SOUTH ISLAND DOG TRIALS

Southland Times, Issue 22922, 22 June 1936, Page 5

SOUTH ISLAND DOG TRIALS

Better Conditions For Huntaway GOOD PERFORMANCES (From Our Special Reporter.) Mossbum, June 20. The last event of the South Island championship sheep dog trials, which were run at Mossburn from Tuesday until Saturday of this week, produced easily the best and most interesting performances of the competitions. It was the huntaway, ~ and judges and owners agreed ihat in it an outstandingly high standard was reached. There were 41 entries, and 37 dogs ran. The first nine competitors, who ran late on Friday afternoon, had the benefit of good conditions and again this morning, although it was still very cold, there was no cause for complaint. The weather improved further after midday, and the trials ended about the middle of the afternoon in fairly mild weather. The winner of the huntaway was Mr M. A. Matheson, of Middlemarch, with Vale, which scored the splendid total of

171, out of a possible of 180. Mr lan Anderson, of Kurow, a placed competitor in each event, was five and a half points away with Dick, and Mr J. Waddell, of Waikaka Valley, with Glen, was another six points back. Then the competition became very keen indeed. The fourth dog, Mr R. Anderson’s (Kauana) Glen, an experienced old trial competitor, was beaten by half a point for third place, and Mr D. McGimpsey and Mr John Anderson, both of Kurow, with Bob and Flag respectively, tied for fifth place. Mr McGimpsey’s dog was the only one of those which ran on the first day to be placed although Mr J. A. Nelson’s Roy, a much fancied competitor, was only half a point out of a place. The sheep to-day showed some signs of the trying week they have had, and one or two competitors were put out of the running by a sick animal. Most of them were still lively enough, and it was only occasionally that sheep had to be nursed very carefully indeed. Judges’ Praise. The judges, Messrs J. Scott (Southland), D. Murdock (Otago), and H. S. Ingram (Canterbury), were agreed that it was an excellent class. “Several of the unplaced dogs made runs which were good enough to win ordinarily,” Mr Murdock said. “They were just unlucky that the winners produced such outstanding form.” Both the visiting judges were enthusiastic in their comments on the course on Mr Guy Chewings’s property, and equally enthusiastic tic about the work of the officials of the Mossburn Club. Mr D. Rowe, the president, Mr L. Dawson, the secretary, and the members of their executive did everything possible to make the fixture a success, and competitors and everybody else interested in the trials congratulated them warmly on their arrangements. Another feature of the conduct of the fixture was the work of the women supporters of the club. They had hot meals and hot drinks available on the ground every day, and their part was by no means the least in gaining popularity for the meeting. This was the second time that the championship trials were conducted for the South Island Association by the Mossburn Club, the first being the inaugural meeting, three years ago, and the club has definitely proved itself one of the most efficient in the Dominion. Detailed Result The judges’ placings were as follows: HUNTAWAY AND SLEW. About a quarter of a mile. Time, 12mins. Points: Huntaway 25, slew 10, com- 1 mand 10, noise 15; total 60. Prizes:—

First £l5, second £lO, third £5, fourth £3. fifth £2, sixth £l.

Also competed:—D. Rowe’s Don, 91; R. M. Wilson’s Toss, 1434; J. A. Nelson’s Brandy, failed; C. J. Crutchley’s Mick, 84; J. A. Nelson’s Roy, 158; B. Callaghan’s Ben Romp, 147 J-; M. M. Hamilton’s Dick, 132 J; J- Trotter’s Sharp, failed; L. Charleson’s Bruce, failed; J. Ramsay’s Lass, 137; M. M. Hamilton’s Bruce, 1401; J. McCauley’s Jock, 107; C. L. Kerr’s Sid, 141; W. E. Stivens’s Ding, failed; B. Callaghan’s Mack Romp, 148; R. W. Trotter’s Crib, 1441; A. J. Gibson’s Stump, 137-J; W. Monk’s Rough, 153; lan Anderson’s Speed, 1301; J. McChesney’s Glen, 611; S. Peterson’s Crib, 1571; E. J. Reardon’s Glen, 1491; J. McChesney’s May, 65; R. McWhirter’s Chum, failed; W. R. Downie’s Help, 1551; W. R. Downie’s Mag, 143; F. Sinclair’s Storm, 127; W. Kennedy’s Spider, 98; J. Lawlor’s , 137; W. Kennedy’s Jack, 147; J. Lawlor’s Ned, failed. Vale’s Brilliant Win. Mr Matheson’s Vale hunted on a good line, and over the early stages

had to nurse weak sheep. The dog was very firm throughout, though, and held its line all the way, with plenty of noise and punch. It was a very fine run. The second dog, Mr lan Anderson’s Dick, also hunted on a good line, but was inclined to bark back to the man and was a little less stylish than the winner. It made a good course, for all that, and used plenty of punch. Mr Waddell’s Glen held an excellent line, but hunted a shade too wide of the sheep. The fourth dog, Mr R. Anderson’s Glen, too, held an excellent line throughout, but he lacked a certain amount of the punch shown by the first three dogs, and it was this that left him as low as in fourth place. Mr McGimpsey’s Bob and Mr John Anderson’s Flag, two Kurow dogs, tied in fifth place. Flag kept a fairly good line, turned out at the corners occasionally and was inclined to look back to the man, showing lack of style. He did not grip the sheep throughout the run as the other dogs did. Bob had plenty of punch and noise, but was a little off command. His was a very good run, marred to some extent by his being a little too keen and rash. The six placed dogs had very little to spare from the field. J. A. Nelson’s Roy, one of the favourites from the first day, was only half a point away from Flag and Bob, and he might be ranked as one of the unlucky dogs of the trials. S. Peterson, with Crib, was only one point further away, and then there was a bunch all about on the same mark.

d tn •d 3 <u M >> *d TJ m c 5 d rQ 2 o O *5 o M 43 d ■ d *« o U2 o Q H M. A. Matheson’s (Middlemarch) Vale 5G1 57 574 171 Ian Anderson’s (Kurow) Dick 56 541 55 1651 J. Waddell’s (Waikaka Valley) Glen 55 511 53 1591 R. Anderson’s (Kauana)Glen 52 53 54 159 D. McGimpsey’s (Kurow) Bob 53 531 52 1581 John Anderson’s (Kurow) Flag 51 53J 54 1581