Third Day.

Otago Witness, Issue 2363, 8 June 1899, Page 40

Third Day.

Saturday morning at last brought forth fine weather — a welcome and pleasant change.

Mr H. Little, of Waikari, who was due to leave by train, ran Gather the first thing in the morning. Gather was somewhat troublesome to get out, the distance evidently being slightly too long fot her on such rough ground, besides being of a very different nature to the hill tops of North Canterbury. She made a clean head, and pulled her sheep well ; but owing to the time lost going out only just got her sheep to the ring at call of time, and had nothing to her credit for holding.

The next runner provided the favourite run of the trial, and Mr A. Bain came in for a lot of genuine congratulations on the strength of

the work done by Dick, who maintained a good course going out; headed well in quick time ; pulled back very straight and steadily"; was fairly good at hand, but had some little trouble to hold in ring to the satisfaction of the judge.

The Kurow representative, Mr W. Hogg's old warrior Darkie,' commanded a lot of attention ; but he was either off colour or found the rough ground uncongenial to his old age, and failed to put in any good work, though he seemed to be doing his best all through the trial.

Mr D. Stewart's Jess, in whom was centred considerable interest, and who was expected to uphold the prestige of the district, ran out somewhat erratically ; made a grand head, but lost all chance [of winning by her sheep breaking back to the liberating yards.

Mr R. Fraser's slut, who has run very consistently in. various events at previous trials, was the next to attract attention. This nicelooking, well-bred slut was under grand command till out near the eiid of the course, when she appeared rather keen, and running too close to her sheep failed to head without crossing. She was somewhat noisy, and lacking in style on returning ; got along a good course in fair time to the foot of the hill ; inclined to stand off her sheep, getting through rushes very well, and biddable at the ring. Young Bertie Anderson followed with Bob, wbjt> went out in good time. Though failing to maintain -the best of courses, he made a good head- on rough ■ ground, and pulled very well" indeed. • " Considering the wild nature" of Ms" shee'f) Bob 'had a good opportunity of displacing his sterling qualities both in getting his sheep through rushes and at the ringj and, although seriously handicapped by this drawback, the splendid manner in which this dog mustered his charge, one of whom was of a most refractory disposition, evoked great admiration from the onlookers.

Mr J. Annan brought out Chance, the previous clay's winner of the yarding event. This dog loitered badly on going out especially at first, and took an unwarrantable amount of handling. He eventually headed right, but failed in following well, keeping a course unworthy of a "orack 'uh," and lacked style till near at hand, when he was particularly good, his work at holding being excellent.

Mr H. Smith then sent Baldy on the journey, and he shaped all right till well out, and then lo3t caste; made a smart head in good time ; put in gome nice work out of rough facing ; was a bit inclined to run wide and keen for steady pacing ; lacked command at the ring.

Mr W. Melville's Besa, winner of the Long PulL at iiurke's Pass, did not perform up' to expectations ; in fact, few dogs vdid. This was doubtless owing to a great extent to the perishing the poor creatures suffered so much from, having to be kept tied up so long in puch adverse weather as has prevailed of late, besides having to swim across' the river just prior to being tied up, and the wet ground to lie on.

Mr R. Fraser's young dog Foil had too long a run to head his sheep, which made for the hilltop at a great pace, to get back.

Mr H. Anderson's Moss, a very consistent good-running dog on many former occasions, fourth scorer in the Long Pull, and winner of the Youths' event at Burkes Pass last year and the year before, again gave a grand exhibition of first class work ; but, like his younger brother, this young and capable contestant had the misfortune -to get a very mixed trio to operate upon, and the way he mustered one exceedingly perverse brute about the ring was really marvellous. Some able critics consider this dog's performance equal to any at the meeting. And so perhaps it was ; but the bad luck he had to contend against precluded the possibility of getting in sufficient points. Mr S. Briant's young dog Jet made about the best head of the trial. His sheep proved such travellers that the dog, though going out quickly and cleverly, did not manage to head his lot till the top of the hill was reached. Jet continued doing splendid work till time was called.

Mr Walter Hogg brought up the rear with his young Lilico, a really nice-looking young bitch. She went out very well, but displayed too many puppy tricks to make a further score. The following are the judge's awards: — Long Pull.

Mr W. Wright's Corbie, 28 points ..

Mr A. Bain's Dick, 27 points .. Mr J. Annan's Chance, 26 points .. Mr J. .Thompson's Rose, 25 points ..

The awards were by no means popular, especially the first and third. The others to run close up were: — Mr J. C. Trotter's Red, 24 points ; Mr Kennedy's Wet, 23 points ; Mr R. Fraser's Nod, 23 points ; Mr H. T. Little's Gather, 22 points ; Messrs R. Trotter's Stock, C. Trotter's Bob, and J. H. Anderson's Moss, 21 each ; and Messrs J. C. Johnstone's Flora and W. Hogg's Darkie, 20 points each.

THE YOUTHS' CLASS.

Half a dozen lads entered. The same conditions as Class 11, with the yarding omitted.

Master A. Curtis first entered the ring, followed by a bit of a pup certainly too young for such a competition ; but as a report got abroad that there were only two bona fide nominators likely to enter, four youngsters were prevailed upon "to have a go just for the fun of the thing," and those entries created a great deal of amusement. The aspirations of those juvenile shepherds caused no end of merriment, which reached to a climax when a youth was sent out to clear the big fellows' sheep 'off the courpe. This incident gave rise to a lot of good-natured cfiaff at the expense of Tip's master, who has yet to learn that self-composure should be exercised even in the ring at a dog fight, and he would do well to remember that the display of temper he gave way to showed a lack of good sense on his part.

The first prize fell to Master C. B. Anderson's Bob, the second to Master S. Thompson and the third to Master A. Curtis.

This terminated the field paTt of the programme. An adjournment was then made to the township, where the judging of the competing dog 3 was got through. The judge, Mr J. W. Richards, placed Mr R. Fraser's Fame first and Mr W. Melville's Flora second.

As a fitting finale to such a big meeting the race between members and competitors was run off, for which upwards of a score started to accomplish the feat of traversing the square. This task was most successfully performed by Mr J. Fraser, who won easily ; with Mr J. Polhill second and A. Smith third ; the field anywhere.

The settling up took place during the evening, and the following special prizes were awarded : —

Mr J. S. Eutherford's prize of £4 4s for best team of three dogs, one clog to score in each class.— Mr R. Fraser's Fame, Foil, and Nod, first prize; Mr J. Johnstone's Don, Flora, and Jet, second prize.

The Islington Meat Company's prize of half a ton of manure for farmer's dog scoring most points at meeting. — Mr A. Bain's Dick, first prizej Mr C. Trotter's Bob, second jjrize.

The National Mortgage and Agency Codfe^. pair/s prize of *£2i2s~fo£dog scoring most points, in Classes I and lll.— Messrs W. Hogg's ' Darkie and R. Fraser's Fame tied.

Mr F. West's prize of £2 2s for dog scoring most points at meeting. — Mr J. Annan's Chance. -Mr Smith's prize of dEI Is for quickest itturn "in Class I. — Mr "Wf. Hogg's Darkie. Mr" Fra&er's prize of £1 Is for best-bred, smooth-haired collie scoring ftt meeting. — Mr R. Fraser's Fame. • Mr Fraser handed back the guinea to the club.