Veteran triallist the winner at Charity dog trials

Taupo dog trial veteran Barney Strong, at “84 years young”, with his dog Trixie, demonstrating the action in the final that won the pair the J and T Charity sheep dog trial championship at the RDA on Saturday. They also won the trophy for the top aggregate score across their qualifying run. Picture by Paul Rickard

Barney Strong and Trixie from Taupo took out the J and T Hickey Charity sheep dog trial championship at the Riding Club for the Disabled arena at the Showgrounds on Saturday.

The 84-year-old and his dog scored 93.5 points in the 12-dog final run-off to pick up the Robyn and Jim Lee Tray and the $1000 first prize.

The combination also won the Aggregate Cup for the best combined score of 187.5 points.

Second place in the championship went to Jim Wilson and Jude (93) from the Waikato, third to Hawke’s Bay’s Howard Ingles and Lou (91) and fourth was Matawai triallist Samantha Shaw and Zoe with a score of 90.5.

The Novice event, sponsored by Hinenui Genetics, was won by Tom Powdrell and Rose on 87.5 points. Jack Looney and Flow were second on 87 points, James McLanachan and Blue third on 80 points and Rebecca Williams and Toast were fourth on 77.5 points.

The prize for the youngest competitor went to 16-year-old Bradley Anderson, a student at Campion College, who received a dog trial stick donated by Colin Bayliss.

The Waipaoa/Growing Future Farmers Shield went to the Waipaoa Farm Cadets Team on a total of 229.5 points, ahead of the Growing Future Farmers Gisborne Team on 164.5 pnts.

In the open teams event, sponsored by Laurence and Liz Rau, Jack Looney and Sam Shaw on 170.5 points won it, ahead of Rebecca Williams and Henry Gaddum 167.5, and James McLannachan and  Allen Irwin 162 pnts.

Charity trial president Laurence Rau acknowledged and thanked Bo Milner and his wife Donna for coming up from Hawke’s Bay to judge the event this year.

He made a special mention about the number of novice competitors this year, and the calibre of their runs.

“A large number of these are the Growing Future Farmer cadets from Gisborne and Wairoa and the Waipaoa Station Cadets,” Mr Rau said.

He acknowledged Papatu Station for the supply of the sheep.

“Without their kind support we wouldn’t be able to run our trial.”

Trial secretary Helen Cook said entry numbers were a bit down on previous years but hopefully this would change next year.

Dog trial commentator Ross Buscke said the event had a bit of everything when it came to the final.

“The first sheep out in the 12 final runs were really good, but after that it was a mixed bag, with some good runs and some not so good.

“It really was a matter of the luck of the draw. But overall I’d say it was a very good trial.”