were put with firm work, after which one sheep showed signs of weakness. Took some time to complete,-run. which was accomplished in llrniii 13sec. This is a splendid type of liuntaway dog, ■ but was not handled to the best advantage. Points: 16, 9,6, 11- — total 42.

W.. Y. Mclntyre’s (Inglewood) Donald Bruce 5 Started Quietly and went clean through first flags, got a little off line after getting through. Rather jerky style of work between first and second flags. After reaching the hill this dog settled down, and with the exception of one mistake after going through the second flags, put up a fine performance, carefully nursing a weak sheep lor the greater part of the way up the hill, being ably assisted by his owner, who showed splendid judgment in handling a weak sheep. Completed in llmin 39see. Points: 16i. 9,5, 11total 41. 1 .-.

Y ith the exception of the first clay, the weatheri was all that could be. desired, and no doubt the fine weather played a prominent part in bringing about the high standard of work which prevailed throughout. The line course provided by the Wanganui Club was also a very large contributing factor, particularly the liuntaway course, which is ail ideal one, especially from a competitor s point ot view, as every dog lias a splendid opportunity of getting control of liis sheep on being liberated, which is essential if good work is to be expected.

Speaking generally, the shepherding has not yet readied the state" of efficiency which one could tledre. By shepherding, I mean the competitors’ practical knowledge and judgment in handling their dogs and sheep to the best advantage. This was noticeable mostly in the heading events, in which -he sheep were inclined to he touchy, and any dogs that did not take time to make their sheep on the hill invariably brought them over the easier country too fast, with the result that they came to hand too excited or roused to permit the best work being done. Should a competitor not be able to land his sheep off the hill in good order fie should take time when thencome down, and let them settle before proceeding further, a judge will not penalise a competitor for doing' this, but will do. so for having his sheep in such a state that they should require it. A.s the prevention of this is one of the main objects of the association. I take the opportunity of bringing this outstanding fault before young competitors. The foregoing remarks apply equally to the huntaway class. AYith regard to the actual work which took place, the huntaway was exceptionally

good. The heading classes were' uniformally good, with nothing particularly outstanding, and rough work was conspicuous by fts absence. One -very noticeable feature was the consistent running of the heading dogs, the leading dogs in both classes putting i up very creditable- performances, being closely followed by several other?. The liuntaway was undoubtedly the star event of the 1924 championships. It was pleasing to_ see such a dumber of fine performances put- up by so- many sffogs in this class. Not only the prizewinners. but a good many behind them deserve the highest praise. The" work done by any of the first ten dogs would probable have merited a first prize at most of our ordinary trials. The liberating was evidently in capable hands, every care being taken to deliver the sheep at the flag in good order, thus giving every dog an equal chance. There

was no dog that went out decently that did not- get his sheep within half a chain of the flag, which is a very creditable record for those concerned.