Sheep dog trials: Hawera's Duffy and Lord finish on top

Lloyd Duffy of Hawera and Lord are Taranaki's top pair for 2018.

The Taranaki club dog trialling season has finished for the year with Hawera's Lloyd Duffy and his huntaway dog Lord coming out on top in the province.

The duo accumulated 21 points ahead of Steve Murphy from Whangamomona and his heading dog Sharp on 20.

Lord's father, the late Prince, was one of the country's best huntaways in his time between 1996 and 2000 and he was owned by one of the country's best dog trialist the late Graeme Dickson. Duffy owned Lord's mother Pearl.

Duffy, who was recently appointed the patron of the Taranaki Centre, is no stranger to dog trialling as he's been competing in the sport seriously since 1990, winning a North Island Championship title in 2007 and having been in seven island finals and four New Zealand finals. He is now a strong contender for the up and coming North Island Championships starting on May 7 at Te Aute, Hawke's Bay.

Taranaki competitors who have qualified to compete in these Championships are — Bryce Jensen (Waihi-Waitara), Bernie Gower, Sarah Scott (Mangamingi), Lloyd Duffy, Mark Duffy (Hawera), Loyd Bishop, Paul Martin (Stratford-Mangaehu), Steve Murphy, Dan Murphy, James McFarlane, Chris Journeaux, Rachel Law (Whangamomona). Results for these championships can be found daily on the NZSDTA website.

Ken Lobb (Whangamomona) is judging his first Island Championship (the Longhead) at Te Aute along with his wife Donna who will be his clerk. Lobb has been judging club and centre championships for many years and has proven himself to be well equipped to judge at a standard that is required for a higher level.

It's a job that takes great knowledge of the sport to accurately point each of the approximately 230 dogs in this event over the five days.