Coal and Colin too hot for the opposition

A bit of local knowledge must have helped as home-club dogs and their handlers triumphed in three of the four events at the Petane Sheep Dog Trial Club's competition last Friday and Saturday.
Among them were club president Colin Bayliss, who won the straight hunt with Coal, the pair having won two events last month, a straight hunt at Omakere and a zig zag at Te Pohue.
It continued a good run for the pair in the straight hunt at Petane, starting with a win when Coal was an intermediate in 2008, and also including victory last year when the club hosted the regional championship.
Dave Evans picked up his second long-head win of the season with Max, the pair having triumphed a fortnight earlier at the Patoka club trials, and Evans also picked up maiden honours with new dog Jess.
The short head and yard was won by Phil Orvis with Jake, a satisfying first win of the season with tricky sheep, testing most on the flat and on the hill.
Quentin Hunter and maiden Brooke were too good for allcomers in the zig zag hunt, the latest of a number of performances highlighting the emergence of young dogs this season.
Bob Bruce and Trump, who did not compete last weekend, remain at the top of the heading dogs' points table with 21pts, with Scott Wedd's Becky on 13pts now closely challenged by Evans and Max with 12 points, while Paul Robinson and Loyal retain their domination of the huntaways on 24pts, with Clark Chrystal and Hendrix second on 17pts and Bayliss and Coal just a point adrift.
The next trial is at Olrig tomorrow and Saturday.