NI title to Tolaga Bay duo

ISLAND CHAMPIONs: Henry Hindmarsh and Prudence from the Tolaga Bay Dog Trial Club won the North Island zigzag hunt title yesterday afternoon at the North Island sheep dog trial championships near Masterton. Pictures by Donna Halley

TOLAGA Bay’s Henry Hindmarsh won the zig zag hunt title at the North Island dog trial championships in Masterton yesterday with clubmate Guy Collins close behind.

Hindmarsh and his dog Prudence top qualified with 98 points, then scored 95 in the final run-off yesterday.

Their total of 193 was just ahead of Collins and Mia on 191.7 (97.7, 94).

“Poverty Bay and Wairoa were well represented in the hunt finals,” trial spokesperson Donna Halley said.

“Both hunt finals were good to watch as the sheep and dogs performed well.

“The Poverty Bay competitors were in top form, doing us proud,” Halley said.

“Henry and Prudence were clearly the winners. Prudence hunted well for Henry and credit goes to Henry for such a top bitch.”

Waingake club member Ben Te Kahika and Rogue were fifth in the zigzag at the North Island champs, with184 (97, 87).

Tolaga Bay’s Leo Edginton and Bully made the straight hunt final yesterday afternoon and finished seventh on 185.6 (96.5 in qualifying 89 in the final run-off).

Wairoa’s Ned George and Pitch scored 97.7 in the final to place second with an aggregate of 194 —only 0.3 behind the winner.

The heading dog finals were to be staged today and as of this morning, Waimata’s Merv Utting still had two dogs in the top seven — Guy and Fern.