TARATA DOG TRIALS

Taranaki Daily News, 9 April 1927, Page 6

TARATA DOG TRIALS

RECORD MEETING HELD PRIZES WELL DISTRIBUTED. CONCLUDING DAY'S RESULTS. Under ideal weather conditions and Before another large attendance, the twentieth annual meeting of the Tarata Sheep Dog Trial Club was brought to a successful conclusion yesterday, when a fresh record was established by the club. So numerous were the entries that it was only by making an early start and continuing without any break for lunch, that it was found possible to complete the trials in the two days allotted. So perfect was the organisation, and so well did all the officials work, that there was not the slightest delay or hitch throughout the day, each competitor being on his mark ready to start as the last finished his run. Special praise must be given to the men handling the sheep, Messrs J. Mackie, G. Burr, D. Muir and R. Swan. They had a very heavy day, but they stood the test well, getting the sheep out with a skill and expedition born of constant practice. The prizes in the various events were well distributed, no competitor winning more than one first prize. The standard of the work was again of a high average, there being perhaps one outstanding dog, but the feature of the meeting was the number of competitors that completed their work in a very businesslike manner, showing a marked improvement in the work usually seen at trials. As on the first day, the catering was of a high standard, and the society is indeed fortunate in having a band of ladies who are prepared to devote bo much time in its interest,- and in popularising the gathering among competitors and spectators alike, as the catering at Tarata undoubtedly does. The officials were: President, Mr. A. Gorki!!; chairman of the committee, Mr. J. Drummond. The members of the committee, together with the capable and courteous secretary (Mr. I. Maerae), and the treasurer (Mr. A. Muir), ail co-operated in a manner that spells success, and with such an energetic band of workers to control the competitions as Messrs W. Topping, flag steward; H. Lambert, ground marshal; J. Drummond, dog steward; J. Hirst and A. Lambert, mounted stewards; J. Grieve, timekeeper; and the sheep stewards already mentioned, everything worked with the smoothness of well-oiled machinery. Mr. G. Ferguson, of Taihape, as judge, paid close attention to the running of each dog, and whether beaten or not, each competitor had the satisfaction of knowing that he passed under the critical eye Of a judge who was aible to recognise merit in any work, and was out to give all a square deal. Among the visitors present was Mr. E. Walter, member for the district. Thirty out of the 31 entered, competed in the second class, in which the competitor had to stand at a flag, start his dog, head the sheep, and pull them to the flag. He had then to drive them through the hurdles to the peg, open the gates of the pen and yard. A feature of this was the splendid percentage of dogs that completed their task, no less than 17 yarding the sheep. The work of the first dog, owned by J. Lind, of Hawera, was particularly good, receiving within four points of the possbile. The judge summed it up as a elever run, full of merit. A. Doole's Toss was see-' ond, with seven pointe less, his work bZfig characterised by the judge as a very useful progressive run. Several dogs were only separated from the placed dogs by single points, all showing useful work.

Class 3 was the local event. It attracted 25 entries, of which 17 competed. In this, the competitor had to stand in the ring, start his dog, head the sheep, pull to yard, and yard to the satisfaction of the judge. This event was started about mid-day, and the sheep in some cases proved more than lively, testing out the ability of the dogs and, at times, beating them. There was not such a big percentage of yarding as in the previous event, 'but many just failed to yard by a narrow margin, whilst their work up to the yard was good. Indeed, some remarkably clever work was witnessed. Only the four placed dogs yarded their sheep, but Mclntyre's Chief, which failed to yard, did best work in the heading and pulling.

In the huntaway, there were 18 entries, of whom 12 competed. In this event the competitor had to take charge of the sheep and huntaway through three sets of flags, placed on a zig-zag course. The dog had to make a move before going through the second set of flags, or it did not qualify, and the time allowed for the distance of 300 yards was ten minutes. The placed dogs did very fair work but, on the whole, the huntaway work was disappointing. T. Sullivan, of Waverley, took first and third prizes, whilst W. V, McIntyre, of Inglewood, was second, and A. Doole, of Mangamingi fourth.

Details are as follow: Head, Pull, Drive and Yard; about 300 yards. Time, 12min. Points: Head 10, bringing back 10, drive 4, hurdles 4, drive 4, work at yard 10, yarding 6, command 12; total, 60 points. First prize £lO 10s, second £4, third £1 10s, fourth £l. J. Lind’s (Hawera) Myrt, 9,9, 4, 4,4, 9,6, 11—56 1 A. Doole's (Mangamingi) Toss, 8,8, 3,3, 3,8, 6, 10—49 2 S. George’s (Pukeho) Black, 8,7, 3. 3,2, 7,6, 10—46 3 J. H. Nairn’s (Mangamingi) Swift, 8,8, 3. 2,3, 7,6, 8—4.5 4 W. V. Mclntvre’s (Inglewood) Chief, 7,8, 3,3, 2,5, 6, 10—44 ........ 5

Myrt went out nicely to make a nice head, but rather too far round in 34see. Lifted sheep quietly and firmly, but carried a little to left at start of pull and then made a nice steady pull to pegs. The first drive was in good style, and went through the hurdles nicely. The second drive also was good. Style at yard was good. Yarded in 11 min 30sec. This was a nice clever run and full of merit. Toss went out steadily and made a nice head in 36see. Made a rather nice steady pull. Made a good drive and did rather nice work at the hurdles. The second drive was only fair. Had some trouble at the yard and yarded in 9min 35sec. A useful, progressive run. Black went out rather nicely and made a fair head in 33sec, but did not lift too well. Was a little jerky in pull. The first drive was pretty good and the work at hurdles good. The second drive was also good, but the dog was a little too far ahead once. Split the sheep at yard, but yarded at second attempt in 9min 40sec. A good, useful run.

Swift went out well and made a rather slack head in 55sec. Was jerky In pulling. The first drive was fair and went through hurdles fairly good. The second drive was fair and the work at the peri good except for one rash turn. Time, 11 min Ssec. Local Event; about 300 yards. Time, lOmin. Points: Heading 18, Ibringing back 16, command 12, style 6, yarding 6. Total points, 58. First £6, second £2 10s, third £l, fourth 10s. Opeu to dogs the bona fide property of residents within the boundaries of the Clifton County, the Inglewood County and the Taranaki County, on the east side of the Waiwakaiho River to the radius line, I. Macrae’s (Tarata) Bov. 15, 13, 9 5, 6—48 1 S. George’s (Pukeho) Flirt, 15, 14, 7,4, 6—46 2 R. Mounsey's (Purangi) Nap, I’s, 14; 7,3, 6—45 3 W. V. Mclntyre’s (Inglewood) Chief Junior, 16, 8,7, 5, 6 42 4 ‘W. V. Mclntyre's Chief, 16, 16, 3, 5 —4O 5 Boy: Went out nicely and made fair head in 45sec, Made fair straight pull a bit fast and showing lack of command. Did nice work at pen and never lost position. Yarded in Bmin 55see. . Flirt: Went out well and made nice head. Slightly over-run in 49sec. Inclined to dive at sheep, but made very fair pull. Inclined to dive a little at pen. Let sheep round yard once but yarded at second attempt. Time, Trnin 52sec. Nap: Went out well but made a elose rash head in 34sec. Pulled too fast and let: sheep past and round pen several times before yarding, Style only fair. Yarded in snrih 24scc. ' Chief Junior: Went out well and made nice head, but bit wide in 57see. Made rash pull and rung sheep on flat. Let past pen once, got sheep in position and finished up well. Yarded in 6min 15sec. Huntaway, between three sets of flags on zig-zag course; about 300 yards. Time, lOmin. Points; Huntaway 18, noise 9, style 6, command 12; total, 45. Prizes: First £6, second £2 10s, third £l, fourth 10s. T. Sullivan's (Waverley) Bounce, 16, 9,6, 11—42 1 W. V. Mclntyre’s (Inglewood) Donald 15, 8,5, 10—38 2 T. Sullivan’s Rafferty, 14, 8,5, 10 —37 * 3 A. Doole’s (Mangamingi) Gip, 13, 7, 4, 10—34 . 4 Bounce started out nicely with plenty of driving power and took sheep well in h.%nd. Got through first flags on good time and made good line to second flags, which he negotiated In fair style and with plenty of driving power. Had a little trouble" after going through the second flags, but completed a good, progressive run in 6min 20see. Donald Bruce started off in fair style and, with good huntaway style, got through the first flags in good line. He then took good line to’second flags, ■which he got through in fair style. Took a good line to the top flags and finished a useful run in 3min 25sec. He had a good noise and fair style throughout the run, but was a bit wide ab times. This was a good, useful run with steady progress all through. Rafferty started out a bit rash, but negotiated the first flags in good line and with plenty of driving power took sheep to the second flags in good line. Got through second flags in fair style, and then had a little trouble. Took sheep to top flags in fair style, but with rather too much bounce. A good progressive run. Time, 3min 30see. Gyp started out nicely and made a fair line and style through first flags. Course was not too good to the second flags, which he just got through. He then put in a fair run to the top flags, and completed in moderate but progressive run in 3min 39see.