THE countdown to the national sheep dog trial championships has started as the Hawke's Bay season finishes in the next few days.
It means some big miles for those trying to qualify their dogs for the championships round, opening with the North Island championships starting on May 5 at Meringa Station, near Taumarunui.
Ultimately, however, all eyes will be on Waihi Station near Geraldine, where the South Island and New Zealand championships start on May 26.
Veteran Fernhill triallist Don McLeod was among those who travelled out of the area to enhance his chances, his big win of the season coming with Lee in the Wairarapa and Southern Hawke's Bay centre Dannevirke club's short head and yard class in February.
But he's far from being the most travelled, and said: "Some of them are at it almost full-time. One or two have been to the South Island. They're like professionals."
Among the more travelled recently was Dave Wallace, of Tutira, who took in four trials from April 11-16, with placings at each event, and six ribbons shared by national championships hopes Blue and Toi.
He started at the Ohingaiti District Collie Club event in Wanganui centre on April 11, placing Toi second in the long head and fourth in the short head and yard.
He returned home before heading to Alfredton, near Masterton, where Blue was runner-up in the long head and fourth in the short head and yard the next day, before heading south to win the Martinborough Collie Club's long head trial.
Wallace wrapped up the nomadic week back in Hawke's Bay, with Toi in the money again as third place-getter in the short head and yard at Te Aute.
Remarkably, he's been trialling only five years, his 20-plus trials this season highlighting how he's taken to the sport, mirroring the passion of participants.
He used train pig dogs for a living in the South Island, and hadn't been on a sheep dog trials course until he was asked to liberate sheep at an event at Rai Valley, Marlborough.
"That's how I got the bug," he said, and now finds himself immersed in trials for three months each year, as keen as anyone to snaffle a green tie at the nationals, sheep dog trialling's equivalent of golf's green jacket.
"I think we all want to do that," said Wallace, who now farms a small block north of Napier, from where he travels to at least two trials most week, including most in the Hawke's Bay centre and in Poverty Bay.
He hasn't won an event in Hawke's Bay this year, but has picked up two in Poverty Bay; with Blue at Ngatapa and Toi at Waingake.
The midweek trial in Central Hawke's Bay provided yet another home course triumph for Bob Bruce, who won the long head with Skip, a rising successor to Trump. He and Trump finished second to Graeme Wellington and Mink in the short head and yard.
Assured now of the Top Heading dog title for the season, Trump had kennel-company on the course in Cheat, with which Bruce also picked up third placing.
Dual island and national titles winner Stu McNeill had another likely-looking prospect in good form when Colt won the zig-zag hunt, while the straight hunt was won by Rob Gallien and Brave.
The Hawke's Bay season ends with the Taradale Sheep Dog Trial Club event on Saturday and Sunday at Awahuri Rd, Crownthorpe, while the Weber club trials, also during the weekend, end the Wairarapa and Southern Hawke's Bay season.
Results of the Te Aute Dog Trial Club trials on April 15-16:
Long head: Bob Bruce, Skip, 97.5pts, 1; Nigel Sinton, Mouse, 97pts, 2; Dave Wallace, Toi, 96.5pts, 3; Graeme Notthcott, Dick, 96pts, 4; Rob Mather, Sheen, 95.5pts, 5. Intermediate: Tom Manson, Tyne. Maiden: Isaac Pharazyn, Spy.
Short head and yard: Graeme Wellington, Mink, 95.5pts, 1; Bob Bruce, Trump, 94.5pts, 2; Dave Evans, Jess, 94.25pts, 3; Bob Bruce, Cheat, 94pts, 4; Phil Orviss, Jane, 93.25pts, 5. Intermediate: Phil Orviss, Jane. Maiden: Alan Bennett, Guy.
Zig-zag hunt: Stu McNeil, Colt, 97.25pts, 1; Reece Whitelock, Girl, 97pts, 3; Stuart Bradley, Dan, 96.25pts, 3; Reece Whitelock, Cloud, 96pts, 4; Nigel Sinton, Pickle, 95.75pts, 5. Intermediate: Rob Gallien, Chime. Maiden: Ben Thomas, Zeus.
Straight hunt: Rob Gallien, Brave, 96pts, 1; Ben Thomas, Zeus, 95.25pts, 2; Grant Magee, Crib, 95pts, 3; Claire Bendall, Angel, 94.74pts, 4; Tony Fairweather, Tune, 94.5pts, 5. Intermediate and Maiden: Ben Thomas, Zeus.
Points with one trial to go:
Merial Ancare Top Heading Dog: Bob Bruce, Trump, 34pts; Kevin O'Connor, Deal, 19pts; Tom Manson, Glen, 17pts.
Aerospread Top Huntaway: Tony Fairweather, Reign, 22pts; Grant Magee, Crib, 18pts; Clark Chrystal, Trix, 17pts.