That show continued today with the 9am call, which listed the leading seven in each of the classes – long head, short head and yard, zig-zag hunt and straight hunt.
One trialist said it had rained really heavily all week and that was reflected in the sheep being "pretty tricky".
"Results reflect the good patches of weather and the leaderboard is constantly changing," he said.
About 770 runs had been completed, comprising about 230 on each of the hunt courses, 165 on the long head course, and about 150 on the short head and yard course, involving about 400 dogs.
They were vying firstly for the North Island titles, decided on the runs during the week, with the top seven in each class then contesting the national title run-offs.
Defending North Island long head champion Stuart Child and dog Brodie, of King Country club Te Anga, were on the leaderboard at 9 am today in defence of the title, while Canterbury trialist Steve Kerr, who won the South Island Championships zig-zag hunt title with Holly last month was on the straight hunt board with another of his team.
New Zealand Sheep Dog Trial Championships leaderboards at 9 am, June 2:
Long head: Graeme Cook, Glen (Whatatutu); David Shield, Jack (Dannevirke); Howard Ingles, Lou (Waimarama); Neil Evans, Lad (Omihi); Merv Utting, Steel (Poverty Bay); Neville Child, Harry (Maungakaramea); Stuart Child, Brodie (Te Anga).
Short head and yard: Lawrence Rau, Dixie (Matawai); Kevin O'Connor, Jax (Waikoau); Neil Evans, Tess (Omihi); Neville Child, Finn (Maungakaramea); Guy Peacock, Slim (Makotuku); Stan Whiteman, Reign (Taumarunui); Gavin Drake, Baldy (Mataroa).
Zig zag hunt: Liam Park, Risk (Moawhango); John Carrad, Sooty (Kapiti-West Coast); Greg Anderson, Gus (Te Anga); Bennett Manson, Sam (Mohaka); Leo Edginton, Deano (Tolaga Bay); Roy Pullen, Paws (Parapara-Makirikiri); George Shield, Smoke (Tolaga Bay).
Straight hunt: Steve Kerr, Rich (Mackenzie); Troy MacDonald, Mouse (Putaruru); Ned George, Kruger (Wairoa); Tom Manson, Buck (Mohaka); David Scragg, Flow (Wairoa); Dylan Gallien, Troop (Mataroa); James Maher, Rogue (Moawhango).