Sheep dog triallists hit the road

Hawke's Bay centre president Clark Chrystal pictured two years ago with Trix and Boyd, still going strong in the trials in 2017.

The busy schedule of sheep dogs and their trialists on the road were highlighted in the annual three-day venture in Hawke's Bay for the overlapping two-day shows of Wairoa, in the Hawke's Bay centre, and Ruakituri, in Poverty Bay.

As the pressure goes on to qualify dogs for the National Championships, and with a fortnight off in Hawke's Bay because of the cancellation of the Patoka trials, several hit the leaderboard, although there was little change in the race for the top Hawke's Bay heading dog and huntaway titles, with five trials remaining, starting today with the Mohaka club's event at Paroa Station.

Among them was centre president Clark Chrystal, who has now qualified four dogs for the nationals, and aiming to fill the box with a fifth.

He won the short head and yard at Ruakituri with Rick and long head honours at Wairoa with Boyd, while Bob Bruce, whose club hosts the season-ending Centre championships at Te Aute on April 21-23, scooped the Ruakituri long head title with well-performed Cheat.

Results of the Ruakituri sheep dog trials on March 9-10:

Long head: Bob Bruce, Cheat, 98pts, 1; Sheena Martin, Bribe, 94pts, 2; Henry Gaddum, Tau, 93pts, 3; Merv Utting, Fern, 91pts, 4; Noddy Halley, Lad, 90pts, 5. Intermediate: Henry Gaddum, Tau. Maiden: Henry MacDonald, Chalk.
Short head and yard: Clark Chrystal, Rick, 97.5pts, 1; Laurie Horsfall, Raid, 97pts, 2; Bob Bruce, Susan, 96.75pts, 3; John Foss, Dell, 96.5pts, 4; Scott Wedd, Kip, 96pts, 5. Intermediate: John MacPherson, Slice. Maiden: Graeme Cook, Bill.
Zig zag hunt: Henry Gaddum, Gus, 95.5pts, 1; Colin Bayliss, Pearl, 95pts, 2; Harley Neal, Turk, 94.5pts, 3; Colin Bayliss, Gus, 94.25pts, 4; Leo Edginton, Gav, 94pts, 5. Intermediate: Henry Gaddum, Gus. Maiden: Harley Neal, Turk.
Straight hunt: Colin Bayliss, Pearl, 98pts, 1; Richard Finnie, Kenny, 97.5pts, 2; Colin Bayliss, Bully, 97pts, 3; Clark Chrystal, Flynn, 96.5pts, 4; Paul Gow, Boogie, 96.25pts, 5. Intermediate and Maiden: Richard Finnie, Kenny.
Results of the Wairoa sheep dog trials on March 10-11:
Long head: Clark Chrystal, Boyd, 96.5pts, 1; Annie Flood, Jinny, 96pts, 2; Clark Chrystal, Rick, 95.5pts, 3; Henry Gaddum, Tau, 95pts, 4; Laurie Horsfall, Raid, 94.5pts, 5. Intermediate: Annie Flood, Jinny. Maiden: Jamie Powdrell, Dime.
Short head and yard: Annie Flood, Scott, 95.5pts, 1; Dave Evans, Prince, 92pts, 2; A Clark, Girl, 91pts, 3; Barney Strong, Queen, 90.5pts, 4; Jeremy Berry, Moon, 90pts, 5. Intermediate: Annie Flood, Sky. Maiden: M Wolter, Sky.
Zig zag hunt: Brett Loffler, Cruze, 96.5pts, 1; D Finnie, Kenith, 96pts, 2; D Scragg, Jill, 95.5pts, 3; Scott Wedd, Bull, 95.25pts, 4; Dylan Rofe, Punch, 95pts, 5. Intermediate: Brett Loffler, Cruze. Maiden: B Collister, Dread.
Straight hunt: Colin Bayliss, Bully, 98.5pts, 1; Rebecca Baynes, Tom, 98.25pts, 2; F Wilson, Mate, 98pts, 3; Colin Bayliss, Gus, 97.75pts, 4; John MacPherson, Jag, 97.5pts, 5. Intermediate and Maiden: Rebecca Baynes, Tom.