Jamie Shrubsall and Whip, from the Tanupara Station at Raetihi, looking good at the pen at Mataroa.
It was again a busy weekend for dog trialists with the Mataroa sheepdog trial club and neighbouring centres holding events.
Mataroa club secretary Dan Kirby was pleased with the turnout - and also with his own efforts to be placed in both hunts with his dog Frankie.
It was also good to see long-time competitor Ian Munn feature in the results.
Quite a few of the travellers were able to get up to the King Country centre at Tokirimu, where Lindsay Schmidt from Levin qualified Jill following on from his third in the shorthead at Mangamahu last weekend.
Mataroa results:
Class 1: 1, P Evans & Bryte 98; 2, J Smailes & Fig 97; 3, M Sugden & Scout 96.75; 4, L Horsfall & Raid 96.5; 5, I Munn & Speck 96.25.
Intermediate: J Smailes & Fig 97. Maiden: B Malcolm & Blaze 85.
Class 2: 1, C Johns & Ash 95; R Mather & Sheen 94; 3, B Parkinson & Ash 93.5; 4, L Horsfall & Raid 92; 5, G Drake & Clyde 91.5.
Intermediate: B Parkinson & Ash 93.5. Maiden: I Munn & Skud 85.
Class 3: 1, A Matthews & Rex 96.5; 2, M Bolton & Puri 95.5; 3, K Fox & Milo 95; 4, D Kirby & Frankie 94.75; 5, D Stuart & Charm 94.5.
Intermediate: K Fox & Milo 95. Maiden: D Kirby & Frankie 94.75.
Class 4: 1, A Matthews & Rex 97.5; 2, B Parkinson & Grouse 96; 3, D Kirby & Frankie 95.5; 4, W Clare & Barney 95; 5, A Ryan & Doc 94.
Intermediate: B Parkinson & Grouse 96. Maiden: D Kirby & Frankie 95.5.
Last weekend's events were the Raetihi Collie Club annual trials followed by the Mangamahu club trials last Sunday and Monday.
Graham Wellington from the Parapara/Makirikiri club had a dream weekend winning both heads at Raetihi and also taking out both heads at Kapiti, as well as finishing second with Rachel in the longhead at Mangamahu.
Raetihi results:
Class 1: 1, G Wellington & Rachel 96; 2, G Wellington & Rachel 95.75; 3, K Oliver & Shy 95; 4, B Parkinson & Sleek 94; 5, H Parkinson & Check 93.75.
Intermediate: J Smailes & Fig 93. Maiden: D Dickson & Ash 90.
Class 2: 1, G Wellington & Rachel 97.5; 2, L Smith & Samantha 97; 3, M Williams & Horse 96.5; 4, G Wellington & Murphy 96; 5, B Burke & Freya 95.75.
Intermediate: M Williams & Horse 96.5. Maiden: M Williams & Horse 96.5.
Class 3: 1, M Lourie & Bella 98; 2, T Nimmo & Kate 97.5; 3, M Totman & Zac 96.75; 4, T McLean & Gill 96; 5, H Parkinson & Shake 95.75.
Intermediate: T Nimmo & Kate 97.5. Maiden: N Robertson & Monk 95.5.
Class 4: M Totman & Zac 98; 2, B Parkinson & Tune 97.75; 3, B Parkinson & Fake 97.5: 4, H Parkinson & Shake 97.25; 5, K Fox & Milo 97.
Intermediate: B Parkinson & Tune 97.75. Maiden: K Fox & Milo 97.
The Mangamahu trial, the 87th staging, took place at a new venue - Mt View Station, with the heading courses on Mt View and the hunt courses on Manawaimai Station.
A total of 424 runs were put through the four courses over the two days, great support for a first trial on new grounds.
Rob Mather and Lawrence Patterson, with their team, did an outstanding job.
The longhead is just that - 400 metres from the liberation point to the middle of the ring - and judge Gavin Drake gave no full point heads, with two dogs getting 47 and two 46.
Hunt judge on the zig, Steve Ponsonby, was full of praise for his course and the way it worked - and 99 was the winning run.
The feedback on this first trial was very complimentary and credit must go to club president and Mt View Station manager Digby Lowe, who was also steward on the longhead.
Mangamahu results:
Class 1: 1, D White & Gale 94.5; 2, G Wellington & Rachel 94; 3, B Milner & Snow 93.75; 4, S Tweed & Flirt 92.5; 5, D White & Jazz 91.
Intermediate: D White & Gale 94.5. Maiden: P Walter & Smoke 86.5.
Class 2: 1, J Linton & King 95; 2, C Journeaux & Luke 93.5; 3, L Schmidt & Jill 93; 4, J Linton & Jack 92.5; 5, D Stuart & Gyp 91.5.
Intermediate: C Journeaux & Luke 93.5. Maiden: J Parker & Moss 85.
Class 3: 1, D Stuart & Charm 99; 2, S Tweed & Grit 98; 3, D Stuart & Turk 97.5; 4, S Childs & Ra 97; 5, P Walter & Cress 96.5.
Intermediate: P Walter & Cress 96.5. Maiden : T Dalton & Dust 95.75.
Class 4: 1, A Matthews & Rachel 96.5; 2, O Dickson & Herb 96; 3, S Tweed & Grit 95; 4, B Parkinson & Grace 94.5; 5, A Coleman & Jake 94.
Intermediate: A Matthews & Rachel 96.5. Maiden: J Parker & Tank 93.
Heading: G Wellington & Murphy 21 points. Huntaway: Steff Tweed & Grit 14 points.