All three will be among the six dogs he'll let out of the kennel this weekend, joined by heading dog Rick and huntaways Flynn and Duke, a maiden.
Another with a big team is Te Pohue's Stu McNeill, who has qualified five open huntaways for the New Zealand Championships at Whangara, Poverty Bay, in June. All from his own breed-line, they include the seemingly ageless Bruce which won two national titles in 2009 and 2010, and a North Island title on the Whangara course in 2010. Others he has qualified are Bay, Stock, Trump and Ranger.
The Te Aute trials, at Brownrigg Agriculture's Barker's Block (658 Te Aute Rd), have attracted 120 heading dogs and 115 huntaways, with significant numbers from outside the centre in the last opportunity to qualify dogs for the nationals.
The drive for qualifying opportunities was also evident with the number of traillists from outside the centre at the Petane trials two weeks ago and the Taradale club trials a few days earlier.
Poverty Bay visitor Bob Bryson, who this year marks 30th anniversary of his only New Zealand Championships win, travelled south with some success with Rex and Brad, Rex winning the long head at Taradale and Brad matching the success at the Petane trials, which were postponed for two days because of heavy rain.
But there was plenty of room for some of Hawke's Bay's top performers.
At Taradale Dave Wallace and Blue won the short head and yard, Grant Magee with Crib won the zig zag hunt and Selwyn Dorward and Storm claimed the straight hunt title.
At Petane, Te Aute's former centre president, Bob Bruce, produced another heading dog winner with Susan taking the long head title, and Rocky Hawkins also providing another kennel hope with Kane winning the straight hunt.
The zig zag hunt was won by Taupo visitor Alan Lower, with Tex.
TARADALE Sheep Dog Trial Club trials (Mar 31-Apr 1):
Long head: Bob Bryson, Rex, 98.5pts, 1; Dave Evan, Jess, 98pts, 2; Dave Wallace, Blue, 97pts, 3; Nigel Clark, Jan, 96.75pts, 4; Graham Duff, Jess, 96.5pts, 5. Intermediate: Harold Woodmass, Ice. Maiden: Bruce D'Ath, Clyde, 87.5pts.
Short head and yard: Dave Wallace, Blue, 97.75pts, 1; Bob Bryson, Glen, 97.5pts, 2; Henry Gaddum, Tau, 97pts, 3; Stephen Ponsonby, Dag, 96.5pts, 4; Dave Wallace, Slug, 95.75pts, 5. Intermediate: Bob Bryson, Glen. Maiden: Bruce D'Ath, Clyde.
Zig zag hunt: Grant Magee, Crib, 97pts, 1; Peter Green, Brew, 96.75pts, 2; Tori Nicholson, Code, 96.5pts, 3; Henry Gaddum, Gus, 96.25pts, 4; W Bruce, Tom, 96pts, 5. Intermediate: K Young, Bro. Maiden: Barney Chrystal, Park.
Straight hunt: Selwyn Dorward, Storm, 97pts, 1; Aaron Ryan, Stacey, 96.8pts, 2; Rob O'Sullivan, Maude, 96.7pts, 3; Grant Magee, Crib, 96.6pts, 4; G Cook, Tana, 96.5pts, 5. Intermediate: Selwyn Dorward, Storm. Maiden: Aaron Ryan, Stacey.
PETANE trials on Sunday and Monday:
Long head: Bob Bryson, Brad, 94pts, 1; Dave Shield, Clyde, 92.5pts, 2; Bruce D'Ath, Pip, 92pts, 3; Laurie Horsfield, Raid, 92.5pts, 4; Rocky Hawkins, Jean, 91pts, 5. Maiden: Selwyn Dorward, Sam.
Short head and yard: Bob Bruce, Susan, 98pts, 2; Kevin O'Connor, Jo, 97.5pts, 2; Dylan Rofe, Risk, 97pts, 3; Jeremy Berry, Moon, 96.5pts, 4; Bruce D'Ath, Clyde, 96pts, 5. Maiden: Peter Williams, Zoe.
Zig zag hunt: Alan Lower, Tex, 97.5pts, 1; Dave Stuart, Turk, 97pts, 2; Jacques Reinhardt, Day, 96.5pts, 3; Noddy Halley, Jade, 96pts, 4; K Young, Prince, 95.5pts, 5. Maiden: Jacques Reinhardt, Day.
Straight hunt: Rocky Hawkins, Kane, 96pts, 1; Grant Magee, Bell, 95.5pts, 2; Matthew McMurray, Fern, 94.5pts, 3; Dave Stuart, Nudge, 94pts, 4; Henry Gaddum, Fill, 93.5pts, 5. Maiden: Grant Magee, Bell.
Current leaders in the Hawke's Bay Centres top dogs series:
Top heading dog: Bob Bruce, Cheat, 20pts, 1; Dave Wallace, Blue, 17pts, 2; Bruce D'Ath, Pip, 14pts, 3.
Top huntaway: Clark Chrystal, Trix, 17pts, 1; Ange Jury, Vault, 12pts, 2; Fraser Taylor, Waite, 10pts, 3.