Whanganui dog triallist wins two national huntaway titles

Paul Evan and Byrte were on the leader board for a time but couldn't maintain their place.

Whanganui dog triallists had some wins in the New Zealand Sheepdog Trial Championships this year, but stopped short of retaining the Cyril Perry Shield.

The championships finished at Blenheim on June 2, and there were more than 500 dogs there.

Wanganui president Paul Evans (Ohingaiti) said the sheep on the shorthead were very hard to yard and that many a promising run came to grief.

The Wanganui Centre had no competitors in either of the heading event finals but it could be very proud of its huntaway men and dogs, he said.

Evans with Bryte, Graham Wellington with Rachel (Parapara/Makirikiri) and Brian Burke with Stone (Paparangi) all made the leader boards but were unable to hold their places in the heading events.

But Alex Matthews and Bonnie won the New Zealand straight hunt and he had another win with Rex in the zig-zag hunt, where Mark Lourie with Bella second.

It was the first time anyone had won both national hunts since 2009, and for Matthews they were his first two titles at island or national level. He manages Manawaimai Station, in the Mangamahu Valley.

In earlier years Matthews had come fifth with Kate in the national zig-zag hunt in 2014, and third with Rex in the same event in 2016.

The only female to feature in a final at the championships was Rebecca Baynes with Tom.

From Wairoa, she was second in the New Zealand straight hunt and came from sixth place in the first round.

It was the Northland Centre that won the Cyril Perry Shield, by 25 points, and Northland's Neville Child was the supreme triallist.

Former Wanganui Centre member Guy Peacock won the New Zealand shorthead event with Chief, leaping from fifth place in the island to claim the title with a flawless exhibition.

It is Peacock's third national title, and with it he has been selected to represent New Zealand in a team to compete against Australia in Sydney in October.