Good turnout for Wanganui Centre sheepdog trial at Ohingaiti

Enjoying the sun are (from left) Jonathon Smailes (Ruahine), Gary Mead (Otupae Station), Gary Walker (Kimbolton), Wayne Falkner (Marton), Merv Williams (Raetihi) and Eion Herbert (Wakefield).

Many visitors from outside centres tried out the huge courses at Ohingaiti in the Wanganui Centre's penultimate sheepdog trial of the season.

The trial was held on Weston Rd at Ohingaiti in cold and changeable conditions on April 5-7. However, the weather did not deter the competitors, with 60 heading dogs entered on the Sunday.

The long grass on the long head in particular made it difficult to see the dogs and sheep at times; however, the lambs on the heads worked consistently over the two-and-a-half days.

Club secretary Paul Evans was pleased with the entries, which were on a par with last year.

The Wanganui Centre championships are on Friday and Saturday, April 12-13, with the run-off for top centre dogs on Sunday at Otiwhiti Station, 4744 Turakina Valley Rd.

Graeme Wellington and Rachel, from the Parapara/Makirikiri club, are the top heading duo in the centre with 42 points and it is hard to see them being overtaken with only one trial left.

Bruce Parkinson and Tune, of Raetihi, head the huntaways with 23 points, followed by Jamie Shrubsall and Stag on 17 points.

Results:

Class 1: 1 G Wellington & JLo 95.5pts, 2 S Martin & Troy 95, 3 J Shrubsall & Whip 94.5, 4 J Petersen & Cap 94, 5 P Evans & Bryte 93.5; intermediate - D Fannin & Sam 92.5; maiden - D Guy & Brett 74.
Class 2: 1 P Evans & Bryte 95.5, 2 G Wellington & Rachel 94.5, 3 J Petersen & Cap 94, 4 C Thompson & Ike 93.7, 5 G Drake & Clyde 93; intermediate - G Smith & Chase 87; maiden - M Buchanan & Chip 54.5.
Class 3: 1 J McAlley & Boots 98, 2 P Smailes & Sage 97, 3 J Shrubsall & Stag 96.5, 4 J Brennan & Rock 96.25, 5 T McLean & Wharf 96; intermediate - J McAlley & Boots 98; maiden - J McAlley & Fern 95.
Class 4: 1 B Gower & May 97, 2 R Morris & Shade 96, 3 J Brennan & Rock 95.5, 4 J Carrad & Sooty 95.25, 5 J McAlley & Fern 95; intermediate - J Carrad & Sooty 95.25; maiden - J McAlley & Fern 95.

Jamie Shrubsall's team Stag, Manson and Whip.

Eion Herbert, all the way from Wakefield in the South Island, gets a pen.