Dog trials season nears close after Ruahine

Gary Mead, manager of Otupae Station, Moawhango, double winner Lawrence Patterson, from Mangamahu, and Gavin Drake.

The Ruahine Trial took place last weekend as the dog trials season heads to a close.

The cancellation of the Ohingaiti trial - planned for this coming weekend - because of sheep eczema means the Otairi Jubilee trial on April 20 and 21 is the last of the season.

There will now be no run-off for the Young Guns as this was scheduled for Ohingaiti.

An update on this competition will be given later in the month.

The Ruahine club put on a very successful trial with the sheep on the shorthead a joy to work, resulting in a large percentage of pens, not usually the norm for that trial.

Greg Clifton, course steward on the shorthead, said the lambs from Josh Brennan's Te Ruae Station were mustered in, worked over two days, quietly walked to the trial ground and were used on the hunts before being put on the heading courses.

Any sheep that were not hunted first were hunted up the hill before going to the heading courses for the early runs, so it was a very even playing field.

Jamie Shrubsall won the shorthead with Whip, and the pair have headed off Rob Mather and Sonny Bill in the top dog competition with 16 points.

Lawrence Patterson, from Mangamahu, had a great weekend, winning both heads at Waihi-Waitara with Ridge and chasing Jamie and Whip home for second in the shorthead at Ruahine with Swag a maiden dog.

Several maiden dogs featured in the open events, and it was good to see several dogs qualify for the championships, with centre president Paul Evans winning the maiden/intermediate and third place in the straight hunt with Ned.

Ruahine club member Ray Morris had his first open heading win with Tye, taking out the longhead, while former Young Gun Keegan Fox won the zig-zag hunt with Cloud, and Alex Matthews and Rex won the straight hunt by a country mile.

Young Phoebe Smailes, at her first run on a heading course, won the maiden/man/dog with Step Pup.

Gavin Drake and Glen still lead the huntaways with 13 points but Gavin Guiniven and Dark are very close on 12 points.

Results

Class 1: 1, R Morris & Tye 95.5; 2, I Munn & Speck 95; 3, P Winter & Maud 94; 4, J Smailes & Fig 93.75; 5, P Green & Teal 92.5.

Intermediate: R Morris & Tye 95.5. Maiden: D Winter & Maud 94.

Class 2: 1, J Shrubsall & Whip 97.5; 2, L Patterson & Swag 97.25; 3, H Ingles & Lou 97; 4, G Walker & Lou 96; 5, D Stuart & Jip 95.5.

Intermediate: L Patterson & Swag 97.25. Maiden: L Patterson & Swag 97.25.

Class 3: 1, K Fox & Cloud 98; 2, J McAlley & Rowdy 97.5; 3, D Guy & Sam 97; 4, G Guiniven & Dark 96.5; 5, T MacPherson & Gus 96.

Intermediate: D Guy & Sam 97. Maiden: D Guy & Sam 97.

Class 4: 1, A Matthews & Rex 98; 2, M Lourie & Bella 96.5; 3, P Evans & Ned 96; 4, J Carrad & Sooty 94.5; 5, J Smailes & Havoc 93.

Intermediate: P Evans & Ned 96. Maiden: P Evans & Ned 96.