Champion sheep dogs run for titles

Tutira sheep dog trialist Dave Wallace with Toi after winning the North Island short head and yard title at Mangamingi, near Eltham, three weeks ago. They're among the strong Hawke's Bay contingent heading south for the South Island and New Zealand championships in North Otago next week.

Almost 30 Hawke's Bay sheep dog trialists are heading south in search of a green tie - the prize for winning any of the four classes at the national championships.

The historic event at the Omarama Saleyards course in North Otago starts on Monday with the South Island championships.

Top qualifiers graduate to the New Zealand championships runoffs at the end of the week.

The 500-plus dogs, with about 280 runs on each course, include 50 from the Hawke's Bay Centre and the Dannevirke end of the Wairarapa and SHB Centre, with 28 trialists from the region.

They're headed by specialist Tutira heading dog trialist Dave Wallace, who has three dogs, with new North Island short head and yard champion Toi and prolific-winning Hawke's Bay Centre top heading dog for 2016 Blue backed-up by the also-capable Duzar.

Wallace and Toi claimed their North Island title earlier this month at Mangamingi, near Eltham, in what was Wallace's fifth North or South Island runoff dating back to his first in 2012. But he is yet to qualify for a New Zealand championships runoff.

Many of the contingent have been there before, the most successful having been Dannevirke's Bernard Arends, who has won three three national titles in 1986, 1994 and 2004, and Te Pohue farmer Stu McNeill, who won three in 2009-2010.

But there are some well-performed names among the Hawke's Bay hopefuls yet to claim the green tie, including New Zealand representative Bob Bruce, of Otane, and former representative Kevin O'Connor, of Moeangiangi.

Taihape Rd farmer Selwyn Dorward, who won a South Island short head and yard title with Max at Waitaki five years ago, foregoes competing at this year's championships, having been appointed to judge the short head and yard class.

Hawke's Bay and Southern Hawke's Bay in the South Island and New Zealand Sheep Dog Trial Championships at Omarama, North Otago, starting on Monday:

Hawke's Bay, SHB Trialists

Hawke's Bay and Southern Hawke's Bay entries at the South Island and New Zealand Sheep Dog Trial Championships in North Otago next week are:

Heading dogs: Bob Bruce (Otane) Cheat; Graham Duff (Havelock North) King, Jess; Rocky Hawkins (Havelock North) Jean, Ted; Sheena Martin (Wairoa) Bribe, Bee; Kevin O'Connor (Kotemaori) Jo; Jeremy Berry (Napier) Moon; Nigel Clark (Porangahau) Jan; Brandon Bishop (Wairoa) Spur; Paul Robinson (Havelock North) Libby; Clark Crystal (Tutira) Boyd, Rick; Laurie Horsfall (Hastings) Raid; Bruce D'Ath (Havelock North) Pip; Dave Wallace (Kotemaori) Duzar, Blue, Toi; Bernard Arends (Dannevirke) Roy, Turbo; Bo Milner (Dannevirke) Snow; David Shield (Dannevirke) Clyde; Adam Roe (Dannevirke) Dougal; Hamish Henrickson (Dannevirke) Lace; Cory Caseley (Dannevirke) Chief.

Huntaways: Paul Robinson (Havelock North) Ned; Stuart McNeill (Te Pohue) Trump, Ranger, Bay; Micheal McMillan (Wairoa) Gin, Base; Clark Crystal (Tutira) Trix, Flynn, Nell; Aaron Ryan (Hawke's Bay) Bart; Jono Neilson (Wairoa) Jack, Spur; Rocky Hawkins (Havelock North) Toss; Ben Thomas (Tutira) Zeus; Brendon Bishop (Wairoa) Pepsi; Grant McGee (Hastings) Crib; Tim Lamont (Wairoa) Bounce; Adam Roe (Dannevirke) Gorge, Occy; David Shield (Dannevirke) Judd; Hamish Henrickson (Dannevirke) Coal; Simon Prouting (Dannevirke) Vince, Faith; Bo Milner (Dannevirke) Pearl, Ngati; John Small (Dannevirke) Peg; Gerard Brown (Dannevirke)Tempo, Crime.