History-making shepherd

HERE WE COME BOYS: Women dog triallists around New Zealand have been making their mark more and more on the national scene. Matawai’s Jo Waugh (centre) made history last week when she became the first woman to win a North or South Island title. Her good friend Rebecca Baynes from Wairoa (left) was sixth in the same event, and Steph Tweed from Canterbury was third. Pictures supplied

Sheep dog trials have traditionally been a farming sport for the boys, but in the past few seasons more women have got involved and an increasing number of them have tasted success. Murray Robertson talks to Jo Waugh of Matawai, who won the zig zag hunt at the South Island championships last week . . .

Matawai shepherd and dog triallist Jo Waugh created a slice of New Zealand sheep dog trial history Friday-week ago when she became the first woman to ever win an island championship.

The 30-year-old won the zig zag hunt title at the South Island championships in Hanmer Springs.

Jo and her three-year-old huntaway workmate Guy produced a magic final run to top score and take the title.

Competition dog trialling was started in New Zealand in 1892.

The zig zag hunt is one of four events contested over the course of a sheep dog trial.

In each event the dog and their handlers compete for points, to get into the top seven, and at the end of all the qualifying “runs” the top seven combiniations go into the final “‘runoff”.

Jo was the sixteenth to go in qualifying in Hanmer Springs, with 300 dogs entered, so she had a long wait for the final last Friday.

“It felt bloody good to win it,” she said.

“I had pretty good sheep and Guy listened well.

“It came together for us in the runoff.”

Jo has been trialling for about 10 years.

NZ Sheep Dog Trial Association president Pat Coogan said her win was a “significant” achievement, which required not only the training of a disciplined dog, “but a shepherd who was mentally tough”.

Jo was proud to be the first woman to take the title.

The Poverty Bay Dog Trial Centre was “really proud of her too,” said trials commentator Ross Buscke.

“It’s pretty surreal to be honest. It’s the result of a lot of hard work,” Jo said.

She moved to Gisborne from the Manawatu 10 years ago.

“One of the reasons I started dog trialling was because, as a girl shepherd, you are always going to be compared to a boy shepherd — and physically girls will always struggle to match up to a boy.

“But having good dogs helps create an even playing field, and whether you’re a boy or a girl is irrelevant.

“So dog trialling for me is a way to showcase all the hard work you’ve put into your dogs, and help to get a name out there for yourself and your dogs.”

Jo keeps her dogs very disciplined at work leading up to the trials.

“I also spend time practising hunting three sheep up a hill and in the training paddock.”

Jo was originally from Kimbolton near to Fielding.

“I wasn’t brought up on a farm but I always wanted to be a shepherd.”

She said the first few years of it were really tough “. . . because I was so green and didn’t know any of the basics that farm people assume is common knowledge”.

“But I was lucky enough to find a job where the boss was willing to put a lot of time into teaching me, and I worked hard to improve my weaknesses and learn as much as I could.”?

She works as a casual shepherd for Brett Bayley at Matawai and Kendal Bruce at Patutahi.

The traditionally male-dominated national sheep dog trial scene pricked up its eyes and ears like a well-drilled huntaway last year when Wairoa’s Rebecca Baynes finished runner-up in the straight hunt at the New Zealand championships.

It was the first time a woman had finished so well at a national championships.

She and Jo are good friends.

“When Jo’s results came out in Blenheim on Friday it actually felt like I had won, because I was so happy for her,” Bex said.

“Jo is so modest. She really took that event out.

“I feel her win is further reflection of where women are at in sport today, and in every sport.

“We can do everything.

“Look out boys — here we come!”

Both Jo and Bex will compete in the North Island and New Zealand sheep dog trial championships in Kaikohe from May 27.Good luck ladies!