Sheep dog trials: Locals get tips from one of the best

Murray Child gives advice to Broadwood's Tony Clutterbuck with dog Scott at the farm dog training day at Rangiputa earlier this month.

Local shepherds and sheep dog trial enthusiasts were given tips from one of the best in the business at a farm dog training day at Rangiputa earlier this month.

The event took place on the Landcorp Rangiputa block on Friday, June 16, and was facilitated by Northland's very own Murray Child, recently named to captain the New Zealand team for the annual test against Australia in Taupo later this year.

Spokesman Merv Cameron said organisers were pleased with a turnout of around 40, the majority being Landcorp staff who use working dogs.

But the highlight was having a person of Child's expertise and ability to communicate his intentions and experience, never mind that he was somewhat of a local (Child never misses any Far North event in local sheep dog trial competition), made it a hugely successful day.

The day was designed to help shepherds - working or otherwise - to establish a better relationship with their animals and also encourage more people to take up dog trialling as a sport. Every one was invited to give a demonstration with their dog while Child watched before going in to a one-on-one situation with the handler and telling them what they or their dog were doing rightly or wrongly.

Earlier this month, Murray and brother Neville Child - both hailing from Maungakaramea - finished inside the top placings at the Tux North Island and New Zealand sheep dog trial championships.

Murray with Dice placed third overall in the national long head competition while Neville with Rod finished sixth; with the overall title taken out by Bob Bruce and Cheat from Te Aute. Murray with Frank also placed seventh overall in the straight hunt, this event won by Vaughan Marfell and Torque from Masterton.

Other Northlanders to make the leaderboard during the week-long event, only to later drop off, were Scott McRae with his dogs, Skeata and Toby, Ian McKinnon with Tess, and Andy Ross with Pip.

Murray and Neville Child also placed second and seventh, with Dice and Rod respectively, in the North Island long head championship, while Murray and Frank finished second overall in the North Island straight hunt event.

The New Zealand and North Island championships were contested at Whangara and hosted by the Poverty Bay Centre from Monday to Saturday, May 29 to June 3.

Afterwards, Child and Dice were named to captain the New Zealand test team for the annual test against Australia in Taupo from November 15-18. Also in the team are Merv Utting with Prince, Leo Edgington with Skip, Eion Herbert with Storm, and reserve: Bob Bruce with Cheat.