Finalists class1: L. Patterson, C. Johns, C. Journeaux, M. Williams, A. Ryan. and judge Rob O'Sullivan.
Finalists class1: L. Patterson, C. Johns, C. Journeaux, M. Williams, A. Ryan. and judge Rob O'Sullivan.
The Raetihi Collie Club hosted the Wanganui Centre Championships along with their club trial last weekend (February 23-25), a busy three days with a total of 483 dogs competing over the four courses.
Finalists class 2: C. Johns, G. Martin, P. London, G. Drake, M. Williams, with judge Andrew Savage.
Both the hunt courses and the shorthead course are on Gordon Chan’s property, with the longhead on the Rowe family farm a few kilometres south of Raetihi on the Parapara road. All four courses were in magnificent order, and the sheep worked well over the three days.
Finalists class 3: J. McAlley, H. Thompson, A. Von Pien, judge Tom Manson, and Craig Johns.
Club stalwart Merv Williams had a stellar weekend with Flash winning the open shorthead, placing fifth in the open longhead, winning the centre shorthead by a seven-point margin and placing second in the centre longhead, the stuff dreams are made of.
An amazing effort considering Flash had a major ligament injury last year and wasn’t expected to recover.
Finalists class 4: R.H. McKay, A. Kirkpatrick, J. McAlley, H. Wilson, with judge Jono Neilson.
Young Gavin Martin, also a Raethi club member, was fourth in the open shorthead with Chief and fifth in the centre run-off in that event. This was Gavin’s first time in a centre run-off. Merv’s Flash and Gavin’s dog Chief are litter relations.
Merv Williams and Flash, winners of the class 2 open and centre.
Team Raetihi didn’t stop there with all four centre titles going to club members. Craig Johns won the centre long head with Jill, Merv and Flash the shorthead; Craig Johns also won the zig-zag hunt with Clay and Hamish McKay took out the centre straight hunt with Duff, with Raetihi club members dominating the minor placings too.
Gavin Martin and Chief, first in the centre run-off class 2.
Hamish Thompson, from the Parapara-Makirikiri club, spoiled the party a little by winning the open zig-zag hunt, and Graham Wellington, former Wanganui centre competitor, won the open longhead with Shamus, an event that Graham has won on many occasions over the years with various dogs.
Craig Johns and Jill, centre winners class 1.
Peter London, from the Paparangi club, followed up his win at Paparangi on the long head with Rush, making the centre shorthead run-off and placing fourth.
