Placid sheep help success of dog trials

Lambs that were a pleasure to work set the tone for a successful sheep dog trial at Otairi at the weekend. Entries were well up on last year, particularly for the heading events.
The shorthead and yard course was altered from previous years with sheep being placed 20 metres to the left of the old liberation point. The run out was easier and the dogs had a better chance to lift the sheep without them bolting. Medium lambs from Puketoi worked well and the in-form David Davey did not waste them.
Kylie, who had the only perfect caste, lost one point on the pull, half on the first drive, the same at the hurdle and another half point at the pen as one lamb shuffled around the others before they wen in.
His other heading dog, Ike, was second and went on to win the same event at the Rangitikei trials at Taupo the next day. Both these dogs were placed in the longhead.
Don Wickham got the last of the qualifying points he needed to go to the Tux New Zealand champs when Smoke was fourth in both heading events and Wayne Falkner's Judge, who won earlier in the season, also qualified when winning the straight hunt.
Paul Evans was another to get that last qualifying point with his placing on the zigzag hunt. The event was won by Stuart Bradley's Harry, a dog that is accurate and careful. The station contest which attracted nine teams concluded at Otairi with the Te Kumu team of Lawrence Spicer, Barry Thompson and Simon Tweed winning by two points from the Koreanui team of Geoff White and Daniel and Bob Leary.
The top dog contest standings feature Bruce Parkinson and Grace leading the heading section on 18 points, while Finn Rowlands, Rogue and Coal tied on 15 in the huntaway contest with two trials to go.
Results Longhead: R Mather, Lace, 96, 1; D Davey, Kylie, 95.5, 2; Davey, Ike, 94.5, 3; D Wickham, Smoke, 92.5, 4; M Bolton, Merle, 92, 5. Intermediate, Bolton, Merle. Maiden, R S Whiteman, Brandy, 89.7.
Shorthead and yard: Davey, Kylie, 97.5, 1; Davey, Ike, 95, 2; Mather, Lace, 94.5, 3; Wickham, Smoke, 92.5, 4; L Patterson, Quiz, 92.2, 5. Intermediate, Patterson, Quiz. Maiden, R Berrett, Frecks, 89.5.
Zigzag hunt: S Bradley, Harry, 97.5, 1; A Boynton, Card, 97, 2; F Rowlands, Rogue, 95.5, 3; P Evans, Wag, 95, 4; G White, Sarge, 94.5, 5; Intermediate and maiden, A Irwin, Scooby, 94.
Straight hunt: W Falkner, Judge, 95.5, 1; L Wink, Dawn, 94, 2; White, Sarge, 93.5, 3; J Smailes, Spice, 93, 4; Berrett, Sonic, 92, 5. Intermediate, Falkner, Judge. Maiden, White, Hobo, 88.