Dog trials: Neville and Murray Child hard to beat at Northland sheepdog championships

Eddie McCarthy readies the gate as his dog Poppy moves the sheep towards the pen during the Short Head and Yard class at the Farmlands Real Estate Northland Centre Championships. Photo / John Stone

Neville and Murray Child were in top form as they showcased their sheepdog training skills in Parua Bay.

They accounted for three of the four competition victories at the Farmlands Real Estate Northland Centre Sheepdog Trials Championships.

Neville Child took out two of the four divisions himself in a top display.

He won the tightest division over the three-day competition - the long head.

Neville and his heading dog Harry top scored with 190.50 after Murray's pair of dogs, Boy and Dice, finished their runs with 190.25 and 190 respectively to complete the podium.

Shaun Hayes and Milly were fourth on 189 points while head steward John Nelley rounded out the top five on 186.75 with Joy.

In the long head the competitor starts his dog from a marked ring and the dog heads three sheep on a hill 300-600m away. The dog then pulls them into the ring in as straight a line as possible and holds them stationary to the judge's satisfaction, all within a time limit of between 10 and 15 minutes.

Neville Child also won the straight hunt with Huntaway Simon.

The win in the final event was a little more comfortable than in other categories as he finished with 185.5, six and a half points clear of Barney Robinson and Rod in second. Graeme Smith and Henry finished third a further half a point back.

The straight hunt tests a dog's ability to shift sheep in as straight a line as possible with a steady flow of noise directed at the sheep.

Robinson was also strong in the short head and yard event, winning with heading dog Dan on 177.75 points.

Robinson kept out Neville Child and Rod after a strong showing, while Ian McKinnon and Meg grabbed third place.

In the short head and yard, a heading dog must move the sheep along a 20m-wide driveway, marked by a series of pegs. They need to get the sheep through a pair of hurdles and into a fenced yard.

Murray Child took out the zig-zag Huntaway open class, again having to fend off Neville Child in the process.

Murray and Frank comfortably won in the end after a disciplined showing, ending eight points ahead of Neville and Simon. Smith and Henry were 13 points further back in third.

The zig-zag hunt tests the Huntaway's ability to change a group of sheep's direction.