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Friday 5 February 2021
Trials judged “as good as any”
Team work: Jock Wyllie and Patch coax a trio of sheep into the pen in the Short Head and Yard competition at last weekend’s Dog Trials. Photo: Jo Richards. JO RICHARDS
How do you celebrate a 125th anniversary? Well, if you are Takaka Dog Trial Club, by following the same traditional recipe used since the year dot: start with a generous bunch of men (and women) and their dogs, add a flock of sheep, a handful of expert judges, mix in big dollops of camaraderie and kiwi tucker, and serve in a spectacular setting. The result, according to one regular from North Canterbury who travelled up to last weekend’s event, is “as good as any trial I go to in the South Island”. On Saturday and Sunday, at Harwood’s Farm in Upper Takaka, triallists from across the top of the South Island and beyond assembled to test their skills. Over two days of competition, dogs and handlers entered up to four events – Long Head, Short Head and Yard, Zig-Zag Hunt, and Straight Hunt. And it wasn’t just crusty old hill farmers taking part. Dog-trialling is one of the rare disciplines where men and women of all ages can compete on a level playing field – even if that field is sometimes a vertiginous paddock at the base of Marble Mountain. At the more senior end of the age spectrum,
83-year-old Bill Clarkson had brought his fouryear-old dog Rain with him from Dovedale. While he watched Saturday morning’s ShortHead and Yard competition alongside wife Judy, and waited for his turn, Bill reminisced about his early days in the Bay. “I used to muster with Gary Robillard in the 1950s and 60s.” Coupled with 40 years of farming at Kaikoura, that adds up to a lot of experience, and he has recently taken up dog trialling again following a long break. “I got back into it in the last five years.” After his run – during which he actually broke into a jog – Bill seemed pretty chuffed with Rain’s performance. “We missed the hurdle, so lost points, but she’s going well, she’s got a future.” Takaka trials regular Eleanor Greenhough from Moutere agreed with Bill’s verdict. “She has moments of greatness.” Confusingly one of Eleanor’s dogs, also called Rain, is from the same father. “Storm’s dogs have a good presence,” said Eleanor, whose own Rain – and Dee – had just competed in the Long Head. “They were no good, but I was pleased how they lifted the sheep and brought them back.” Judging the competitors from the side of the Short Head and Yard course, Scott
MacKenzie, assisted by Mary Wyllie, gave his verdict on the flock, which Jock Wyllie generously supplies from his Kaihoka station for the event. “So far, so good. The sheep are quite testing, but it’s a little bit easier now; after a couple of rounds, a path forms.” Earlier in the day Jock had neatly steered his own sheep on consecutive runs through the course alongside dogs Mate and Patch. On the other side of the farm, Graham Cole and dog Gus were preparing for their run in the Zig-Zag Hunt. “I’ve been coming here for years,” said Graham, before letting Gus do his thing – barking at a trio of sheep and driving them up the steep hillside. Ellie Miller, who with husband Pax Leetch run a sheep farm at Kaihoka, was so determined to enter her first ever Zig-Zag Hunt that she had brought along 12-day-old daughter Opal. “I really wanted to run my dog,” said Ellie. As for all such events, smooth running depends on the combined efforts of club members and volunteers – like club president Terry Nalder and Paturau farmer Scott Archbold who were manning the sheep pens at the base of the Zig-Zag Hunt course. Continued on page 12
Camping conundrum ALISTAIR HUGHES
An apparent new road rule was seen scrupulously adhered to at the beginning of summer in Golden Bay. When approaching the Takaka River from the township, motorists were observed performing a “double take”, looking left, and then quickly left again before crossing the Waitapu Bridge. The reason for this manoeuvre was the large cluster of campervans suggesting “business as usual”, despite amendments to Tasman District Council’s Freedom Camping Bylaw closing the Waitapu site from 7 December last year. Already a controversial issue in the community, the removal of Golden Bay’s three previously designated freedom camping sites ( Waitapu Bridge, the Taupata Gravel Reserve near Puponga, and Waikoropupu Springs), had been welcomed by many, but also condemned by several local businesses dependent upon the custom these visitors bring to the Bay each summer. Adrian Humphries, TDC regulatory services manager, clarifies the council’s position on this puzzling affair. “Control of the Waitapu Bridge recreation area was transferred to the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) last year, and council has no jurisdiction there under the Freedom Camping Act as we do not control the site. Taupata Point was removed from the permitted sites category of the Bylaw back in December at the request of the community. This meant that non-self-contained vehicles were no longer permitted to camp there and led to bins and toilets being removed so as not to encourage use.” Adrian points out that TDC enforcement staff do still visit the site, and at time of writing 97 infringements had been issued to non-self-contained vehicles in Golden Bay since 1 December last year. Despite the amendment to the Freedom Camping Bylaw, the overnight staying option apparently remained very much open for self-contained vehicles. Now responsible for the most visible and arguably most contentious site at Waitapu Bridge, NZTA has formed a partnership with local iwi-mandated organisation Manawhenua ki Mohua (MKM) to attempt to reach a solution. NZTA system manager Andrew James explains: “While Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has agreed with Manawhenua ki Mohua that overnight camping is not desirable at this site, Continued on page 2...
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Inside: Freedom camping Affordable homes GB Pandemics Movie review THE GB WEEKLY, FRIDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2021
ISSN (PRINT) 2538-0923 ISSN (ONLINE) 2538-0931
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