Over 720 entries from across New Zealand are contesting the North Island sheepdog trial championships in four divisions on Mt Te Ahu Ahu, near Ohaeawai in the Far North this week.
The two heading and two hunt events will be contested on four separate courses on each face of the mountain, commentator and triallist Merv Cameron said.
He said the long head covered a distance of about 600m and required handlers to send their dog to gather three sheep from a fenced loop near the top of the mountain and bring them down to the starting point within 15 minutes.
However, the fastest time did not count as much as the quality of work shown by the dog during the run.
"Once behind the sheep the aim is to bring the sheep down the big hill in as straight a line as possible."
Other events include the short head and yard where the dog goes 300m up a steep hill to bring the sheep down, then drives them along a marked course into a 2m pen within the required 15 minutes; in the zig-zag and straight hunt events, a barking dog drives three sheep from the bottom of a hill through a designated course.
