Everyone has their day at the Tākaka Dog Trials

T Kaka Dog Trials 2023 Results

Long Head: Open, 1st, Eion Herbert and Bell (Tapawera) 98 pts; 1st Local, Grant Wyllie and Mate (Kaihoka) 94 pts.

Short Head & Yard: Open, 1st, Neil Evans and Lad (Banks Peninsula) 97 pts; 1st Local, Grant Wyllie and Mate 89 pts.

Zig-Zag Hunt: Open, 1st, Ross MacKenzie and Deeve (Wairau Valley) 94 pts; 1st Local, Grant Wyllie and Dodge 93 pts.

Straight Hunt: Open, 1st, Nicole Pope and Reign (Cheviot) 94 pts; 1st Local, Scott Archbold and Trooper (Patarau) 91 pts.

Local maiden dog winners (dog never won an Open):

Long Head: Ian Alach and Dash (Pigville Gully) 92 pts; Short Head: Grant Wyllie and Jackson 89 pts; Zig-Zag: Ellie Miller and Baz (Nguroa) 79 pts; Straight: Ellie Miller and Baz.

Alistair Campbell first “ran a dog” aged 10. That was 78 years ago, but the perennial trialler from Kaikōura was keen to get up and running at last weekend’s Tākaka Dog Trials.

Alistair’s Tom and Lorde were just two of 180 dogs competing in the annual trials, which attracted entries from across the South Island, including a large contingent from Canterbury.

Sitting in his compact “office” at the Upper Tākaka venue on Saturday morning, Tākaka Dog Trial Club secretary Ian Alach was still registering latecomers but had already identified some welcome trends. “There are a lot of young competitors and we have around 30 per cent women. We’re happy about that – they’re the future.”

Three of the four competitions – the Zig-Zag Hunt, the Long Head, and the Short Head and Yard – were running on Saturday morning, with the Straight Hunt scheduled for Sunday.

At the start of the steep Zig-Zag Hunt course, volunteer helper Terry Nalder gave his verdict on this year’s batch of sheep, once again supplied by Kaihoka farmer Grant “Jock” Wyllie. “The sheep are going well – the wind’s not a problem at this stage.” He should know. “I’ve been hanging around dog trials since I was four or five,” said Terry, who has noticed many changes over the decades. “It’s a sport now; some dogs are clockwork – they need every command.” He described the ideal canine competitor: “A good strong-eyed heading dog – you can leave them to it.”

Alistair, who has had “well over 100 dogs”, also knows a thing or two about what makes a winner. Now close to the end of his trialling career, he said the best has been saved until last. “Storm, who was recently given to me, is the best dog I’ve ever known – with a natural ability to work sheep.”

After completing her Zig-Zag run, six-year-old Quake raced back down the hill to be reunited with owner Kelly Tweed. The pair had travelled from Cheviot along with a group of friends, some of whom were acting as judges. Kelly explained that although her aim was to qualify for the South Island and National competitions, she simply enjoyed participating. “It’s good to have fun with your mates.”

Proving that an old dog doesn’t need new tricks to mix it with the young guns, 14-year-old huntaway Jack put in one of the best runs of the morning. Unlike the other youthful, excitable competitors, Jack stood stock still, not wasting an ounce of energy, until the three sheep were released and the hunt could begin. Owner Dorje Strang, president of the Waimea Dog Trials Club, said Jack wasn’t ready to put his paws up just yet. “He was given to me as a retiree, but he still loves it.”

On a flatter course, away from the hillside, another competition was in full flow. In the Short Head and Yard event, handler and dog work in tandem to collect a trio of sheep at the top of the paddock and guide them through an open gate, before driving them towards a small yard where, all being well, they are coaxed into the enclosure.

In the heat of the day, experienced trialler Eleanor Greenhough from Lower Moutere was shouting instructions to her dog Dee, who was having a tidy run until the sheep reached the yard and refused to play ball.

A couple of runs later, a young Upper Moutere woman, Julie Edwards, had a similar problem with her three-year-old novice Sam. After several attempts to persuade the recalcitrant animals to enter the pen, Julie called off her dog. “That was not good,” she said. “The drives I was happy with, but I had a problem with opening the gate to the yard.” Nevertheless, she remained upbeat. “He’s new to trialling, and I’m still learning.” And she was glad to have made the trip over the Hill. “It’s my first time at Tākaka. It’s cool, awesome.”

On Sunday, the wind dropped, and at the end of the day the final scores were tallied. The results showed Jock Wyllie had enjoyed another successful home trial, being placed as “first local” in three of the four main events, plus a top spot for a maiden dog in the Short Head. He even scooped the raffle prize.

Ian, who was a winner with a maiden dog in the Long Head, summed up this year’s dog trials. “The dogs are happy, the competitors are very happy, and the 31 per cent of competitors from Canterbury said, ‘We’ll see you again next year’.”

Takaka Dog Trial Club

wishes to thank everyone who has supported the trials by sponsorship or by time and effort, including landowners, throughout our long history.

128 years of dog trialling is something for us all to be proud of.

Thanks to major sponsors: Sollys, PGG/Wrightson, FMG, NBS, Grace Meats, Brian & Jackie Thompson, and our long-time supporters: Rural Service Centre, Waitapu Engineering and Segard Masurel, and more supporters; Ravensdown, Tractor Repairs & Spares, Taimate Angus, Aerial Land Management, Hammer Hardware, and The GB Weekly for outstanding coverage

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