A couple of goods days out at the trials

Becs Scragg (left) as Becs Baynes, 6th with Jazz in an historic 2019 South Island zig zag final, with Jo Waugh (centre) the first woman to win an island or national title. Photo / Supplied

The team in sheep dog trials is usually the man and the dog, but Wairoa farmers David and Rebecca "Becs" Scragg made a good job as a couple, dominating the hunts at the Wairoa trials last Thursday and Friday.

The couple married about a year ago, and at the home trial, part of a big three days for the dog trials in Northern Hawke's Bay, had five dogs in top five placings across the hunts.

David Scragg won the straight hunt with maiden dog Chook, and took out a fifth placing with Kate.

Becs (nee Baynes), already had winners with Jazz, Brook and Scooby this season and placed second, third and fourth in the zig zag with Jazz, Tom and Fred. Tom also made it a Scragg quinella in the straight hunt.

The couple were not at the neighbouring Ruakituri trials on Friday and Saturday, but Becs hit the road for Palmerston North where she was part of a team win in a sheep dog trials challenge at the New Zealand Rural Games.

At Wairoa, Tom Manson and Pip and the long head and the shorthead and yard went to former North Island champion pair of Laurie Horsfall and Raid. Ben Collister, with Juke, won the zig zag.

As part of the Poverty Bay centre, the Ruakituri trials were dominated by competitors from the region, but some Hawke's Bay triallists made inroads at a third trials at Wairarapa and SHB club, Kumeroa, between Dannevirke and Woodville, where Bob Bruce with Susan won events in the long head, and Peter Williams with Guide won the short head and yard.

Tomorrow and Saturday are the Tikokino trials in Hawke's Bay and Makotuku trials in Southern Hawke's Bay.

Results:

Wairoa
(March 11-12)

Long head: T Manson, Pip, 94.75pts, 1; S Wedd, Dell, 94.5pts, 2; B Johnson, Stace. 93.5pts, 3; J Powdrell, Jag, 92pts, 4; J Neilson, Boris, 91.5pts, 5. Intermediate and Maiden – B Johnson, Stace.

Short head and yard: L Horsfall, Raid, 94.5pts, 1; T Manson, Pip, 92pts, 2; B Johnson, Switch, 91pts, 3; G Cook, Glen, 90pts, 4; L Horsfall, Jed, 89pts, 5. Intermediate and Maiden – B Johnson, Switch.

Zig zag hunt: B Collister, Juke, 97.5pts, 1; Becs Scragg, Jazz, 97pts, 2; Becs Scragg, Tom, 96.5pts, 3; Becs Scragg, Fred, 96pts, 4; A Twigley, Bear, 95pts, 5. Intermediate – B Collister, Juke; Maiden – Becs Scragg, Fred.

Straight hunt: David Scragg, Chook, 97.5pts, 1; Becs Scragg, Tom, 97pts, 2; M McLeod, Pod, 96.5pts, 3; B Loffler, Bruce, 96.25pts, 4; David Scragg, Kate, 96pts, 5. Intermediate and Maiden – David Scragg, Chook.

Ruakituri
(March 12-13)

Long head: G Cook, Glen, 93.5pts, 1; A Irwin, Dot, 93pts, 2; D McPherson, Pace, 92.5pts, 3; J Powdrell, Jet, 92pts, 4; L Edginton, Larry, 91pts, 5.

Short head and yard: M Utting, Guy, 96.5pts, 1; C Bayliss, Jet, 96.25pts, 2; G Cook, Glen, 96pts, 3; R Jeffery, Strike, 92.5pts, 4; G Cook, Bill, 92pts, 5.

Zig zag hunt: C McCarthy, Arthury, 94pts, 1; F Mead, Flare, 92pts, 2; C Bayliss, Ammo, 91pts, 3; D McPherson, Tui, 90.5pts, 4; J Noble-Campbell, 90.25pts, 5.

Straight hunt: C Bayliss, Tahi, 98.8pts, 1; B McHardy, May, 98.7[ts, 2; C Bayliss, Ammo, 98.25pts, 3; J Roche, Bex, 98pts, 4; B Te Kahika, Pearl, 97.7pts, 5.

Kumeroa
(March 12-13)

Long head: B Bruce, Susan, 96pts, 1; J Smailes, Tilo, 95.5pts, 2; C Caseley, Chief, 94.4pts, 3; J Wilson, Wally, 94pts, 4; L Schmidt, Jed, 93.25pts, 5. Intermediate – J Smailes, Tilo;
Maiden – K Kilmister, Tag.

Short head and yard: P Williams, Guide, 96.25pts, 1; R Stephens, Gem, 96pts, 2; W Schmidt, Rose, 95.75pts, 3; P Williams, Neve, 95.5pts, 4; P McFetridge, Blue, 94.5pts, 5. Intermedfiate – R Stephens, Gem; T Hutchinson, Smoke.

Zig zag hunt: L Wink, Storm, 97.5pts, 1; J Carrad, Sooty, 97.25pts, 2; M Murphy, Dime, 97pts, 3; L Wink, Grace, 96.75pts, 4; R Hurrell, Fuse, 96.5pts, 5. Intermediate and Maiden – M Murphy, Dime.

Straight hunt: M Hodgins, Hulk, 96pts, 1; G Falloon, 95.5pts, 2; J Hemopo, Khan, 95pts, 3; K Young, Prince, 94.75pts, 4; C Caseley, Cruise, 94.5pts, 5. Intermediate – M Hodgins, Hulk; C Caseley, Cruise.