Rob Mather takes the honours at Mataroa sheepdog trials

YOU TAKE THE HIGH ROAD: Pete London (above) and Stomp ease three lambs into the hook at Mangamahu.

The annual Mataroa sheepdog trials took place at the weekend on the D Coogan estate and P&D Mickelson property just north of Taihape.

The sheep were supplied by Gavin Drake and Shane Collier and on the heads they were very difficult, particularly on Saturday afternoon when it was really hot. However, there were still some excellent runs, and high scoring on the hunts.

Rob Mather, from Foxton, with his intermediate dog Sonny Bill, notched up his sixth longhead win and his ninth win overall.

Secretary Dan Kirby and his team put on a well-run event, and it was good to see a lot of young people pitching in to help out.

Entries were up on last year with 173 heads and 223 hunt runs.

The Young Guns were in action at Mataroa and Mark Farrell, James Alford and Phillip Palmer are all going well in the hunts, while Hamish Mead is in front in the heads.

James Alford and Mate were second in the zig-zag hunt and won the maiden.

Today and tomorrow is the Parapara/Makirikiri club trial.

The Raetihi sheepdog trials took place at the end of February, along with Waverley's annual trial, and these were followed by the Mangamahu with some competitors managing to get to all three events.

Raetihi had a very successful trial with more than 400 runs put through the four courses.

The sheep worked well on all courses, the sheep on the shorthead and zig-zag hunt, were off the actual farm and were excellent.

Aussie Geoff Glover, from Mudgee in New South Wales, has been travelling to several North Island hill trials with Wanganui Centre president Paul Evans.

Geoff, who has 150 acres (60ha) at Mudgee and is a fitter and turner by trade, has been dog trialling in Australia for 25 years.

It has been on his bucket list to come to New Zealand to try out our hills.

He said after only a short time here, his dog Tallisman was already starting to look up the hill for his sheep - pretty good when neither one of them has competed on hill country like ours.

Graham Wellington, from the Parapara/Makirikiri club, won the longhead at Raetihi with Rachel and was second with Murphy, and then won the shorthead at Mangamahu with Seamus and was fourth with Rachel.

ResultsMataroa:

Class1: 1, R Mather & Sonny Bill 96; 2, J Shrubsall & Whip 95.5; 3, W Clare & Trac 95; 4, P Evans & Bryte 94.5; 5, D Mullins & Jay 94.

Intermediate: R Mather & Sonny Bill 96. Maiden: G Malcolm & Stream 92.

Class 2: 1, A Shrubsall & Cone 94; 2, C Lugtigheid & Strike 93.75; 3, B Berger & Lad 93.5; 4, S Child & Mitch 93.25; 5, N Child & Harry 93.

Intermediate: C Lugtigheid & Strike 93.75. Maiden: B Yorke & Tess 90.5.

Class 3: 1, B Yorke & Boot 98; 2, J Alford & Mate 97; 3, M Henderson & Pippa 96.5; 4, G Guiniven & Dark 96; 5, J Shrubsall & Mason 95.75.

Intermediate: B Yorke & Boot 98. Maiden: J Alford & Mate 97.

Class 4: 1, R Morris & Shade 97; 2, C Johns & Dun 96.2; 3, Rachel Dobson & Boom 96; 4, Ruth McKay & Tank 95.6; 5, N Child & Simon 97.

Intermediate: R Morris & Shade 97. Maiden: Rachel Dobson & Boom 96.

Raetihi:

Class 1: 1, G Wellington & Rachel 96.5; 2, G Wellington & Murphy 96; 3, K Oliver & Shy 95; 4, H Parkinson & Check 94.25; 5, J Bartlett & Honk 94.

Intermediate: G Walker & Lou 93.5. Maiden: A Gaulding & Dart 91.5.

Class 2: 1, J Bartlett & Honk 96.5; 2, S Martin & Troy 96; 3, H Parkinson & Check 94.25; 4, C Journeaux & Luke 95; 5, B Parkinson & Ash 94.5.

Intermediate: S Martin & Troy 96. Maiden: T Hill & Once 92.75.

Class 3: 1, D Stuart & Charm 97.5; 2, M Lourie & Klay 97.25; 3, C Journeaux & Gus 97; 4, G White & Chev 96.5; 5, W Marshall & Sally 96.25.

Intermediate: C Journeaux & Gus 97. Maiden: J Smailes & Swig 96.

Class 4: 1, G Heard & Sky 98.5; 2, D Rogers & Brag 98; 3, T Rumbal & Ruby 97.5; 4, G White & Chev 97; 5, W Marshall & Sally 96.5.

Intermediate: D Rogers & Brag 98. Maiden: J Booth & Manta 96.

Mangamahu:

Class 1: 1,P Evans & Bryte 96; 2, B O'Leary & Tote 95.5; 3, S Martin & Bribe 95; 4, J Bartlett & Bluey 94.5; 5, R Mather & Sheen 93.5.

Intermediate: J Bartlett & Bluey 94.5. Maiden: J Alford & Jen 93.5.

Class 2: 1, G Wellington & Seamus 93; 2, R Mather & Sonny Bill 92; 3, J Bartlett & Honk 91;4, G Wellington & Rachel 90.5; 5, R Mather & Sheen 90.

Intermediate: R Mather & Sonny Bill 92. Maiden: L Patterson & Gem 87.5.

Class 3: 1, W Clare & Barney 97.5; 2, A Gilbertson & Jax 97; 3, M Nolan & Tui 96.5; 4, J Brennan & Base 96; 5, B Parkinson & Grouse 95.5.

Intermediate: W Clare & Barney 97.5. Maiden: A Gilbertson & Jax 97.

Class 4: 1, J Batley& Sean 96; 2, M Monk & Jazz 95; 3, M Lourie & Klay 94.5; 4, J Wyatt & Brute 94; 5, M Lourie & Bella 93.5.

Intermediate: J Batley & Sean 96. Maiden: M Monk & Jazz 95.