DOG TRIALS AT OKOKE

Taranaki Daily News, 31 July 1931, Page 12

DOG TRIALS AT OKOKE

NEW CLUB JOINS THE RANKS SUCCESSFUL INAUGURATION. OPEN EVENT TO E. RUMBALL'S JOE Though held somewhat late in the year and with climatic conditions not altogether in its favour, the inaugural meeting of the recently-formed Okoke Shep Dog Trial Club, held yesterday, proved so successful that it has been decided to make it an annual fixture, and l next year the club proposes to hold a two-day fixture earlier in the year. The trials were held on the property of the club’s patron, Mr. T. Wright, situated ten miles up the picturesque Okoke Valley, and the club has there the makings of a splendid trial ground. The course as laid out was a somewhat difficult one, and with the heavy around after so much rain it thoroughly tested the capabilities of the dogs and shepherds. The sheep, too, an even lot which were placed at the club’s disposal by Mr. Wright, required judicious handling. For a first trial, and considering that some of the dogs were out of practice and many were mainly general utility farm dogs with little and in some cases no experience of sheep trial -work, and that many of the shepherds were also young and inexperienced, some creditable work was shown and no doubt as the result of the experience gained yesterday and from the advice given by Mr. W. V. Mclntyre, the judge, they will show improved form next time. The new club should prove a splendid nursery. A very pleasing feature xyas the enthusiasm shown by* all the members which,' the judge remarked, augured well for the future. At the conclusion the judge and committee inspected the course and various suggestions were made with a view to givino- an improved trial ground next year, as well as permitting the inclusion of a huntaway. This year the programme was confined to two events, novice and open, both over the same course—head, pull, hold in ring, drive through hurdles and yard, save that in the novice event it was divided into two sections,' pull, head and hold in ring, and driving and yarding, trophies being provided for each. Both the novice events were won by J. W. Herbert’s Lass, and he re-donated the cash portion of his prize, as did some of the ■ other winners. The open event was won by E. Rumball’s (Uruti) Joe. x. The officials all handled their tasks well. They comprised Messrs. W. Hargreaves (chief sheep steward), R. Waite ground and flag steward), W. Whittaker (gate steward), H. Denne (judge’s assistant) and A. McKeown (timekeeper). The catering was in the hands of Mesdames R. Waite, T. Wright, M. E. Fraser, Misses P., A. and B. Whittaker, who .were assisted by Mr. G. Whittaker. At the conclusion the, president (Mr. W. Hargreaves) presented the trophies to the winners. He thanked all who had assisted in the trials, particularly mentioning the competitors, the judge for so freely placing his expert knowledge at the disposal of the committee and for the advice he liad given the novices, the patron for the use of his grounds and sheep. He also thanked the ladies for their assistance. The committee responsible for the organisation of the trials at such short notice comprised Messrs. W. Hargreaves (president), R. Waite, S. Lee, T. O’Riordan, J. W. Herbert, A. Northcott, W. Whittaker, R. Ekdahl, H. Denne, A, McKeown, J. Slight and P. Darke (lion, secretary). The results are:— NOVICE EVENTS. Head, pull and hold in ring, about 300 yards. Time, 7min. points: Head 17, pull 17, ring 4, command 12; total 50 points. J. W. Herbert’s (Urenui) Lass, 15, 14, 2,9, 40 1 W. Hargreaves’ (Okoke) Gyp, loj, 14, 1,9, 394 2 T. O’Riordan’s (Okoke) Beau, 15, 12, —, 5, 32 3 C. Smiths (Urenui) Dock, 13, 12, —, 4, 29 4 JUDGE’S COMMENT. Lass. —Cast to the left and after | stopping several times headed quite fairly. ° Lifted a little rashly but kept on a fair course coming down hill. Let past the ring and brought sheep in at the back. Dog was a shade rash ring. Holding only fair. Time, 7min. Drive through hurdles to pen and yard. Points; First drive 4, hurdles 4, second drive 4, yard 10, command 12; total 34. J. W. Herbert’s Lass, 3,4, 4,7, 9, 27 1 The judge commented: First drive very fair. Let slightly past hurdles, then back and through well. Second drive good. Dog inclined to be inattentive at yard and turned tail on sheep. Let to back of yard and yarded well at the second attempt. OPEN EVENT, Head, pull, hold in ring, drive through hurdles to pen, and yard. Points: Head 17, pull 17, ring 4, command 12, first drive 4, hurdles 4, second drive 4, yard 10, command 12; total 84 points. E. Rumball’s (Uruti) Joe, 16, 13J, 14, 10, 3J ; 4,4, 8,11—71 J 1 R. Waite’s (Okoke) Poi, 7, 13, 2i, 9,4,3,3,9,11—614..... 2 J. Edwin’s (Waihi) Ben Junior, 7, 14, 2,9, 2-J, 3,4, 5, 8-544 3 J. Edwin’s Jed, 15, 12J, IJ, 8,3, 3, 2,3, 4—52 4 JUDGE’S COMMENTS. Joe.—Cast to right. Went out fast but a little straight. Headed quite fairly. Lifted sheep rashly and swung them about on the pull, but steadied near the ring. The ring work was only fair. First drive let sheep a little off course; otherwise good. Through hurdle in good style. Second drive good, and after losing position twice at yard yarded well. Poi.—Went out fast but crossed her head. In pull dog ran too wide off sheep and let them off course. Ring work quite fair, though let sheep out three times. First drive good. Let past hurdles, but brought back well and through. Second drive off the course a little. Good position at pen and after turning tail on sheep once yarded well. Ben junior.—Went out fast but crossed his head. Off course somewhat in pull. Then came into the ring well. Ring work only fair. First drive split sheep and let oil’ course but back and through hurdles nicely. Second drive off course a little and after getting good position at pen failed to yard in time.