Three trialists placed in SI run-offs

Kevin O'Connor and new hope Jo continued their run of late season form with a seventh in the long head at the South Island Sheep Dog Trial Championships in Southland last week. Photo / Paul Taylor

Three Hawke's Bay handlers and their dogs were placed in the run-offs at the South Island Sheep Dog Trial Championships last week.

Southern Hawke's Bay trialist David Shield and Clyde were third in the short head and yard, and Waikoau's Dave Wallace was fourth with Slug, while Moeangiangi Station manager Kevin O'Connor continued a run of late-season form with Jo, coming seventh in the long head championship.

It would have been a particularly pleasing result for O'Connor, who hasn't featured in a North or South island or national title run-off since he and Zed were second in the New Zealand Championships long head at Omarama nine years ago.

In a sheep-dog trials career of more than 40 years, O'Connor is yet to secure the championships' coveted green tie, awarded to the winners of each of the four classes, and Jo, having graduated this season from the lower classes, will be among his hopes at this year's North Island and national championships at Moawhango, between Napier and Taihape, starting on May 25.

Last year, Hawke's Bay trialists Paul Robinson, Tom Manson and Tony Fairweather won three of the four South Island titles near Geraldine, but were beaten in the New Zealand championships run-offs. The last Hawke's Bay pair to win a national title was Mark Loye and Troop at Orakei Korako in 2013.

-Results of the South Island Sheep Dog Trial Championships last week at Glenvale, Southland: Long head: Steve Murphy (Whangamomona), Kei, 190.5pts, 1; Eion Herbert (Wakefield), Storm, 190pts, 2; Merv Utting (Gisborne), 189.5pts, 3; Scott Hunter (Ohai), Rangi, 187.5pts, 4; Russell Peek (Palmerston), Jim, 186.75pts, 5; Murray Child (Whangarei), May, 185pts, 6; Kevin O'Connor (Kotemaori), Jo, 182pts, 7.

Short head and yard: Steve Murphy (Whangamomona), Kei, 194.5pts, 1; Murray Child (Whangarei), Dice, 193.75pts, 2; David Shield (Dannevirke), Clyde, 192.25pts, 3; Dave Wallace (Waikoau), Slug, 190.5pts, 4; Mark Copland (Ashburton), Zoe, 189.75pts, 5; Ronib McKenzie (Clinton), Slade, 187.1pts, 6; Lloyd Smith (Palmerston), Ace, 158.75pts, 7.

Zig zag huntaway: Robin McKenzie (Clinton), Ned, 190pts, 1; Lloyd Smith (Palmerston), Ernie, 187.5pts, 2; Dave Stuart (Wanganui), Gus, 187pts, 3; Bruce Parkinson (Raetihi), Fake, 186.25pts, 4; John Chittock (Kaiwera), Angus, 182.5pts, 5; Steven Kerkhof (Taumarunui), Ned, 178.5pts, 6; Les Scott (Kurow), Jake, 173.5pts, 7.

Straight huntaway: Roger Tweed (Lawrence), Gemma, 193pts, 1; Grant Wylie (Nelson), Will, 192.4pts, 2; Cameron Grant (Gore), Wally, 192.2pts, 3; Russell Peek (Palmerston), Chuck, 191pts, 4; Glen Tomlinson (Palmerston), Crush, 10.2pts, 5; Terry Bould (Greenvale), Slam, 189.6pts, 6; Maurice Haakma (Ward), Dan, 183.8pts.