Wanganui Centre dog trialists kept on their toes (or paws)

Waverley's Eric Weir and his keen little dog Sky wait for their turn at the Levin Show .PHOTO/ BRENDA O'LEARY

Wanganui Centre dog trialists were busy travelling to two events - the last of the showring events - over the recent Wellington Anniversary weekend.

Don White from Mataroa judged 55 competitors and dogs at the Levin Show - a good entry for a show held in beautiful summer weather.

The shorn, mixed sex lambs were supplied by Lakeview Farm and again prepared by Lindsay and Wendy Schmidt who, after many years running the event, will be retiring to Waituna West at the end of March. There will be new organisers next year.

The Ohingaiti Sports event took place in wet conditions on the Monday following the Levin Show.

Entries were on a par with last year and the small team of workers there did a great job, with the Henderson family providing the sheep.

Last weekend, the North Island and New Zealand Yarding Challenge Tux Championship finals took place following the King Country Tux Yarding Challenge at Taumaranui.

Wanganui Centre competitors made the King Country run-off, with Parapara/Makirikiri club member Brenda O'Leary and her dog Hine the top qualifiers on Friday, along with Gavin Smith and Bess from the Raetihi club.

Stan Whiteman with Reign - also from the Parapara/Makirikiri club - was the eighth qualifier, and Don White and Jazz from Mataroa also made the cut on the Saturday.

Fortune, though, was not on their side and none made it into the North Island run-off - apart from Don White and Jazz who had earlier qualified for the North Island Tux Yarding Challenge, joining Paul Evans, the Wanganui Centre president, and his dog Dee.

However, neither of them made the NZ Tux final.

Results

Levin Show

1, S Whiteman & Reign 99; 2, L Schmidt & Jill 98.5; 3, R Mather & Sonny Bill 98; 4, W Falkner & Roz 96.5; 5, D Smith & Tri 96; 6, B Arends & Winx 95.5.

Open/Maiden: D Smith & Tri 96.

Ohingaiti

1, W Schmidt & Polly 94; 2, P Evans & Dee 93; 3, W Schmidt & Dream 92.5.

Intermediate: 1, K Berrett & Chill 91: 2, Maryanne Barry & Ben 89; 3, E Weir & Loch 85.5.

Maiden/man/dog: 1, Maryanne Barry & Ben 89; 2, J Horn & Mo 85.

Open/ Maiden dog: S Whiteman & Parris 88.5.