Hawke's Bay farmer Bob Bruce out of title running at national sheep dog champs in South Island

Tom Manson, of Raupunga, winning the national yarding dog title in 2004. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Hawke's Bay farmer Bob Bruce's hopes of successfully defending the long head title at the Tux New Zealand Sheep Dog Championships in the South Island this week ended when he disappeared from the leaderboard yesterday.

Running Cheat, with which he won the title last year at Whangara, near Gisborne, Te Aute club member Bruce hit the leaderboard after an opening-morning run on Monday at the South Island championships which double as the qualifying stages of the national championships at Meadow Bank Farms, Omaka, south of Blenheim.

But he was gone 24 hours later, and by the 4pm call yesterday had been part of a big shake-up among the long head hopes, with fellow Hawke's Bay trialists Sheena Martin and Bribe, Northern Hawke's Bay, and Nigel Clark and Jan, from Central Hawke's Bay, also disappearing from the top seven.

Tom Manson, of Raupunga and the national yard dog champion in 2004 with a dog called Ned, was enjoying particular success late yesterday with all three of his dogs at this week's championships on the leaderboards, and hopes in three classes.

He retained his places in the long head with Pip and with Buck in the straight hunt, and yesterday hit the zig zag hunt leaderboard with Spud.

He was joined on the long head board by David Shield and Clyde, from Dannevirke, and in the straight hunt by Rebecca Baynes, of Wairoa, while in the zig he and Adam Roe of Dannevirke, with Occy, joined David Scragg, of Wairoa, and Brent Mathews and Ridge, also of Dannevirke.

Dylan Rofe and Risk, of Tutira, exited the short head and yard leaderboard where new arrivals were Guy Peacock and Chief, of Dannevirke.

The top seven in each of the South Island classes qualify for national title runoffs on Friday and Saturday.