The Tikokino and Olrig sheep dog trial clubs have come out of recess and amalgamated - and to celebrate they are hosting the first dog trial "in years" for both clubs on February 3 and 4.
President of the newly-created Tikokino-Olrig Sheep Dog Trial Club, Jerry Jeromson, said the two-day NZ Sheep Dog Trial Association-affiliated event would feature the four traditional events - a long head, short head, zig-zag hunt and straight hunt - with prize money on offer in maiden, intermediate and open classes.
"We would probably expect somewhere in the region of 120-plus huntaways and probably 100 heading dogs to compete, with the huntaway events to be run on the same course," Jeromson said.
Businesses had been generous with their sponsorship which had allowed the club to "put up some good prize money", he said.
"And being an NZSDTA-affiliated trial, you can earn qualifying points to enter the NZ Championships or the North Island championships," said Jeromson, adding that a win in one of the open class events would earn handlers five points, just one point shy of the six points they needed to qualify for the national champs.