Dogs put to trial in Tākaka competition

With an orange rain warning in place for the area, it was with some reluctance that dog trialers from Tasman and Tapawera set out for the 129th trial of the Tākaka club.

The trials were held over two days on 27 and 28 January.

A steady drizzle accompanied them up and over the hill, but as if by magic, the rain slowed and then ceased not long after the arrival at the grounds.

The sun broke through and by lunchtime it was a beautiful day - although there was a stiff breeze blowing which threatened the gazebos.

The long head was off to an early start and the first run by Hamish Linton’s dog Prince set a cracking standard with 97 points, only to be pipped for first place by the 66th run of the day, Scott Archbold’s Gemma.

There was only half a point in it at the top with Neil Evans and Lad in third place.

The short head and yard proved a little trickier. The stiff breeze was blowing head-on to the sheep and they had a distinct preference for the right side of the course.

The winner here was Terry Ashley with Blade on 97.5, followed closely by Mark Copland with Guy and Margaret Evans with Sue.

A record number of heading dog entries was great news for the club. Entry numbers in the hunts were in the low twenties but a standout performance in the zig-zag hunt was Digby Heard’s maiden dog Rex who, with a score of 96, was good enough to win the maiden, intermediate and open categories. He is one to watch.

The next local dog trials will be at the Tapawera Dog Trial Club on Saturday, 12 April, and Sunday, 13 April, on the Motueka Valley Highway.

Full results can be found here.