Gisborne news digest: Tolaga Bay dog trial results, stock sales, Back Ormond Rd crash

Poverty Bay Centre president Rob O’Sullivan judged the Short Head and Yard at the Tolaga Bay dog trial, and ran his own dog tyke on the Long Head course (pictured).  Photo / Rebecca Williams

Leo Edginton, from Tolaga Bay’s Mangaheia Station, started his dog trial season with a win on home turf at the weekend when he won the Long Head in the Tolaga Bay dog trial.

Entries for the event last Friday and Saturday at Mangaheia Station were strong.

“We had loads of local competitors and placings,” a trials spokeswoman said.

“There was some rain on Friday, but a beauty day on Saturday.”

Edginton took out Event One, the Long Head, with Roxy and a score of 95.5 points.

Laurence Rau and Kip were second with 95 points, and Graeme Cook and Stream were third with 91.5.

In Event Two, the Short Head and Yard, Henry Hindmarsh and Spot were the top scorers on 96.5, followed by John Macpherson and Mac (90.5), then Ben Clark and Zoe (85.5).

The Zig Zag Hunt winner was Jake Roche and Bec with a score of 96.5, followed by Cory Ruwhiu and Soul 96, and Brad McHardy and June 95.5.

Event Four, the Straight Hunt, went to Roche again with another of his dogs, Sebo, with a winning score of 96.6.

They were followed by Brady McHardy and June (96), then Bruce McDonald and Cruize (95.5).

Cook with Stream and Josh Deardon with Trip won the Long Head intermediate and maiden titles respectively.

Macpherson and Mac won the intermediate title in Event Two, while Ollie Rhodes with Blue won the maiden.

In Event Three, Ruwhiu and Soul won the intermediate title while Kasey Chemis won the maiden with Coast.

The intermediate winner in the Straight Hunt was McDonald and Cruize. Jed Baker and Bindi were the top maiden team.

Matawhero stock sales

The cattle fair on Tuesday and the sheep sale on Friday made for a busy week at the Matawhero saleyards, and prices achieved across both sales were strong.

A line of in-calf Hereford cross Friesian heifers sold for $2520 to $2710.

“Cows made $970 at the freshening end to $1870 at the heavier end,” PGG Wrightson agent Cody Clark said.

”Eighteen-month steers sold from $1680 to $2650. Older steers topped out at $3270 and were buyable from $1910.”

The few weaner steers sold for $600 to $1510.

“R3 heifers sold from $1500 to $2100.

“There were plenty of 18-month heifers yarded, and they ranged in quality. They made $500 to $1900.

“Weaner heifers ranged between $500 and $1370.“

There was a solid lineup of bulls yarded, with the younger ones selling up to $940, while the older bulls ranged from $1750 to $3750.

In the sheep sale, 1856 head were yarded.

“A pen of prime lambs made $175, male store lambs sold from $139 to $209,” he said.

“Ewe lambs sold from $131 to $170.”

Back Ormond Rd crash

The driver of a car that left Back Ormond Rd on Sunday and flipped into a roadside drain escaped without injury.

Firefighters who attended the crash, near the intersection with Harper Rd, said the man was lucky.

“We were called to the crash scene about 9.15pm Sunday night,” a senior firefighter said.

“The driver had got out of the vehicle through the rear window.

“Luckily, he suffered no injuries.“