ALBURY COLLIE CLUB.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18545, 16 April 1930, Page 10

ALBURY COLLIE CLUB.

ANNUAL TRIALS. SUCCESSFUL OPENING YESTERDAY. Patron, Mr C. A. Clark; president, Mr D. Fraser; vice-president, Mr R. Davie; class stewards, Messrs A. J. Dale, R. Davie, J. Struthers, C. Ander- : son, J. Wilson; judges, Messrs J. Logan j (Timaru) and R. Fraser (Albury); ; judges’ clerks, Messrs J. McCort, W. I Simpson, H. L. Adams, H. L. Dale; j timekeepers, Messrs D. Simpson, G. McKerchar, T. Smith, J. Campbell, junr.; flag stewards, Messrs H. S. Dale, D. Simpson, W. Higgs, V. Casey; executive committee, Messrs R. Davie, J. Campbell, D. Fraser, J. McKerchar, H. Adams, G. Waters, M. A. Fraser, C. Anderson, J. Struthers, J. Wilson, J. Bracken, H. Smith, D. Stewart, G. McKerchar, A. J. Dale, L. Dale, H. S. Dale, T. Smith, R. Donaldson, D. Simpson; press steward, Mr M. A. Fraser, hon. auditor, Mr A. Austin; treasurer and secretary, Mr D. S. Stewart. The annual trials of the Albury Colie Club were commenced on the property of Mr D. Fraser, “The Brothers,” Albury, yesterday, in favourable weather, and before an interested gathering of spectators. For a number of years, these trials, as shown by the wide field from which entries have been received, have aroused more than ordinary interest amongst people who enjoy the sight of these faithful animals working with almost human intelligence in response to a wave of the'hand or a word from their master. Judging from the splendid support received at this year’s trials, the Club has still retained its popularity. The locality chosen for the trials is almost perfect, a good deal of the action taking place on the side of a long, high hill, which allowed to spectators an uninterrupted view. The locality was such also as to make it an essential that both dog and master worked in unison. The face of the hill was freely studded with broom, gorse and clumps of high grass, and it was a pleasure to note the strategy of individual dogs as they gradually worked their charges to flat ground. Momentarily, dogs would lose sight of their sheep, but a sign from the owner, in each particular instance, and from a distance of almost half a mile, would have the desired result. For this year’s fixture, the entries, though not quite up to those of last year, were considered very satisfactory—a total of 114 in the four classes offered for competition, as under:— Open Long Pull 30, Open Short Pull 33, Open Huntaway 31, and Short Pull (local farmers) 23. Yesterday, the Open Long Pull and the Open Huntaway classes were competed for, and the remaining two classes will be gone through to-day. The sheep used were half-breds, the property of the Club. Both classes yesterday were won by the wellknown competitor, Mr J. Davidson. The Cub is very fortunate in that it has the wholehearted support of the public, and this is shown by the fact that donations were received from no fewer than thirteen wellwishers. There were also several special prizes, including the Fraser Cup, Shenley Cup, Ma Waro Cup, South Canterbury Woolbrokers’ and Stock Auctioneers’ Association’s Cup, !Mr C. A. Clark's trophy, Members’ Cup, and a prize of £5 offered by Mr R. Fraser, senr., Albury. The award list shows the Club to have been most generous, the first prize money alone, in the four classes, amounting to £32.

Arrangements for the trials were all . that could be desired, and the officials, under the president (Mr D. Fraser), and the secretary (Mr D. S. Stewart), worked harmoniously. OPEN LONG PULL. In this event, the sheep were liberated from a pen on the side of the hill, down which they were worked to a circle of stones on the flat. In ! this circie, the sheep were kept “on ! the move,” but were not allowed out- , side. The time allowed was twelve minutes. Points were allowed as follows:—Head 15, pull 15, holding 6, style 4, command 10, total 50. The placings were:— J. Anderson’s Crisp, 14,14,4,3,9 .. 44 G. Waters’s Queen, 13,12,j.3i,8 .. 41 1 R. Trotter’s May, 14,11,5,3,7 i.. .. 40i 1 R. Davie’s Wave, 13,13,3,3,8 .... 4u j D. Ross’s Doon, 12i,13,3,3,8 39i j Maiden Event. D. Ross’s Doon 39i | J. Struthers’s Don 38 I J. Davidson's Tip 36 ! In the open event, the winner hunted on the right, but went out fairly I wide. He headed in 2min ssec. He \ pulled on a good line, but a little ) slack, and reached the ring in 4miu , 54see. “Queen” hunted on the right, j came in on a cast, but recovered at I the head in 2min 43sec. She was in- j dined to shoulder the sheep in pulling, j and went off the course a little. She ] was at the ring in 7inin 27secs. “May” hunted on the left, and went out in i a good line in 2min 32sec. She also i was inclined to shoulder the sheep, but reached the ring m lumin “Wave” hunted on the right. He was a bit wide at the start, and stopped several times. He headed fair in 3min Bsec. He let the sheep off the course at the bottom of the hill in pulling, but was at the ring, where his work was fair, in 6min 42secs. “Doon” hunted on the right, went wide at the start, and stopped several times. She recovered and headed fairly well in 2min 53sec. She pulled on a fair line on the hill, but was rather wide on the flat. She was at the ring in Bmin. The sheep escaped from the ring, but were recovered and held. OPEN HUNTAWAY In this event the sheep were liberated on the fiat, and driven through three sets of flags, placed at angles, on the hill. The time allowed was ten minutes, and points were awarded as follows: —Huntaway 12. slewing 12, noise 12, command 14. total 50. The placings were:— J. Anderson’s Flag, 10.10,8,10, ..38 G. Keeffe's Glen, 9,9,8,9, 35 R. B. Smythe s Rock. 8.8,8,8, .... 32 G. Waters’s Bob, 7,7,7,8 23 C. A. Parker’s Barrie, 6,6,7,7, .... 26 Maiden Event. G. Waters’s Bon 29 J. A. Parker’s Barrie 26 J. Keeffe’s Ready 24 “Flag” had a good run all through, .vorking on a good iine, and in good jommand. He completed in 4min iOsec. “Glen” made a good run, but vvas inclined to be left-handed. He completed in 6min 25sec. The third dog, “Rock,” gave a fair performance, out took the wrong turn below the tecond poles. He let the sheep off the jourse below the top poles, but rejovered and completed in 7 minutes. Bob” had a good run until near the top poles, where his command was not iood. He completed in 7min ssec. The fifth dog gave a rather careless performance. He had plenty of noise, and, with every assistance from the sheep, completed in 4min 45sec.