Dogged determination wins award

Rotorua police dog handler Colin Robson has won a prestigious award for his success rate in his first year as a dog handler.
The Erridge Trophy is awarded to the top-performing New Zealand police dog handler in his first operational year.
Mr Robson said he hadn't known the award existed until he was told he had won it, but had been aware he was doing "reasonably well" throughout the year.
Mr Robson and police dog Dredd have had an exceptional catch rate in the past 12 months.
"They would hope as a new handler you would get six catches in the first year. If you get six catches you're doing okay," he said.
The pair have notched up 50 tracking catches in their first year.
Mr Robson said his first year had been a good one.
"It's been a rollercoaster, but I've enjoyed the ride," he said.
Sergeant Jason Owen of the Rotorua police dog section said Mr Robson and Dredd had resolved 91 offences, caught 72 suspected offenders and recovered tens of thousands of dollars' worth of stolen property.
"He's had a fantastic year for his first year," Mr Owen said.
"The hardest thing is your first year on the street. The first year is a real learning curve," he said.
Confidence, a "hunt instinct" or "keen desire to catch bad guys" and a genuine affinity with dogs were important qualities in a successful police dog handler, Mr Owen said.
Two other Rotorua police dog handlers have won the Erridge Cup - Mr Owen with police dog Cane in 2002, and Barry Bonnington with police dog Ngata in 1969.