High Noon at the A&P Corral

"Listen to the silence," someone murmurs at the Kaitaia A&P Showground on Saturday.

It's early afternoon and the heat is near overwhelming. The run-offs in the Kaitaia leg of the Tux Yarding Challenge are about to begin, featuring the top seven qualifiers from Friday and the top five from earlier on the second day.

All eyes are on Whangarei farmer Murray Child and his dog Dice, the pair being the first names drawn out of the hat. As they wait for their trio of sheep to be released, you can almost hear a pin drop. The spectators watching from the shade of the grandstand are spellbound, the distant sound of passing cars on nearby SH1 can just be heard over a warm breeze ruffling through the willows. White thistle flowers drifting through the hazy afternoon air add to the sense a showdown is about to take place. And in sheepdog trials, the good guys always win.

Looking down the control room, eyes hidden behind dark shades, Chris Baker from Piopio gives a slight nod, indicating time is under way. The lanky, well dressed Child - he's wearing a tie - and his loyal four-legged friend are old hands at this game. Previous national heading champions, the pair wait for the sheep to settle then begin to steer the flock around the course laid out on the showgrounds in front of the old weatherbeaten grandstand.

The trio of sheep flow through the gates, over the bridge, round the corner into and out of the u-section, are put through the iron cross twice and then on to the final pen like poetry in motion. Child and Dice are a pleasure to watch, the only 'hole' being when the handler breaks into a light run to stop the sheep from taking flight going into the cross. The remainder of the run is completed as it began, sweetly. While all of the following 11 runs are of the high quality expected, this opening one proves the winning performance.

The top two runs from the 12 dogs in the run-offs earn the right to represent Northland in the national finals in Taupo from January 23-26, with Child and Dice being joined by runner-up Chris Robertson with Street. The Handy Dog was won by Bob Campbell and Bounce from Te Rangi Station in the Far North.

Once again, the Tux Yarding Challenge in Kaitaia prove a successful, well attended and well organised event. Spokesperson Merv Cameron - also a triallist and local commentator - said the large numbers of outsiders who travelled to compete in the event were tribute to the high regard in which the hosting club was held in national sheepdog trial circles.

"Ask anyone who comes up here, ours leaves the others [trials] for dead."

Cameron went on to note the sheep from Dennis O'Callaghan's farm were a real test over the weekend, extremely and unusually flighty, particularly on the Friday, although a higher percentage of pens were made on the Saturday.

"The sheep are a composite mixture - those ones with the silky nose, by jeepers, they make you earn your keep!"

Another highlight from the event saw Cameron auctioning off Harry, a pup with much potential, on the Saturday afternoon to help raise money for the hosting club. The auction reached the $3200 mark with the successful bid made by Neville Child. Harry will do both station work and competitive sheepdog trialling, possibly in Raglan, although Child suddenly appeared a tad reluctant to part company with his new purchase.

"That Harry is only 8.5 months old and quite outstanding for one of his age," said Cameron, noting the pair completed the course with a very respectable score last week. "This was a case of a pup bred from quality parentage and the quality has come through with Harry. Along with dedicated training this dog astounded those watching and so when auctioned for sale made far more than his reserved price."

A list of results and a review of the Tux Yarding Challenge will feature in Thursday's edition.