Two more titles for Te Aute veteran

Bob and Cheat.

Te Aute club stalwart Bob Bruce extended a unique home course record when he and new kennel star Cheat won both heading dog titles at his club's annual sheep dog trials on Friday and Saturday.

Bruce has now won at least one title on the course each year since 2012, except when the trials were cancelled because of the impact of drought.

In 2012 he won the short head and yard with Trump and he won successive long head titles with Skip in 2014 and last year.

The latest double took 2015 Top Heading Dog pair Bruce and Cheat to four wins in Hawke's Bay trials this season, but was never going to be enough to help the pair retain the Heading Dog title, which Bruce had also won in 2014 with Trump.

It did however afford some respectability for the also-rans in what had already become no-contest with the results of Waikoau trialist Dave Wallace and Blue, who were just beaten by the Te Aute pair in the short head and yard.

Wallace and Blue now have a record of five wins and six other placings from the 22 heading dog trials in the centre so far this season, which finishes with the Taradale club trials tomorrow and Saturday.

It is much closer in the Top Huntaway classes, with Rocky Hawkins and Toss in front by 2pts but needing to keep in front over the next two days war-off the challenges of such teams as Tom Manson with Cash and Clark Chrystal with Nell.

Last weekend Hawkins and Toss were runner-up to Wairarapa-SHB trialist Matt Watson and Thor in the zig zag hunt, while Te Pohue farmer Stu McNeill and Trump claimed the straight hunt title.

It was also a successful for Te Aute member Hugh Graham who collared local maiden honours on all four courses, with heading dog Marsh and huntway Ged, before rushing off to play for Central in a Premier club rugby match in Hastings.

The Taradale trials, off Shanley Rd, Okawa, start at 7.30am tomorrow and will be the last opportunity in Hawke's Bay for trialists to qualify their dogs for the NZ championships, being staged in association with the South Island championships at Omarama starting on May 30. The North Island championships, at Mangamingi, near Eltham, start on May 2.

The last Wairarapa SHB trial is today and tomorrow at Te Ore Ore, near Masterton.

Results from the Te Aute sheep dog trials last Friday and Saturday:

Long head: Bob Bruce, Cheat, 98pts, 1; Jeremy Berry, Moon, 97pts, 2; Bruce D'Ath, Pip, 96pts, 3; Paul Robinson, Libby, 94.5pts, 4; Sheena Martin, Bribe, 94pts, 5. Intermediate: Noddy Halley, Spike. Maiden: Paddy Bourke, Trace.

Short head and yard: Bob Bruce, Cheat, 95pts, 1; Dave Wallace, Blue, 94.75pts, 2; Peter Williams, 94.5pts, Trump, 3; Laurie Horsfall, Raid, 94pts, 4; Sheena Martin, Grand, 92pts, 5. Intermediate: Peter Williams, Trump. Maiden: Bob Bryson, Glen.

Zig zag hunt: Matt Watson, Thor, 97pts, 1; Rocky Hawkins, Toss, 96.75pts, 2; Reece Whitelock, Scott, 96.5pts, 3; Mark Loye, Law, 96pts, 4; Rob Gallien, Pound, 95.75pts, 5. Intermediate: Matt Watson, Thor. Maiden: S Brenchley, Coke.

Straight hunt: Stu McNeill, Trump, 97.5pts, 1; Cole Moore, Kaylee, 97pts, 2; Noddy Halley, Jade, 96.5pts, 3; Jacques Reinhardt, Jet, 95.5pts, 4; Peter Williams, Boy, 95.25pts, 5. Intermediate and Maiden: Noddy Halley, Jade.
Leadings dogs in Hawke's Bay with the Taradale club trial completing the centre season tomorrow and Saturday:

Top heading dog: Dave Wallace, Blue, 40pts, 1; Bob Bruce, Cheat, 24pts, 2; Jeremy Berry, Moon, and Kevin O'Connor, Jo, 13pts, 3equal; Rocky Hawkins, Jean, 12pts, 5.

Top huntaway: Rocky Hawkins, Toss, 17pts, 1; Tom Manson, Cash, 15pts, 2; Clark Chrystal, Nell, 14pts, 3; Grant Magee, Crib, 12pts, 4; Clark Chrystal, Trix, 10pts, 5.