Entries down but great form on display

Don Wickham and Diam on the first run on second day at the Taranaki centre championships at Waverley.

The Parapara/Makirikiri Club held its sheep dog trials at the weekend.

With some neighbouring centres staging their championships, some Wanganui competitors judging out of the centre and several trialling in the South Island, the event was down on entries but still managed a reasonable attendance.

The courses on the Ranginui family property, just north of Upokongaro on State Highway 4, were well presented and Don Wickham's lambs on the heads and ewes on the hunts worked well.

Don White's Jazz won the shorthead and placed fourth in the longhead, while popular club member Roy Pullen won the zig-zag hunt with Turk and placed third in the straight which was won by Alan Nimmo and Keg who struck some great form.

It was great to see Bruce Parkinson's Brook back in winning form on the longhead.

This year the club had new women in the cookhouse, Lyn Wickham and Jan Blinkhorne, and the superb food was commented on and enjoyed by many as was the great atmosphere and camaraderie created around the cookhouse.

Parangi club members Ross Jones and Eric Forsyth lent a hand, as did Fergus Pritchard from the Mangamahu Club who helped liberate on the shorthead.

Wayne Falkner and Rose still lead the heads with 17 points and Jonathon Smailles and Stella is the leading huntaway on 17 points, with Don White's Mist inching closer with 12 points.

Results

Class1: 1, B Parkinson & Brook 95; 2, K Oliver & Kim 93.75; 3, A Smith & Dot 93.50; 4, D White & Jazz 93.25; 5, B Burke & Morgan 93. Intermediate: B Burke & Morgan 93. Maiden: T Price & Bill 88.5.

Class 2: 1, D White & Jazz 95; 2, J Bartlett & Seek 94.5; 3, T Price & Bill 94; 4, B Parkinson & Brook 93; 5, N Sinton & Mouse 92.5. Intermediate: T Price & Bill 94. Maiden: T Price & Bill 94.

Class 3: 1, R Pullen & Turk 98; 2, L Patterson & Print 97.25; 3, R Jeffery & Herb 97; 4, R Gallien & Brave 96.5; 5, A Nimmo & Keg 96.25. Intermediate: R Jeffery & Herb 97. Maiden: M Lourie & Bella 94.5.

Class 4: 1, A Nimmo & Keg 97.5; 2, L Patterson & Print 96.5; 3, R Pullen & Turk 96; 4, D White & Mist 95.5; 5, J Gillespie & Sledge 95.25. Intermediate: P Williams & Boy 95. Maiden: W Dalziel & Swag 94.