Taranaki Indoor sheep dog trials raise cash

A cheque was presented to St John Hawera for $3000 by the Taranaki Indoor sheep Dog Trial Club

The Taranaki Indoor Sheep Dog Trial Club Championship Trials were held between July 6-8 at the Egmont A and P Showgrounds in Hawera.

The event attracted more than 100 competitors and 200 sheep dogs which showed off their skills in front of a broad audience including farmers, vets, animal trainers and psychologists.

Club secretary Brenda Simson says the event is gaining popularity.

"The sport also expanded its audience over the past few years with more and more passionate dog lovers competing in the trial," she said.

The entrants and their dogs must run three sheep within 10 minutes through seven obstacles on the showground floor.

The competition is not all about time however, with the flair, obedience and skill of both the trainer and the dogs judged.

Points are deducted for sheep biting or if the dog causes the sheep to do a full 360 degree turn.

Brenda says the club held its first event in July 2009 with the aim of encouraging more young people to the sport of sheepdog trialling.

"From there on the event grew continuously until this year when the event registered a total of 220 dogs for the competition from all over the North Island."

She says the club started off from scratch with no funds, but has grown enormously with the ongoing support of Hawera and Taranaki businesses.

The club is giving back to the community who support the event each year.

Since 2014, the club has supported each alternative year the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter and St John Hawera, with a total of $12,000 which has been donated to these services. A cheque was presented to St John Hawera for $3000 during the competition.

The club thanked its sponsors for their support over the years.

FINAL RESULTS:

1st — R Mead with Lad, 99, Gisborne, 2nd — A Hardwick-Smith with Rip, 98, Taranaki, 3rd — C Robertson with Grace, 95.5, Whangarei, 4th — Graeme Wellington with Seamus, 95, Wanganui, 5th Ian Smith with Villi, 94, Taranaki, 6th — Dan Murphy with Flight,91.5, Taranaki, 7th — B Bryson with Bolt, 91, Gisborne, 8th — Leo Jecentho with Smoke, 89, Waikato, 9th — Lindsay Schmidt with Jill, 88, Manawatu, 10th — B Ireland with Sam, 85.5, Pokeno, 11th — A Smith with Lad, 80, Matamata, 12th — Lindsay Schmidt with Jed, 79, Manawatu, 13th — L Gratten, 0, with Brie owhango, 14th — Leo Jecentho, Queen, 0, Waikato.