Sheepdog trials: Child and Frank win two top titles

Murray Child was selected as captain for the test team to go to Australia for the Trans Tasman Challenge in Strathalbyn, South Australia, at the end of September. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Murray Child with Frank returned to Whangarei with two major titles won at the South Island and New Zealand sheepdog trial championships respectively, which were held at Geraldine Station in Canterbury during the last week in May.

The top huntaway pairing after the 2014 Northland centre series was completed earlier this year, Child and Frank took out the national straight hunt and finished fourth overall in the national zig-zag championship, while earlier that week the duo took out the South Island zig-zag title and also finished fourth overall in the South Island straight hunt title.

Child said 5-year-old Frank had been going from strength to strength over the past couple of years and was now starting to hit his straps in big events.

"He had a good first round," said Child, referring to how Frank put in a top run to start the winning run-off and take out the South Island title from a field of 299 other dogs. From there, he went into the top seven to contest the run-offs, where his national championship and minor placing results were secured.

Another Northland competitor to do well in Geraldine was Scott McRae and Elle from Wellsford, who placed sixth in the South Island title for the short head and yard, and seventh in the national championship for the same event.

After the event, Child was selected as captain for the test team to go to Australia for the Trans Tasman Challenge in Strathalbyn, South Australia, at the end of September where he will represent Northland with his heading dog, Dice.

Others in the team are Andrew Clark (Canterbury), Eion Herbert (Nelson/Marlborough), Bob Bruce (Hawke's Bay), and reserve: Stu Millar (Canterbury).

Local sheepdog triallist Merv Cameron noted it would be "the icing on the cake" if Child and the New Zealand team were to bring back the Wayleggo Cup.

With Dice, Child also secured a North Island long head title in Taumaranui earlier in the month.

Although not strictly Far North material, being a Whangarei farmer, he's often seen up north contesting events of the provincial sheepdog trial series, and has also featured regularly as a top placegetter at the Tux Yarding Challenge events in Kaitaia.

Others in the Northland contingent at Geraldine last week included Shaun Haynes, Duncan Gilligan, Chris Robertson, Clare Thompson, and Neville Child (Murray's brother). Haynes noted the events were held in beautiful terrain and conditions, albeit chilly when the wind picked up, with the Southern Alps forming the backdrop.