Wily campaigners overcome one-eyed dog

The weather played an important part in the Centennial Bay of Islands Sheepdog Trials which were held on Te Ahu Ahu mountain last Friday and Saturday.

Friday was a washout with the rain and misty conditions prevailing, and totally wiping out all attempts to compete on both heading courses.

A report from the event said competitors came from as far away as Masterton, and the local club's decision to try to complete all runs on the Saturday was a bold one. However, competitors and workers rallied together to get all the runs through before dark in a mighty effort.

"You can make all the plans in the world and think you have all the bases covered but you have no control over the weather," one commentator said.

"Heavy cloud covered the mountain all day Friday making it impossible for the competition to get under way. Just managed to get a few hunts through for a few of the visitors so as they could get away.

"Saturday saw everyone get a run and we completed the weekend, albeit under some pressure."

To the event itself then, and the sheep from Neville Lewis tested most dogs on the hill but it was in the yarding where they were so unpredictable.

Many dogs had great work to the final obstacle, the two metre square pen, and in most cases the sheep defied the dogs' effort to yard them. The winners in this event all had tidy work in most sections, but as the points tell, had to work hard to complete the course.

The Maungatapere combination of Allen Nisbet with Maggie, both wily old campaigners, scored a 92-point effort to overcome Duncan Gilligan's Tim and Merv Cameron's Bonnie and Clyde.

Duncan's place with Tim was most creditable as it is less than two months since Tim punctured his eye doing farmwork and had it removed. This shows how an animal can cope and still compete at top level with such a disability.

The huge long head course tested the run-out ability of dogs and although the sheep in general pulled down quite well, it was the top run-outs that dictated the final points. Here, the Child brothers and Owen Finlayson took the top honours with high pointed runs.

All these top four placed dogs have performed well at trials in previous years at the top level and were predictably going to be the ones to beat. Oddly, though, none of them placed in the yarding event.

The huntaways did manage to get some Friday runs through between gaps in the mist and Grand West and Cody secured a very impressive win, albeit hard to see the top set of flags.

Maurice Yearbury, a regular Tuakau visitor, placed in both hunts, while the aptly named Frank of Murray Childs headed the straight hunt field.

Results from the 100th Bay of Islands Sheepdog Trials on Friday and Saturday, February 7 and 8:

Event one, Long head, judge M Porter: M Child and Ace 98.5, 1; N Child and Hawke 98, 2; O Finlayson and Lady 97.5, 3; M Child and Dice 97.25, 4; C Thomson and Dan 97, 5; Intermediate: P Campbell and Cash 96, 1; Maiden: J Nelley and Joy 89. Short head and yard: A Nisbet and Maggie 92, D Gilligan and Tim 87, M Cameron and Clyde 85, M Cameron and Bonnie 84, S McRae and Sceata 83.5; Intermediate: D Gilligan and Tim 87, 1; Maiden: G Smith and Kaye 71, 1.

Zig zag hunt: G West and Code 97, 1; M Yearbury and Ned 96, 2; T Comins and Shelley 95.8, 3; M Child and Frank 95.5, 4; M Yearbury and Bloke 94, 5; Intermediate: M Yearbury and Toby 94, 1; Maiden: B Robinson and Roy 91, 2. Straight hunt: M Child and Frank 97, 1; M Child and Jimmy 96.5, 2; N Child and Reign 96, 3; M Yearbury and Bloke 95, 4; K Whittaker and Tim 94.5, 5; Intermediate: M Child and Jimmy 96.5, 1; Maiden: R Jordan and Tone 93, 1.

This was the second trial on the Northland circuit, the first being Helensville on January 31, February 1 and 2 which also doubled as the Centre champs for 2014. The new champs were Leo Jecentho with Cap in the long head, Chris Robertson with Mac in the short head and yard, Murray Child with Jimmy in the zig zag hunt, and Scott McRae with Toby in the straight hunt.

The next leg on the circuit is Mangakahia this Friday and Saturday, February 14 and 15, although a large contingent of Far North shepherds and their dogs will likely be seen instead, running at the Broadwood A&P centenary show.