Noddy Halley and Digger safely negotiate one of the gates in their successful run on Thursday afternoon. They finished in the top three to advance to Saturday's championship run-off. Photo / Murray Robertson
Noddy Halley and Digger safely negotiate one of the gates in their successful run on Thursday afternoon. They finished in the top three to advance to Saturday's championship run-off. Photo / Murray Robertson
The last two finalists for the Poverty Bay J & T Hickey Trust Charity Sheep Dog Trial will be found on Saturday morning after the final lot of runs.
The trial is being held in the Riding Club for the Disabled pavilion at Showgrounds Park.
Fifty-one runs out of atotal of 162 were completed on Thursday afternoon.
Charity trial chairman Ruie Bridge and his dog Tui near completion of their run on Thursday. Photo / Murray Robertson
The three combinations from Thursday to advance to the final were Noddy Halley (Whatatutu) and his dog Digger; Hamish Mead (Manutūkē) and Owen; and Barry McIntyre (Matawai) and Spike.
Whatatutu's Noddy Halley and Digger were in the top three qualifiers on day one of the J & T Hickey Trust Charity Sheep Dog Trial on Thursday at the RDA. Photo / Murray Robertson
The top 10 dogs and their handlers start their run-offs to decide the championship from noon tomorrow.
“The sheep worked pretty good in the early runs on Thursday, but they did get a bit ‘sticky’ [contrary] later that afternoon,” trials secretary Hannah Hutchison said.
“It was a good start to the competition overall, though.“
The judge for the event, New Zealand dog trial representative Leo Jecentho from Waikato, was a picture of concentration as he watched each run from start to finish. Photo / Murray Robertson
Spectators are welcome to head to the pavilion to watch the action. Entry is free.
The trial has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for a range of charities since it started in 1967.
