Sheep Dog trials: Tony Fairweather wins 4th big title

Winners at the Hawke's Bay Sheep Dog Trial Centre championships at Omakere on Sunday were Tony Fairweather (left) and Reign (zig zag hunt), Aaron Ryan and Rod (long head), Graeme Ryder and Scott (short head and yard), and Quentin Hunter and Brooke (straight hunt). Photo/Glenn Taylor

It was a day for the up-and-coming as two intermediate dogs claimed two of the titles at the Hawke's Bay sheep dog trial championships at Amblethorn, Omakere, on Sunday.

Fifth in the Omakere club's trials over the previous two days, Aaron Ryan's Rod had never won an event before the centre long head run-off, in which they collared some tough opposition in such experienced past title winners as Bob Bruce and Selwyn Dorward.

There was even bigger room for celebration for retired former Argyll farmer Graeme Ryder, who with intermediate dog Scott won the Omakere short head and yard trial, and then the centre run-off, Ryder's first Open titles in about 50 years of trying.

Ryan, based on a Blackhead Beach farm and a member of the Omakere club, which was staging a centre championships for the first time, almost made it a double on the more familiar heading course with maiden dog Bart, runner-up in the zig zag hunt to multiple-titled trialist Tony Fairweather and the well-performed Reign.

Fairweather's win was his fourth big title dating back to victory with a huntaway at the North Otago centre championships when he was two years out of school in 1999.

He won a Hawke's Bay long head title with Kip in 2010, and in 2011 with Reign won the North Island zig zag and finished third in the New Zealand run-off at Te Ore Ore, near Masterton.

The fourth title, the straight hunt, was won by Kahuranaki Station shepherd Quentin Hunter and Brooke, who at age 30 extended an already successful record.

In 2011, he won the zig zag championship run-off at Taradale with Emma, which in 2012 became Hawke's Bay's Aerospread Huntaway of the Year.

This time he showed little respect to the claims of a class straight hunt field, including Kahuranaki boss Paul Robinson, who had to settle for second with Ned, beaten by a quarter of a point.

Hunter set the bar very high from the first run, and also left in his wake was the reigning national champion and defending Hawke's Bay champion pairing of Mark Loye and Troop.

Centre president Clark Chrystal said the Bayleys-sponsored championships and the Omakere trials were very successful, with sheep that behaved remarkably well - "showing the results of having been well worked by the local crew of Omakere helpers."

"Although worked, the sheep still had a bit of spark in them that meant they still had to be handled properly, resulting in some very capable operators making it through to the run-offs," he said after the championships, which, like other centre activities during the season, are also supported by Merial Ancare, Glenhope Romneys and Ballance Agri Nutrients.

It was Amblethorn manager Brian Scannell's last hosting of a trial after 26 years on the property, and now moving to Waipukurau. The next club trial in Hawke's Bay is next week at Te Pohue.