Paparangi dog triallist pipped at post by Rob and Sheen from Foxton

SO CLOSE: Pete London and six-year-old Pat had to settle for second place at Paparangi.

Paparangi club member Pete London looked set for a dream weekend at his club's dog trials last week — until the master from Foxton, Rob Mather, knocked him off top spot with a remarkable 99-point run in the longhead event.

Pete, who had helped worked the sheep at Paparangi prior to the trial, was in first place with six-year-old dog Pat ... and then Rob and Sheen stepped up to snatch it from him.

Moments of glory can be so fleeting but to place second in the event was a great result for Pete who, a couple of years ago, won the Wanganui Centre championship longhead at Paparangi with Pat.

He is also a member of the Mangamahu club and is competing this season with two dogs, Pat and four-year-old Stomp. He works at Whanganui iwi health organisation Te Oranganui and his dog trial exploits have earned him huge credit.

Pete, however, puts his success down to what his mentor, noted dog trialist Lawrence Patterson, has taught him over the past few years.

Paparangi club secretary Ross Jones was very pleased with the large number of yards and how well the lambs worked on the flat in the shorthead, with judge Kathryn Oliver putting through 58 runs on the first day.

Taranaki held its centre championships at Mangaehu-Stratford on the same days as Paparangi. There Parapara/Makirikiri club members Graham Wellington with Murphy and Rachel and Stan Whiteman and Reign qualified for the North Island championship at Te Aute and for the New Zealand championships at Blenheim being held in May and June.

Results
Class 1: 1, R Mather & Sheen 99; 2, P London & Pat 97; 3, G Drake & Clyde 96.5; 4, G Wellington & Seamus; 5, B Gower & Hone 95.5.
Open/maiden: L Gratten & Brooke 93.5.
Class 2: 1, W Falkner & Roz 97.5; 2, P Evans & Ritchie 97; 3, J Bartlett & Honk 96.5; 4, B Gower & Hone 96; 5, P Green & Teal 95.5.
Intermediate: W Falkner & Roz 97.5. Open/maiden: R Jones & Tub 90.
Class 3: 1, A Reed & Chap 97; 2, D Scragg & Kate 95.25; 3, T McHardy & Ide; 4, J Shrubsall & Stag 94; 5, G White & Poppy 93.5.
Open/maiden: D Scragg & Kate 95.25.
Class 4: 1, J Shrubsall & Stag 98; 2, Bex Baynes & Tom 97.5; 3, W Marshall & Drum 97; 4, Libby Masefield & Monkey 96.5; 5, H Thompson & Nod 95.5
Open/maiden: G White & Poppy 94.5.