SHEEP DOG NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3396, 16 April 1919, Page 45

SHEEP DOG NOTES.

TAIERI COLLIE CLUB.

There was a good attendance at the annual meeting of the Taieri Collie Club. Mr A. P.' Gibson presided. Tho annual report was read and adopted. Tho balance sheet showed a satisfactory financial position. Officebearers for the ensuing year were elected as follows:—President, Mr L-. M'Lean; -vicepresidents!—Messrs A. P. Gibson, W. Blackie, A. Scott, J. Imrie, and W. R-eid; secretary., Mr J. P. Walls; treasurer, Mr CF. Wedge; timekeeper and flag Mr Imrio; auditors, Messrs M'Lean and M'Kinnon. The retiring Gbiicrul Committee was reelected, with the addition of Messrs K. Scott, James Gow, jun., H. Bailey, B. Cullen, John Nimmo, jun., and Douglas. The Ground Committee was re-elected. Some soldier members recently returned from the war arrived during the meeting and were heartily welcomed. Amongst the votes of thanks passed was a special one to the Taieri Women's Patriotic Association, to which the success of the trials was in a large, measure due.

The Taieri Collie Club met last week and drew up a programme for the annual trials to be held at the end of May. This includes maiden and open heading events, atheading and bringing back event, an'open handftap, and a local and consolation event —the lastnamed if time permits. Tho club will hold the trials earlier this year than usual. The fixture has been held hitherto during Winter Show Week; but for various reasons the club this year has decided on a change and will follow the Middlemarch meeting. A most enjoyable social followed the business meeting. Some of the club's members who had returned from the war were; tendered a welcome. The president (Mr Lf M'Lean) was in the chair, and made a speech of welcome. His remarks were endorsed by several others. A long musical programme was gone through, and refresh-; ments were provided. LOWBURN TRIALS. The fifth collie dog trials at Lowburn Ferry wei\* held on the 3rd inst. Mr R. G. Anderson, of Kuana, officiated as judge. The sheep used were generously given from Mount Pisa Station. The club aims at encouraging a class of dog suitable for useful work on small grazing runs, and hopes by honest rivalry to promote' efficiency on the part of musterers. The club therefore looks to pastoralists, selectors, and musterers for support. Twenty-three dogs competed in .the first event—heading, bringing back about quar-' ter of a mile, and yarding three sheep in a yard one .'hurdle wide. It took nsairly all day to complete the event. -The first prize was won by Mr J. Woods's Bob with 29g points out of a possible 40; the second prize by Mr J. Anderson's Wylie, with 29 points; the third and fourth were divided between Mr A. Mathieson's_ Fan and Mr H. Anderson's Light (26 points each), and the fifth prize was won by Mr Mathieson's Moss (17 points). The judge (Mr Andsrson) expressed himself as well pleased with the work of the dogs. Ho stated that, when one considered that the sheep were very wild and hard to handle with the strong wind blowing, which also made it difficult for the dogs to hear the whistle, he was of opinion that the work was very good.

. Class 2. —Heading, bringing back, and holding in ring, distance _ of sheep from ring half a .mile. —First prize, a cup valued at £lO, was won by Mr A. Mathieson's Ned tvith 38 points out of a possible 40; the second prize (£4) was won by Mr J. Woods's Bobbin with 37 points, and the third prize of £2 was won by Mr J. Anderson's Wylie with 34 points, the fourth prize (a trophy valued at £l Is) was won by Mr J. Anderson's Light with 31 points, and the fifth prize (a special prize valued at 15s) was won by Mr T. M. Phelan's Joa. The wind abated on the second day, enabling tho dogs to hear all commands. The I judge paid a special tribute to the excellent work of tha dogs, which ho declared to be specially good for the first three dogs, in spite of the fact that tho sheep were wild and hard to steady. Mr J. Anderson's Wylie (12 years old) and Light were sorefooted, and as the country was shingly it prevented these old prize-winners from showing to advantage against dogs specially nursed for such an event. There were 23 dogs entered in this event, 21 of which competed. Class 3. —A. Mathieson's Clyde, points, 1; J. Craig's Toss, 38 points, 2: J. Henderson's Sharp, 26 points, 3; T. M, Pholan's Nell, 20 points, 4; G. Stevens's Black, 7 points, 5. Tho special prizes were awarded as under:—£2 2s. for most points in 1 and 2, J. Wood's Bobbins; medal, valued at £2 2s, for best mustering team, Mr. A. Mathieson ; 51b tea, for second best mustering team, Mr .Tames Anderson ; prize, value 13s 6d, for youngest competitor, Mr George Clark; prize, valued £1 Is, for_ dog taking most care of sheep during trials. Mr A. Mathieson's Ned and Mr J. Woods's Bobbins equal; 10s 6rl, for dog making best head, Mr A. Mathieson's Ned. There was an extra class run for prizes of £1 Is and 10s 6d. It was decided that tho judge should select six of the best dogs to compete in a, short haul and yard. The result was: Mr J. Anderson's Wylie & and Mr A. Mathieson's Ned > 2. The musterers and visitors wero pleased

with the arrangements, which reflect great credit on the promoters.