Local circuit wrapped up - nationals next

GRASSROOTS CREW: Local sheepdog triallists, Graham Robertson with May, Graeme Smith with Wise and Cyril Ball with Nell, chat to Northland Sheep Dog Trial Centre president John Nelley (in car).

The 2015 Northland Sheep Dog Circuit was wrapped up at the end of last month with the last two trials held on the same weekend at Hobson and Maungakaramea respectively.

There at both events to take part in the finale of this year's domestic series was local commentator Merv Cameron, and his perspective on proceedings follows.

HOBSON. The heading events at Hobson on Thursday and Friday, April 23 and 24, saw two dogs score their first open class wins, primarily Ken Whittaker's Jess who in her first year had placed many times and created a big impression in taking out the Long Head event with a 97-point effort.

"On a course which really tested the dog's ability by having a long outrun and a difficult pull home, Jess had a full point advantage over the Owen Finlayson and Lady combination. Ken looks to have a very nice bitch in Jess who, to me, looks a great replacement for his grand old campaigner Doc. If Jess can rise to the quality of Doc, then Ken will have a lot of success to look forward to," said Cameron, adding the other winner was John Nelley's Joy in the short head and yard, Joy being the younger full sister to prolific winners, Skeata of Scott McRae and Scott of Leo Jecentho.

"Proof that breeding and quality go hand in hand," said Cameron of the result, and adding that chasing Joy home was Owen Finlayson's King. Also noteworthy in the heading was club local Barney Robinson placing twice with Chip and Dan.

The hunts, which reported a relatively small turnout, saw the leading point-scorers for the season take one each, Graeme Smith and Henry in the zig zag and Claire Thomson's Rebel in the straight hunt.

"Both these dogs have been ultra consistent all year and had a good tussle to find the circuit's top pointed dog," said Cameron, adding it was also great to see Kris Sturge, Colin Jay and Ed Long gain placings.

MAUNGAKARAMEA. The ultimate leg of this year's circuit took place on two very contrasting days, fine but breezy on the Sunday and wet and uncomfortable on Monday (April 26 and 27).

"Many lots of lambs on the heading courses just headed off downhill when the dogs headed and respectable pulls were few and far between. However, as was seen by the final points, there must have been good patches as the long head points ranged from 99 for McRae's old Elle to 5th plac with 97.5, Hamish Child's Vince."

Elle's 99-point effort was the highest score on the circuit this year and held off a very experienced lot in Murray Child's Ace and May, and Allen Nisbet's Maggie, with Maggie's fourth place giving her enough points to head off McRae's Skeata as top Northland dog in the long head. In the yarding, Finlayson's King improved on his Hobson placing and record his first title win in the process.

"These younger dogs coming through is great for the future of trialling in Northland," Cameron noted, adding Rob Hastie with Dash and Andy Ross with Bruce would have been very happy with their placings.

Elsewhere, the huntaways saw the cream of the local dogs coming through with Child's Frank and Jimmy, Scott McRae's Toby, along with the aforementioned Smith's Henry, and Thomson's Rebel and Grant West's Code also all gaining points.

"Don't be surprised to see some Northland huntaways and heading dogs figure in the results at the North Island champs and nationals later this month," Cameron predicted. He promised an update on the qualifiers.

Finally, in other news, it was noted top Whangarei shepherd Murray Child featured on the leaderboard (e.g. top seven) after day one of the South Island championships was completed in Southland on Monday.

With two days remaining, Cameron noted it was a given that "those not on the board on day one won't be there at all."