"I've never seen anything like the wind during the competition. It made it really hard for the dogs to hear the whistles when they were 200m away in the paddock.
"We had an experienced team and that was part of the difference, it's a pressure situation at the competition. There's nothing like the trials."
New Zealand eventually claimed the cup for the fourth consecutive year with 657.25 points to Australia's 584.25.
Child's dog, Dice, is 9 and has helped New Zealand win four transtasman battles.
Child said the key to the performances is in their rapport.
"Dice has won two NZ titles. She's quite special. You only get one top dog in your life and it's probably Dice.
"It's seems to be a bonding thing between us. We make a really good team.
"There's a lot of respect and doing what you're told but there's a bit of natural talent there."
Child said the result made it 15-9 in New Zealand's favour since the challenge was established in 1994.
He admitted the Kiwis held a distinct advantage in the event, because of the nature of the Australians' trialling (in arenas rather than the showground-styled affairs used here) and their dogs' working environments across the ditch.
However the events can sometimes come down to a bit of good fortune.
"There's definitely a bit of luck of the draw involved when it comes to the sheep you get given," Child said.
"There can be some pretty rowdy ones so you don't want them."
Several Far North shepherds were battling it out at the Tux Yarding Challenge and Handy Dog event which, this year, was held in conjunction with the annual transtasman test for the Wayleggo Cup.
Sheepdog commentator Merv Cameron said the standout in the Taupo leg of the Tux series was Far North ex-pat Leo Jecentho who really "poured it" on by getting three dogs in the final and placing first, third and fifth with them.
Jecentho's Smoke was near faultless with a 99 point ahead of runner-up Bob Bruce and Cheat, with Jecentho's Scott third.
A strong number of Northlanders competed at the event where 220 dogs were put through their paces.
Another to stand out was Laura Geering with Prince from the Te Akau area, the pair delivering a giant-killing effort in the lead-up to the test matches.
Geering went on to win that event with a remarkable 97 point effort to hold off New Zealand reps Merv Utting and Lee Edgington.
Both Child and Geering will compete at the Far North leg of the Tux Yarding Challenge series at Kaitaia A&P Showgrounds from December 8-9.
