CAPE EGMONT TRIALS

Taranaki Daily News, 25 February 1935, Page 2

CAPE EGMONT TRIALS

TESTS FOR WORKING DOGS HIGHLAND KING THE CHAMPION. SOME ENTERTAINING EVENTS. The initial meeting of the Cape Egmont Stock Dog Trial Club was brought to a successful conclusion on Satuiday in fine weather. There was again a good attendance, over 50 cars being parked on the ground. The concluding run took place shortly before 4 o'clock. The huntaway with ten sheep and the head, pull and drive event with ten cattle woic decided. While some of the competitors were unable to stay for the third day, the presence of new competitors, including F. Wardell, Tongaporutu, added to the interest. The huntaway work was very disappointing. Only one o£ the ten competitors completed the course, and that one was not a true huntaway, but Fraser Smith’s well-known utility heading dog Highland King. The course, with its long flat, looked easy and it was expected that the use of ten sheep instead of three would have a steadying influence. The majority of the contestants negotiated the first set of flags on the flat, but the stumbling block proved to be the fact that the set was placed on an angle at the right-hand base of the hill, necessitating a sharp slew to the left to negotiate the flags at the top of the hill. The winner was the only dog to negotiate the course, several of the others driving the sheep straight through the second set of flags, over the low brow near the base of the hill. Highland King went in a good line to the flags, but the dog was too away. The sheep passed through the second set of flags in good line, the dog giving an occasional bark before sitting down. Standing off, the dog did not force the sheep approaching the second set of flags, where he got in front of the sheep but finally completed in poor huntaway TKL CATTLE EVENT. The Cattle event attracted large entries. Standing at the peg, the competitor had to send his dog on to the hill to head five cattle and pull them through two pegs, and then drive them to the ring. Some splendid work was witnessed, the majority of the competitors completing the task in quick time with monotonous regularity. The event demonstrated the superiority of the welltrained sheep dog over- the local stock dog, for though the actual winner, a farmer’s dog, scored within one point of the possible, the next seven dogs were all sheep trial dogs. In the run-off for champion of champions Fraser Smith's Highland King' represented the sheep dogs in the absence of W. V. Mclntyre’s Cruachan and T. Reilly's Nigger, placed first -and second, in class 2. Highland King easily accounted for G. Watts’ Jock. The latter struck one troublesome heifer in his quintette. In winning the stock event Jock only dropped one point. He cast to the left and ran out on a good line, heading somewhat close and losing one point. He got through, the pegs after a very good pull and completed his drive with good work in the fast time of 2m 12s. T. Reilly’s Nigger was a point further back. He, too, cast: to the left, and made a very good head followed by a very good pull, but missed the peg with two of the cattle. After a good drive he completed his task in 3m 365. Highland King, who was third, cast to the right and ran out free on a good cast, heading well. He let the cattle drift a little but put them through the pegs in 4m 225. In the run off Jock had the' first run. He cast to the left and ran out slowly, failing to head at first but heading later in 455. He-frightened One beast away slightly -and- let the cattle drift away to the ’left. In front of the flags one beast was not making up at all; The dog then came on in a drive with one beast running away from the others, and completed the drive in similar style ip 5m 30s. This was in marked' contrast to his first run but he was unfortunate in striking one beast that would not hold •with-the others;, evidently it was from another mob. Highland King cast to the right, running out free on. a good line. He headed a little wide but safely and made great pull in good line through the centre ; of the flags. He completed in 3m 365, pulling up easily the winning performance. 1 SWEEPSTAKE HEAD AND PULL. A sweepstake maiden head and pull event added to the interest, but the star attraction' of the day was the clever performance of Highland King in two exhibition yardings in which the dog displayed almost uncanny skill. There was evidence of perfect .'understanding between the dog and its master. The educational value of the exhibition was appreciated, and regret was expressed that Mr. W. V. Mclntyre was not present to give exhibitions with his dog Cruachan. , Fraser Smith’s Highland King, besides winning the championship, secured two firsts and three thirds as well as the points prize in the three sheep events. He won the J. B. McEwan and Co. Challenge Cup and the Opunake Challenge Cup, and W. V. Mclntyre’S Cruachan won the yarding event and was second in the ring event, annexing the De Touret Challenge Cup and the Pokai Challenge Shield, the latter being a handsome piece of Maori carving depicting a trial scene, and said to be the only shield of the kind in the Dominion. A feature of the gathering was the manner in which the Maoris threw their weight into the gathering and contributed largely to its success. The judge, Mr. H. R. Scott, Whakamara, had a busy time, but his decisions gave general satisfaction. The win of the local competitor in the stock event was very popular.- Mrs. Scott, judge's clerk, had a very arduous three days, but her work was splendid. The women of the district again had charge of the catering. While all the officials worked well, no one deserved more praise than Mr. J. Scott, New Plymouth. On him fell the brunt of the organising work. The president. Mr. H. Gilhooly, the secretary, Mr. V. Thorne, the treasurer, Mr. W. Laurence, the committee and officials all worked.. well. It. was unfortunate for the club that the first day was so wet, otherwise the meeting would assuredly have been established on a solid financial basis. THE RESULTS. The remaining results are as follows:—CLASS 111. Huntaway between three sets- of flags on 10 sheep. Points, huntaway 24, style 9, noise 12, total 45.- Time, Bm. Prizes, first £5, second £3, third £1 10s, fourth 10s. Fraser Smith’s (Awakino) Highland King, 22, 4, 6—32 1 L. Gower’s (Mangamingi) Chip, 11, 6, 6-23 2 L. Gower’s- Muff, 11, 5, 5—21 3 L. Gower's Leo, 12, 4, 4—20 4 Ten competed. CLASS IV. Stock event, on five cattle. Head and pull through pegs and complete by putting cattle, through the rings. Time Bm. Points, head 17, pull 17, drive 10, finish 6; total 50. Prizes, first £4, second £2, third £l, fourth 10s. G. Watt’s (Warea) Jock, 16, 17, 10, 6 —49 -I T. Reilly’s (Eltham) Nigger, 17, 15, 10, 6-48 2

Fraser Smith’s (Awakino) Highland • King, 17, 13, 10, 6—46 3 R. Trimble’s (Omata) Tweed, 17, 14J, 8, 4—43} 4 L. Gower’s (Mangamingi) Loo, 15, 15, 8 5—43 J. Herbert’s (Urenui) Toss, 17, 12, 7, 5 41 6 J. Scott’s (New Plymouth) Peel, 16, 12, 7 5 40 7 F. Wardell’s (Awakino) Victoria, 15, 13, 6, 6—40 8 Twenty-two entries. CLASS V. Run off between winners of Class II and Class IV. on five cattle, same points and conditions as class IV. Points, head 17, pull 17, drive 10, finish 6, total 50. Time Bm. Fraser Smith’s Highland King, 17, 17, 1 7, 3—44 1 Geo. Watts’ Jock, 14, 12, 7, 5—38 2 MAIDEN SWEEPSTAKES. Head, and pull, on three sheep. Points, head 25, pull 25, total 50. Time Bm. J. Halpin's (Opunake) Tip, 20, 20—40 . 1 Five entries. Sheep guessing, actual weight 1001 b.: W. Fleming 1001 b. 1. Four others tied for second place. The competition for Mr. V. Thornes pup was won by Mr. A. Gilhooly. , Special Prizes. In addition to the challenge cups the following special prizes were won outright:— Local competition class L, A. Wood’s gold medal: R. Trimble's (Omata) Tweed. Local maiden, class 1., Cook and Lister’s bridle: R. Trimble’s Tweed. Local novice, Taranaki Herald’s £1 Is: R. Trimble’s Tweed. Open maiden, class 1., R. B. Woods Cup: J. H. McEldowney’s Dirk. Local farmer, class 1., Cyril Moss’ tea set: R. Trimble’s Tweed. Local Maori class L, J. Aylward’s £1 Is: Geo. Pokai. Local farmer’s employee, class 1., Kash Clothiers’ order 10s 6d and C. O. Berg’s value 10s 6d: H. E. Ehrhorn’s (Pihama) Tui. „ „ . , Local drover, class 1., R. B. Fleming s value £1 10s: Geo Pokai. Open drover, class I:. Jas. McNeill’s salad bowl: T. Reilly (Eltham) Nigger. Local schoolboy class I.: J. McEldowey’s cash £1 Is: B. Lawrence’s Nell. Open maiden dog, class 1., D. Thomson's £1 Is: J. H McEldowney’s Dirk. Youngest competitor, class I, L. Hedge’s medal: B. Laurence’s Ben. Open maiden competitor, class 11., L. A. Nolan’s cash £1 Is: J. H. McEldowney’s Dirk. Local, class 11., J. Bennett’s cup: G. Sole’s Single. . ( Local maiden, class 11., J. Dalgleish’s cup: H. E. Ehrhorn’s Tui. Local novice, class 11., E. Wallis’ (Opunike): bridle: R. Trimble’s Tweed. Open maiden, class 111., N. Greiner’s medal: Geo. Watts’ Jock. Local, J. Robert’s cup: Geo. Watte’ Jock. Local maiden, J. Clark’s set horse shoes and Great Bargain Store order 10s 6d: Geo. Watts’ Jock. Local novice: J. Geddis’ cash 10s: Geo. Watts’ Jock. Graham Cup, winner class IV.: Geo Watts’ Jock. Local fanner class IV., C. A. Wilkinson’s Plumb axe and Wallace Milking Machine Co.’s teat cups; Geo. Watts’ Jock. Local farmer’s employee class IV., Outfitters, New Plymouth, ordrir 10s 6d: J. Halpin’s (Pihama) Tip. Winner class V., Daily News trophy and Jas. Lilico Winter Southland pup: Fraser Smith’s (Awakino) Highland King. 'Winner class VI., mystery cup, anonymous donor: J. Herbert’s (Urenui) Toss. Aggregate points, classes L, 11. and 111., H. F. Woodfinden’s trophy: Fraser Smith’s Highland King. Open drover, aggregate points, classes I. 11. and IV., R. D. Dunn’s cash £1 IS: T. Reilly's Nigger. Competition under 16, highest percentage any class, W. J. Laurence medal: B. Laurence. Smooth-haired collie, E. R. Brewster’s cup: T. Nprthcote’s (Urenui) Laddie. Rough-coated collie, E. R. Brewster’s cup: V. Thome’s (New Plymouth) Moss. . Beardy. collie, cup,. anonymous:. RTrimble’s Clyde. ■ - • Stock dog, cup, anonymous: T. Northcote’s Laddie. a . Local drover, most pointe at trials with one dog, H. Lambert’s .pup.:. Geo. Pokai. Ladies’ chain stepping Teed and Co.’S trophy: Miss L. Gilhooly.

PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES. RECOGNITION OF THE JUDGE. The Pungarehu hall was crowded for tlte first Cape Egmont Stock Dog Trial Club dance on Friday evening, the door takings being about, £2O. Hooker’s Merrymakers played the music, extras being played by Mrs. Brennan and Miss Gilhooly. Messrs. L. Beardmore and A. J. Newport were masters of ceremonies. The ladies of the district controlled the supper arrangeinents. During an interval the trophies so far decided were presented to the winners by the pesiderit, Mr. H. Gilhooly. The president thanked all who had contributed to the success of the gathering. It was unfortunate, he said, that the weather, had been so bad on the opening day, and the officials and competitors were to be thanked for the way they so cheerfully carried on under such conditions. He expressed appreciation of the tremendous amount of work done by Mr. J. Scott in organising and running the trials, he being unquestionably “the man behind the guns.” The club was also indebted to Messrs. J. H. McEldowny, Uruti, and R. Trimble, Omata, for assistance. The club expressed appreciation of the action of the competitors from all over Taranaki in assisting with entries. It had certainly been an education to the residents of the district to See such clever dogs in action. The -ladies had also worked hard under very difficult conditions and had contributed their quota to the enjoyment of the gathering. He thanked Mr. H. J. Kelly for the use if his property and sheep, and the numerous .donors who had readily and generously Responded to help the Club. The secretary, Mr. V. Thorne, and the treasurer, Mr. W. Lawrence, were thanked for their work. He paid a tribute to the painstaking work of the judge, Mr. H. R. ScOtt, Whakamara, and of Mrs. ScOtt, who was judge’s clerk. As a memento of the occasion he presented them with a travelling rug. the recipients being greeted with applause.