Hamish Mead and Gwen win charity dog trial in Gisborne

The 10 finalists, the judge and the timekeeper from Saturday's J and T Hickey Charity Sheep Dog Trial final at the RDA at the Showgrounds. From left are timekeeper Janice Avenell, judge Leo Jecentho, Graham Duff, Barnie Strong, Barry McIntyre, Graeme Cook, Toni Blundell, Noddy Halley, Hamish Mead, Colin Bayliss and John Foss. Photo / Rebecca Williams

Manutūkē’s Hamish Mead and his dog Gwen won a hotly contested final of the Poverty Bay J and T Hickey Trust Charity Sheep Dog Trial at the Riding Club for the Disabled on Saturday afternoon.

The Papatu Station manager maintained a fine family tradition when he headed off the other nine finalists.

Papatu Station manager Hamish Mead and Gwen on their way to championship glory in the Poverty Bay J and T Hickey Trust Charity Sheep Dog Trial in the RDA complex on Saturday. Photo / Rebecca Williams

His father Garry and uncle Rod are previous charity trial competitors and Rod has won the title on many occasions.

Spoils of victory ... Hamish Mead holds the championship silver tray with best mate Gwen next to him. Photo / Rebecca Williams

The sheep from Papatu Station created a few problems in the final and that was reflected in the low scores.

Mead and Gwen won with 89 points out of 100.

Second place went to Toni Blundell (Mātāwai) and her dog Kaz, fractionally behind Mead on 88.5.

Toni Blundell and Kaz work what were described as "sticky" sheep in Saturday's championship final. Photo / Rebecca Williams

Runners-up Toni Blundell and Kaz from Mātāwai.

Colin Bayliss (Ngātapa) and Jet were third on 87.5.

The sheep were so “sticky” that scoring got down to as low as 67, 66, 42 and 20 points for the final four competitors.

“The sheep played up in the final,” trials commentator Ross Buscke said. “They were quite finicky and some of the finalists ran out of time, the 11 minutes, to get around the course.”

Only five of the 10 finalists were able to complete the course in the allocated time.

“Hamish’s run was a very good one – a great effort by man and dog,” Buscke said. “His dad was next to me during his run and he was so proud of his son’s achievement.

“I made the comment at the time that as the new Papatu Station [the sheep came from there], the sheep knew his dog.”

Buscke said despite the nature of the sheep at times, it was a good trial overall.

The event has raised $280,000 since it started in 1967 – with donations going to to Idea Services, Riding for the Disabled, CCF Disability Action and the Eastland Helicopter Rescue Trust.

It attracted more than 160 dogs this year from all over the North Island.

“There was a great turnout of novice competitors.”