If you're looking for something a little different this weekend, and you're not averse to a bit of speed, fast cornering, jumps and a heap of talent, you might like to take a look at the dog agility jumpers competition at Waipukurau's Russell Park on Saturday and Sunday June 11 and 12.
The two-day competition is the Central Hawke's Bay Champ Jumpers event run by the Central Hawke's Bay Dog Training Club and it has attracted entries from more than 150 trainers and 300 dogs from both the North and South Islands - including some of the country's elite competitors.
The club developed from a dog obedience club started in the 1990s and has expanded to include training and competing in dog agility, jumpers and Rally O - different aspects of agility and obedience training that include obstacles, jumps, tunnels and tasks, many completed against the clock.
There are classes for all stages of training from beginners upwards, as well as classes for all heights of dog - from chihuahuas to great danes.
This weekend's event is a jumpers competition - with the essential ingredients being jumps, tunnels and speed. Dogs compete in their size group, in up to five courses in three levels - from Jumpers C to the elite Jumpers A.