MACKENZIE COLLIE CLUB DOG TRIALS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11397, 14 April 1899, Page 3

MACKENZIE COLLIE CLUB DOG TRIALS.

(From Our Albury Correspondent,)

The annual gathering and contests under the auspices of the Mackenzie Collie Club camo off last-week..under .extremely adverse circumstances. In the first placo, after tho dates for holding the trial had been fixed and duly notified, the monster Waikakahi dispersing siilo was arranged to take place, and, of course, this tended to divert the. attention and-patronage of a large number' of persons bent on attending that notable fixture. The Fairlie' people also sprang a surpriso on their , more inland neighbours, and promoted an agricultural 'show which was a gathering blest with Queen's weather, and was a most pronounced success. This also tended to diminish the desire for a day's outing of a large section of the public who, under ordinary circumstances, would have honoured the meeting with their presence. Then, to crown all, the weather proved tlie opposite .of favourable, _ this in its turn affecting the attendance materially, and making the carrying out of the various events far from pleasant. The' liberal prizes offered, and the established popularity of this fixture had commanded full attention from competitors, and-entries had come in very satisfactorily indeed, and further, good judging had been assured by securing the services of that popular judge, Mr W. 0. Rutherford. With such favourable arrangements, had the weather been fine, this year's trials would, no doubt, have proved as successful as those of' preceding years, which \va3 certainly expecting a lot. -A new silo had been secured, and all that could bo desired in tho way of sheep. Unfortunately, a dense fog covered tho higher portion of. the reaches of tho larger courses. After waiting some time it was deemed expedient to open proceedings with the running of tho yarding events, for which the " run" is only about 10 chains. .' At about 10.30 a.m. Mr M'Kay led out Speed, who hurdled three sheep in a creditable manner. Speed.was set out to tho left, and at tho onset .he seemed in too good running . form for ,so short a pull, and rather overran his sheep, but on coming back to them he put in nice steady work, though inclined to feather somewhat, and running wide lost a little ground, and repeatedly turned off his. sheep at corners instead of turning-inwards*.' It is generally conceded that had this youthful competitor had the experience of a former competition he would have gortp5 close on winning; as it was he failed at the yarding. The next to come before the judge" was Mr'.N. Ballantyno's well-tried dog. Mo3s, who won the "long pull" here last year, and was second in both Classes II and 111 the previous year. He was also the winner of a similar class at the Albury trial last season. He not unnaturally attracted considerable attention. Being cast to the left',, he made a nice head trial arid pulled .steadily, though inclined to run wide at times, and proved not so firm as usual at hand. He failed to yard.

Mr W. Melville, i a .consistent attender at the meeting of his old club at Kurovv, who is. a new settler in this district, did not come as a. stranger, for ho successfully represented his club hero at its fourth meeting, and he waa looked upon as likely to furnish something in the way of good work, but on this occasion his. dog was evidently not in the best of ■ form i for near-at-hand work.

Mr C. Thew, a visitor from Orari; was the next, to .take ..the. field, and started Lassie straight from the right hand. She was inclined to run in under the sheep, but being under good command she'was easily brought out on nearing the sheep. She ran vlcio, and overran her sheep on leading; lacked style in pulling, flying off and back into the sheep, and gave them too much course, ultimately spliting her sheep. Mr T). Mun.ro, a representative of the rugged slope's of Mount Cook, next entered the. ring, and sent Chance away to rho left. He made a nice head!'kept the sheep on a good course returning, was very bill: He, though rather slacjc at hand. He let the sheep break a bit, ultimately losing one. Mr K. Cowan sent Jet, his cup candidate, round his sheep on the right. He lilade a fair head, rather rough at first in pulling, failed to. keep a good course, but got his sheep to the yard. He put in some fine work, but was rather rash at times, and at others let his sheep .-away from the ring. He failed,to yard. ; ' ..'■.,

Mr M'Rao (Waikari) next occupied the judge's attention. Boss showed that he had not travelled so far without a possible, for he headed well and pulled nicely, ran rather wide at times, giving the sheep too much scope, but he landed them in the ring in good time, and worked them very steadily indeed. He failed- to yard. . •

Mr R. Fraser's Nod,' another cup candiddate, ako scored in'this class, but did nothing of record. . ■ :

Mr J., Ballantyne followed with Gyle, a clog that lias on several previous occasions won honours for his master. He was not in the best of trim, evidently, and did not acquit himself . creditably, being altogether too slack.

The next dog to stir up enthusiasm was Master J. Irving's Bob, worked by his youthful trainer, Master Bertie. Anderson, the lad who created such a favourable impression at the Albury trials -last fall in the youths' event. This young dog's work was much admired, and had the lad trained his dog to stand off sheep when hid in the yards, he would have had a very good chance of winning indeed.

Mr H.G. Wyndham Gray (Waikari) followed with'that far-famed dog Bruce, previously owned by. Mr W. Anderson, whose loss Bruce evidently still laments, for lie apparently does not appreciate his new master sufficiently to put himself on his best behaviour when' from home. Bruce made a nice head, and about the best in the event, and brought his charge well to hand, but liis worker failed to gel him to steacly his'sheep at the ring. On the whole he had good style. The last dog- to run was Mr W. Melville's second nomination, Don, who carried a prize from this district on the former occasion that Mr Melville contested here six years ago. Scarcely a year since has Don failed to secure a place at the Kiirow trials. His running was therefore watched with interest. When sent away, he headed the sheep fairly, but their proving wild gave Don his work to land them at the yards, which he did well. They were too wide at the ring, but the sheep were yarded, though the credit lies with the master. and not the dog. These were the only lot yarded during the whole contest. Awards, the maximum number of points being 30:-— Mr W. Melville's Don. 16 pts ... 1 Mr W. W. M'Rae's Boss, 15pls ... 2 Mr N. Baliantyne's Moss, ltpts ... 3 Mr H. G. Wyndham Gray's Bruce, 13p(s

Messrs D. Munro's Chance and J. Bal lai. tyn's Gyle, 11 each.

Class I.—Huntaways : Driving three merino wethers out along a defined course about half a. mile, through four sots of poles.

The- first two dogs failed to get the sheep to start the proper course, and consequently failed to score.

Mr J. Fraser en me out with Rasp, a slashing, big. stirring fellow, with a grand bark— a rare sort of lnusterer's help. Rasp succeeded with some little trouble in successfully negotiating the first poles, thereby qualifying for a prize, if he could win it. This dog showed good command, but lacked style for trial work, turning bock from the sheep every they stopped. He kept a good course

right on through the second flags, anc' we" cm up hill, but ultimately split, and lost charge. Mr A. S. Smith's Royal was the next to si.ccced in getting through tlie (Ings, and rr:ado fair work half-way on to the second polos, when sho headed her sheep, and lost the course. Mr K. Eraser's Fame, who lias previously won places in various events at different trials, was tho next to qualify for a prize, and continued well on along tlie course through the second (lags, and was well up to the third lot when a heavy mist falling obscured the course from our View, and it was decided to terminate, the trial for the night, tlie worker being given the option of running again in the morning if ho chose. Ho was, however, satisfied to take his chance of tho present performance- being beaten. Fame was under good command, had plenty of noise, was somuwlmt lacking in stylo, but scored well in hunting out. ■ ■ Mr S. Briant opened the ball next morning when the weather, though still damp, was' clear enough to allow the trial boinii continued. Old Ready succeeded in qualifying, getting his trio through the flags; had plenty of noise (a grand barking dog) ; fair style, but lacked command. As usual—ho always having proved too headstrong for trial workhe let the sheep off the.eourßO to yards, and lost. . .- - ' . i Mr A. S. Smith's Scolt iv ,came next, and with fair stylo and noise and serviceable command his charges were got through the first flags, and kept along a good course well on towards the next, when, through lack of nidmncnt on the part of the worker, this younsr dog's chance of securing a place was IOBt. , , Mr It. Fraser's cup dog came next, and, like his former nomination, succeedcd'in accomplishing the greater part of his task, and in very grand style. Though showing good command, he was not up to the mark m noise, and also lacked style. . Mr Cowan's Jet followed, and succeeded m accomplishing tho greater part of his contract, villi good noise, fair command, and serviceable- style; and but for a mistake at the second flags, which took some remedying, this dog would have gone much nearer the WM nr nGeo"go SEvans next qualified with Glen, who took "second honours in the same class last year, and again proved himself a good dog by lmndling two sheep well, taking them along a good course in'capital style, with plenty of noise right on through the second fla^s and eloso'up to the third poles—a really meritorious performance, and a very, popular one, as he certainly showed the ■truest character of a huntaway of all that Qualified The prizes, Ist £8, 2nd £4, 3rd £2, Wh special, fell as follow?, the maximum points being 30: — Mr G. Evans's Glen, 29pts. ... ~- 1 Mr K. Fraser's Fame, 26pts. "... .....£ Mr K. Fraser's Nod, 24pts a Mr It. Cowan's Jet, 2Spts ... ... 4 Mr J Fraser's Rasp 18, Mr S. Briant's Ready 17 Mr \ Smith's Scott 17, were the others of'the 22 entries to score upwards of halt points, and Briant, Jet, and Smith's Royal cot into doublo figures. ' At the conclusion of this class the long pull," Class 111 (26 entries), was proceeded 4 on the card was the first to attract much attention. Mr W. Melville sent Bess out on the right, rather straight, ao sho ran in somewhat on Hearing the sheep. However, she made a pretty head, in quick time pulled back nice, and went steadily along a good course to near the foot of the hill then showed an inclination to featnei nearly at hand: nevertheless ehe was very steady, and landed her sheep at the ring •» good condition, had a little trouble steadying them in it, put in some nice work, though this was the weakest part of her performance. Her merit has only once been approached during these trials, and that was by .Mr A. Hanlio with Jade in the yarding during the second trials this club held, in 1892. _ Air H. Anderson sent Moss out mdirterenlly, and the dog showed no inclination to improve matters, and failed to make a good head. She pulled very well though she did not' show command, and failed at the ring through being too unsteady for wild merino sheep,' being accustomed to longwools. Mr W. Ballantyne's Moss also failed to go out crossed in heading,.and ran in too close ere putting tho first turn on, whence he made the best pull of flic meeting; and landed his sheep into thc; ring in capital,style and condition ; showed; up well in holding, and but for the unfortunate blunders mentioned must have about won, repeating last year's performance, 'when he lost but one point in heading and one in holding. Mr Shaw's Lassie waaf the next to do well, making-a fair.head, pulled steadily though not firmly, showed good command but failed to hold in the ring. Mr Frascr' now appeared with Nod, who went out remarkably well, but failed to retrieve his mob well, and did- not' reach the ring by the call of time. . Mr M'Rae's'Boss did not go out any too freely: made a fair head after a' lot ol directions; pulled together in good style, the sheep beimr rather wild ; was a while getting the sheep steadied in the ring, but on the whole his was a very fair performance. Mr R. Cowan's Jet's sheep were lost in fog, which now, with heavy rain, obscured the course. It was therefore called in, and the trial was postponed' till the following day, when the fog lifting, Jet "was again sent his mission of endeavouring to boat his only formidable rival for cup honours. He needed to secure 21 points to tie, or 22 to beat, but only managed to secure 20. Mr Melville's Don was the only other,dog to perform above the average, which was generally low. Don failed to take his directions well, and did not keep a good course; made a good head on getting out; was rather inclined to run wide, pulling up on the right side of tho sheep; did not hold command of ■ the sheep; let them, right off the course, picked up others. The judge's awards placed the prizes (£B, &\, £2, and special) thus:—Mr W. Melville's Bess, 29pte .... 1 Mr W. M'Rae's Boss, 26pts 2 Mr A.'M'Kay's Speed, 25pts ... 3 Mr AY. Ballantyne's Moss, 24pts ... 4Mr C. Shaw's Lassie, 23pts ... ... 5 Messrs W. Melville, H. Anderson, R. Fraser, and R Cowan scored upwards of half points; and Messrs H. ."Wyndham Gray and ■J. Ballantyne were close, up. Class IV.—Youths under 18 years: There were four-entries.

Mr Shaw Thompson proved the winner with a nice, strong working dog in Tip, who was closely followed by Master.C. B. Anderson with Bob. The latter really put in the finer performance, but had the misfortune to have 'one very refractory sheep to deal with. Mr Herbert Anniss followed up for third place with a dog that showed signs of having had too much food and was feeling the illeffects thereof.

The various special prizes fell as follow: — The chili's cup, to be held for the year by most points scored during the meeting with one dog, was won by Mr R. Fraser, with Nod, for 51 points. He accordingly gets the club's two-guinea gold medal, given annually to the holder of the cup. Nod also won a similar medal for dog scoring most points, scoring in each class— I, 11, 111.

For these prizes Mr R. Cowan ran very close with Jet, who was only 1 point behind, having scored similarly in two events, and then feil a point short in the other, so he secured Mr M'Millan's special, as runner-up dog to the champion—a deservingly popular win. Mr J. Eraser won^ the president's £2 2s for best 'Learn of three dogs, one scoring in each class. Mr "W. Melville won Mr King's special, a handsome cruet, for the best bred collie competing with Bess; also silver match box for best head in " long pull." The club's annual ball was held the first night of. trial and provided a great success. '

On the second night the club's annual dinner proved as sucessful as any formerly held, and , that is saying not a littlp. Afterwards a smoke concert was held, and tho company spent a most enjoyable ravening, during which the prizes, as far as won, were given out. During the evening the usual toasts were given and speeches and songs intermingled therewith.