WAREPA DOG TRIALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21360, 13 June 1931, Page 18

WAREPA DOG TRIALS

CHAMPIONSHIP HEADING DECIDED V GOOD WORK. IN HUNTAWAY. Practically perfect weather conditions prevailed yesterday morning for the final runs of the Southern Association’s championship head at the annual trials of the Warepa Collie Dbg Club. Shortly before noon, however, rain commenced to fall, and a heavy shower continued for about an hour and a-half, when, the clouds lifted, the weather from then on, although cold, being all that could be desired from the point of view of competitors. There was again a good attendance, and the mornings work in the heading was of a higher standard than that of the previous day, due largely to the fact that’there was an absence of the/wind which on Thursday ' made things rather difficult both for the dogs and the competitors. The exhibition given by the final six dogs, in particular, was of a very high order, as was only to be expected from the pick of a championship field, and in the final ' summing up of the points not a great deal separated the placed dogs. The course, although, as has been mentioned before, one of the best in Otago, .is not an especially hard one, but the dip between the edge of the tussock and the ring and yards proved the undoing of mpre than one good dog, which, after pulling in a perfect line down the hill, allowed his sheep to get off the line in the hollow, and consequently lost valuable points. This is by no means a reflection upon the course, as the short period during which the dog is more or less out of eight, and must, therefore, be left largely, to take .command himself, provides a good test of his ability to, maintain a good steady pull without .the need of constant checking. V Perhaps the outstanding feature of the heading was the success of the dogs of Mr J. Anderson. Upon the count for the first round Toby, )jun.,. was leading, with 35$ points from 1 Toby, who had scored 34}, but in the final run the more .experienced dog gave a splendid exhibition; and secured 30$ points to his companion’s 325, bringing his total up to 71, and giving him the championship from W. Hazlett’s Glen with 68$. Toby, jun., was next, half a point behind, these two dogs gaining for their .owner two out of the first three places. The huntaway championship drew 27 entries, and a start was made in the rain shortly before dinner. The sheep for this event, which were also provided by the president of the club (Mr W. S. Thomson) were big-framed crossbred ewes of mixed agCs, which,' - ’ although fairly free running, required a certain amount of mirsing oyer the last pinch and tested the steadiness of dog and owner alike. It ,is rather surprising to notice that a number of competitors year by year succumb "to the temptation to push their sheep too hard, even when they have plenty of time, and by their lack of patience spoil what would otherwise have, been a very fine run. JThe last slope at Warepa is fairly steep, and if there is one weak sheep in the bunch the dog which keeps too close on to his charges is almost bound to strike trouble. Taken as a whole, the work of the dogs in the huntaway was of a remarkable standard throughout yesterday afternoon. The number of dogs entered made it impossible to decide the championship by last night, and the final runs will not therefore be made until this morning,! after which the open head will be held. The sheep-guessing on Thursday was won by Mr J, Anderson (Bog Roy), who guessed the correct weight. 1091 b. The following 4 s the result of the championship heading:— CHAMPIONSHIP HEAD.—PuII, hold in ring, and yard; 1 about 600 yards. Points: Heading 10, pull 10, command 10, holding 4, style or work at yards 4, yard.ing 4;—total, 42. Prizes: First) 50 per cent. ’of the entry moifey; second, gold medal, plus 25 per cent, of the entry money; third, 12$, per cent, of the entry money; fourth, £1 10s: fifth, £1 Is; sixth, 15s. Time, llmin. Fitat Run.

J, Anderson’s Toby) jun.— ; B, 8, Bs, 3, 4, 4;—35$ .. ../ .. ..- .7. • . • 1 J. Anderson’s Toby—9, 7,8/ 3s) 3, 4; — 34$ .. .. .. 2 J. B. Purdue's Spot—B, 8,8, 2,4, 4;— 34 3 W. Hazlett’s Glen—6s, 9,7 s, 2s, 4, 4;—33$ .. V. . .. .. 4 J. R. Anderson’s Fan—9, 6s, 8,3, 2s, . 4;—33 .. ...... .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 A. T. Miller’s Kip—9, Bs, 9,3, 3H--32$ .. .. 0

Also ran: W. Hazlett’s Moss 31. J. B. Purdue’s Sweep 31, L. Charleston's Skip 31, J. C. H. M'Erlane’s Ned 304, B. Chirnside’s Jed 304, W. E. Aubrey’s Moss 30, L. H. Tilson’s Don 20, J. Anderson’s Roe 29, J. Trotter’s Hazel 264, R- Anderson’s Scott 26, L, Charleston’s Vale 28, J. Waddell’s Bob 24J, J. B. Purdue’s Snap 24, W. S. Thomson’s Toss 234, J. A. Nelson’s Kate 224, F. Golightly’e Mick 22, A. T. Miller’s Runt 214, J. Allan’s Sweep 21, L. H. Tilson’s Tip 20, J. Alldn’e Don 184, J. Anderson’s Risp 174, W E. Aubrey’s Jack 17, C. H. Smith’s Chance 1. W. Hazlett’a Fan, J. R. Anderson’s Bruce, and E. M'Leod’s Nellie failed to get dut. Toby, jun., ran out on a splendid line, but over-ran his sheep, and stopped before heading] He pulled off the hill on a good line, but shouldered his sheep, and pulled rather. fast coming to the ring. His work in the ring was good, though he let his sheep out once. His yarding work also reached a high standard, and he penned his sheep in 9J minutes. Toby ran out fast on the-right, headed and stopped in Imin 19sec. At the commencement of his pull he split his sheep, and was inclined to be a bit too fast coming off the tussock. He also shouldered his sheep badly while coming down and again near the ring. However, he held well in the ring, his yard work was good, and he yarded in 7mm 56sec. Spot ran out on the right, taking a good line. He stopped twice, but completed a good head in 2min 6sec. He pulled steadily on a fairly straight line, but lost time when the sheep were out of sight. He was slack in ring work, but recovered at the yards and ■; yarded, his command being very fair. Glen ran out on the right, coming in on his cast, and he had to be redirected several times. He ran too wide before heading, and over-ran his sheep. He pulled steadily on a very good line, h?ld his sheep well in the ring, though he let them out. His yard work was very good, and he yarded in 9misl. Fan ran out on the right, taking a splendid line, but stopped twice, and was a little wide. She completed her head in 2min 4sec. Her pulling down the tussock was very good, but she let the sheep get off the line coming to the ring, in which she held them well. She ran off her sheep at the yard, but penned them in 9min 33sec.

Kip took a great line out to the right, but slowed off before heading, which he completed in Imin 51sec. He lifted his sheep quietly, and pulled in good style coming off the hill, but allowed them to swerve whpn down. He held well in the ring, and his work at the yards was very good, though he failed to pen the sheep within the time.

Final. J. Anderson’s Toby—9}, B}, 84, 4,2, 4;— 364 (34}) 1 W. Hazlett’s Glen—B, 8,8, 4,3, 4;— 35 (33}) 2 J. Anderson’s Toby. jun.—9, B}, B}, 3}, 3, —32} (35}) .. 3 A. T. Miller’s Kip—9, 7}, B}, 2,3,

4;—34 (32}) J, A. Anderson’s Fan—7}, B}, B}, 2}, 2, 4;—33 (33) J. B. Purdue’s Spot—7, 7}, 8,2, —; — 26} (34)

Toby took a beautiful run out on the right, going clear round and stopping in Imin 29sec. He pulled a little hard coming off the tussocks, and was a little off the line coming to the ring. He held very well in the ring, but at the yards he dived and split his sheep. He yarded in lOmin 40sec. Glen ran out on -the right on a good line, stopped once and came in a little on his cast, requiring to be redirected once. He moved his sheep before heading, completing a running head in Imin 44sec. He pulled rather fast coming off the hill, and did not take the best line. He held well at the ring, and, although he turned tail once, his work at the yard was very good, and the sheep were penned in Omin 47sec. • Toby, jun., took a good line out to the right, but came in slightly on his cast. He finished a good head in Imin 32sec. He was inclined to pull • slightly on the top side after lifting his sheep and swung them coming off the tussockFrom then on he made a good line, and held very well in the ring, but, although his work at the yards was good, he failed to pen his sheep. Kip took a beautiful line out to the right, but slowed off before heading, and did ont go clean round his sheep in doing so. He lifted them quietly, and swung them a little coming off the tussock, and also let them off the line coming to the ring. His holding in the ‘yflig was fair, and he did very well at the yards, penning his sheep in 9miu 45sec.

Fan ran out too wide on the ‘ right and over-ran her sheep before heading, which was not as clean as it might have been. She swung bar sheep a little coming off the tussock, and let them get off the line when out of • sight, but her pull was steady all the way. She split her sheep both at the ring and the yards, where her work, however, was f*ir. She yarded in Omin 54sec.

Spot ran out on a good line to the right, but stopped twice and slowed off before heading, going clean round as he did so. He pulled .steadily on a good line, but lost time when the sheep were out of sight. He ’was slack at the ring, but hjs yard work and - command were both good. He failed to yard. (