SHEEP DOG TRIALS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 12 March 1928, Page 10

SHEEP DOG TRIALS.

ELTHAM-TAKOU CLUB. PH 0G n AMME CONCLUDED. The ideal weather conditions which marked the first, second and third days of the Eltham-Takou Sheen Dog Trial Cub’s annual tests at again prevailed on Saturday, when the programme was completed. An early start was made with the balance of runs in the Huntaway Class, in which a total of 34 competed. Competition was verv keen ,a>s shown by the table of points awarded, only 24 points separating the first and sixth, dogs.

Tn order to allow Air l*'. 11. Cottrell Judge) to return to his home at Moawhanga before the end. of the trials, the concluding event (huntaway, head and null back) was judged by Mr W. V. Mclntyre.' of AYaibui, who had competed in three of the .succeeding classesFifteen entries were catalogued in this event and three posv entries made. Numbers of comnetotors, however, were desirous of reaching their homes for the week-end. and seven wittadrawaiV? left a liehl of eleven. This was a. really good class, calling for dual-capacity dogs which were able to both hunt away and bring back—a rare quality That the nlnced clogs were effecient in each was acknowledged bv a competent judge, as disclosed by the points he awarded them for huntaway and pull, the first und ■second scoring 331 and 34? respective! v in a possible 40 under these heads. Detai's of the. concluding events are as follow: CLASS TIJ. HUNTAWAY.—About 400 yards. Time 12minp. Prizes: Ist, £8; 2nd, £6; 3rd, £3: 4th, £l. Points: Huntaway 18, noiee 9, style <3, command 12; total, 4-5. L Gower’s “Joss” (17, 9, SJ, 10) 41;) noinas 1 T. E. Snlivan’s “Koffertv” (17, 9, 5. 10). 41 points 2 T. Masters’ “King” (17, 8. 54, 10). 40ooints 3 S. Brown’s “Gale” (17, 9,5, 9), 40 points 4 M. M. Scott’s “Nell” (16. 9, 44, 10), 394 nointe o A. J- Holley’s “Bob” (17. 8,5, 9), 39 points 6 Thirty-four competed. JUDGE’S NOTES. Gower’s “Joss.” —A little slack at start and bet tea nearing first hag ; noise good; through first flags nicely; approach direct, following sheep nice ,y and doing no iiiseiess running ; helping line true. Through second flags nicely. Neaiing top flags not keeping line quite so true ancl undoing work a little; ji.it th.to.ign last flag after a very nice progressive run all through. Finished in d. 57. Sh3ep very .fresh when finished. Thm dog took a I commands promptly, and did no unnecessary Tunning, shoving power and direct work all through. Sullivan’s “Rafferty.” Started steadv: good noise, and slew on flat. Through first flags nicely; direct drive and good line to second flags. Dog taking command not quite promptly. I’hrough second flags a tittle to top side of true line. Line still good nearing top but showing good «olid work all tic way and finished last flags in 5.6. This was a very nice solid run and finished with sheen fresh. I>og not quite direct in drive at times —inclined to .swing.

Masters’ “King.”—Started steady: noise good. Fair line to first flags; tinorugh nicely, dog showing power and direct drive when necessary. Slew safe; rood cast and making nice progress, caking commands' kindly. Line nearing toj> flags still fairly good. Dog oil sheep a little at this otage, and hunting from rather ’ong range. Hash turn near top, splitting .slightly and getting though laiS-t flags by narrow margin in 7.6. This run was a nice consistent one, the sheep always movino- and never overdone ; dog at times a Tittle far off for perfect control but prompt to take command and direct with work . . , Brown’s “Gale.”— Started and le. sheep a wav off to top on right; recovered line. Good noise. But through first flag is by verr narrow margin. Dog from this singe' kept sheep under control, with firm driv>? and fairly direct in work, hut working man a- litt«e •it times. Kept- good line to second flu rr s Approach to move standing sheep firm and steady, and slew **afe. Pi ogress very consistent. Through flags, swinging sheep a little ha’f-wny to top flags, hut dog always in position tn control, treating .sheep careful v. P-i thiough last flaigi« m fair line m 11.8. (Judge: Mr AY. V. Mclntyre, Waitui.) CLASS IV. HUNTAWAY, Head and Pull Back. About 400 vards each way. Sweepstake. Prizes: Ist, 50 per cent.; 2nd, 25 per eent.; 3rd, 124 per cent. Points: Huntaway 20, head 6, pull 20, command 10; total 56. M. M. Scott’s “Nell” (164, 6, 17, 84), 48 points 1 T. Sullivan’s “Bounce” (184, 4, 16, 8), 464 points - D. Nairn’s “ Wylie” (15, 4, 174, 8), 444 points 8 M. M. Scott’s “King” (13, 6, 15, 8), 42 points 4 JUDGE’S NOTES. j M. Scott’s “Nell.”—Sheep broke slightly at the start to the left behind pen; got back and away to right, then came back on to course with fair work; rash turn and split sheep. Dog inclined to swing too much when hunting sheep and did not progress too well. Steadied and up to flag quite good; very fair head. Tufted a little rashly and lot to left when pulling; straightened up well, but swung sheep a little half-way down and came, down slightly to left of course, dog being inclined to let them that way; through pegs and steadied well.

T. Sullivan’s “Bounce.” —Started on nice line slightly to right; dog little keen and swinging to left; steadied nicely and turned well on to course; another wrong turn to left, straightened ond hunted on good line; still hunting nicely half-way up, when sheep broke to left; recovered well and up to flag good: then took wrong directions in heading and went on hunting sheep up; came out and headed well, swinging sheep when lifting and let to right when coming down. Fair line, but too fast, sheep bolting through pfgs and away to back. Headed and steadied nicely. D. Nairn’s ‘.‘Wylie.”—Bash turn in starting and swung sheep hard, letting them to right. More rash turns back and forward before reaching foot of hill; wrong turn and dog inclined to hunt to loft; back on course dog still rash and hit sheep hard back to left again. Several more rash and wrong turns and finally reached peg. Dog hunted sheep along face before heading. Started back quietly and kept good line; very fair pull on hill; rash turn on flat and missed pegs, sheep bolting. Dog headed and steadied well. M. hr. Scott’s ‘ ‘ King. ’ ’ —Let away to right at start. Dog Tan too far, slewing sheep back; caught them and back

to foot of hill, dog still rash. Steadioc a little, but inclined to hunt to righ !of course. Straightened up and of j course again with rash turn. Following j rash turns, reached peg and steadied | Very fair head; a little rash in lifting j and swung sheep about at start. •Steadied and brought sheep in fair lim |to foot of hill. Dog a shade keen j started sheep too fast on flat; miissei i pegs, headed and steadied well. | Asked for his opinion of the worl I of dogs ancl men and conduct of tin j trials as a whole, Mr Cottrell, win | judged classes A 1,2, and 3, said tin j work all through was particularly good A pleasing feature was the great num | ber of young competitors taking part. ( ir. ninny instances doing work whirl would do credit to more experience men; in fact, the majority held thei I own in the 'open classes. A fine lo of clever and useful dogs had beei presented. Tn his experince of thirt; years the entries received constitute! a. record, to.cope with which the club’ officials .had. proved their efficiency there was no loss of time between run and events and the whole meeting hai been faultlessly controlled. It was ; surprise to him, a-nd ho had been pleas ed to assist such a club as the Elthnin Takou. He trusted there would be. a his awn district trials, a renewal of tin pleasant associations connected wit! the Mangamingi trials. Before his departure Mr Cottrel was officially thanked and farewellci by the president (Mr .L. E. Jackson) The club, he said, owed a debt of grn titnrle to the judge, who had traveller a long distance and expended consider able time and patience in the inter osts of competitors and it was sincereb hoped he wm-Rl consent tn act at sonu future trials. Much of the secret, o success lay in the appointment of ai outside, independent judge and th< thanks of the club and competitor: were due to Mr 'Cottrell for hi: j impartiality to all. PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES Presentation of the following tro phies was made by the president, wlic congratulated the winners and extend ed his wishes for continued successes:— (Silver 'Cup (value 10 guineas), proseated by R. G. Knuckev, Esq., foi most points in the long heading class: to be won three times.—J. Lind’s (Ara rata) “Myrt.” (First year the cuj has 'been competed for.) Mclntyre-Corrigan Shield (value K guineas), for dog scoring most points ir. the long head and the heading and yarding class. To be won twice ir succession or three times at. intervals. —W. V. Mclntyre’s “'Chief, Junior.” Previous winners: 1926, J. Lind’s “Lochiel Myrt.;” 1927, W. A r . McIntyre’s “Chief, Junior.” Mr Mclntyre wins the shield outright. Scott Brothers’ Cup (value 10 guim eas), for most points in huntaway class. To he won three times. —L. Gower’s “Joss.” Previous winners: 1924, W. V. McIntyre’s “Donald Bruce;” 1925, A. A. Masters’ “King;” 1926, T. iSullivan’s “Raffertv;” 1927, F. England’s “Glen.” McHenry. Duff ami Co.’s cup, presented by A. O. Casey, Esq. (valued 20 guineas), for maiden dog. To be won three times in succession or five times at intervals, and not by the same dog twice. —L. Gower’s “Joss.” Previous winners: 1924. W. A r . McIntyre’s “Donald Bruce;” 1925, A. A. ’Af-sters ’ “King;” 1926. A. Doolo’s “.Tvp;” 1927. F. England’s “Glen.” Petrie’s Rose Bowl, for maiden dog. —J. Lind’s '“.Toss.” (Won outright.) P. Forrester’s Cup, value 10 guineas, for dog scoring most points in hunt•'way and pull hack class. To he won three times. —M. M. Scott’s “Nell.” Previous winner: 1927, M. M. Scott’s “Nell.”