SHEEP-DOG TRIAL AT DUNTROON

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 773, 3 October 1878, Page 2

SHEEP-DOG TRIAL AT DUNTROON

Juices —II. Little. Xajra ; T. M'Donald, C:r icdale; A M'l'onaM, Awaniokc.

< 'OKMITTEF-. —Mc -ir.-\ .Vt'Keilar. K. W. Wrijjht Geeriro Oliver, a H Clnomaa, and A. M-.Master. Hon. stc —Mr. E. C. -mith.

Yesterday wa« 'u every respect a dav s'v'ui to t'le M lere vh nia Sheep. rt.,eTna.l ; the. site chosen for the ev-uit—-near the racecourse.—was a happy choice ; and the management was most perfect. It was evidently a field day for the shepherds of the County, whq seemed to become as excited over it as a devotee of rh" billiard tabl ? over a goo! game of billiards, or a votary of the turf over a liv-dv horse-race. Nothwithsfanding ihe difficulties of travelling occasioned by the floods. 13 dogs competed in the Aged Dog Class and 5 in the Young Dog Class. and right well the majority of them acquitted themselves, especially when it is considered that, the dogs had n°vpr previously been subjected to such atrial—that they had nev-rbeeii ca''ed up hi toeonr->I sheep tinier such ci. cnnistancs. The crowd, the smalhivs.s of 'lupins into which the dogs were supposed to drive the sheer-, and the nature of the sheep, which were genuine mountaineers, operated against the dogs. Notwithstanding these difficu'fi"S. some of which, at least, were inevitable, the dogs did wonders, and we—and apparently the whole of those present.—d -rived from a dog tria l far more excitement than would be thought possible.

Agkd Dogs.—First pr'ze. Ll2 ; second priz •, Ijß ; third prize. L 5. In this class the arrangements were as f"llo-.v :—Four sheep to each dog ; the sheep were placed half-a-mile distant ; maximum time allowed to pen them, 20min. Lots having been drawn for precedence, Mr. Oliver's (Maerewhenua) hlack and tan dog Sharp opened the cont a*. He made too good a start, and r"sh"d the sheep back to the pen so swifrlv as to make them unruly. Scored no points. D, Cat.anaeh's (Dunrroon) black and tan slat Gvp, manoeuvred well towards finish ; but ran wide at start. Head »d splendidly from yard ; but when approaching it went off at tangent; thoroughly beyond control.

Catanach's black and white slut Meg. 9h"e acted''as'though she could not see sheep and was recalled. J"as. Connor's (Otekaike) black dog Star. Heading moderately good ; brought sheep to yard, but one broke away and he failed to get them in. • Connor having got without bounds, the dog was recalled. W*. Smith's black dog Clyde. Brought sheep back within three minutes, bur, one broke away from fl'K'k and took refuge amongst the people. Was thoroughly under control and shewed great, tact ; but the stray sheep could not bo recovered from amonirsr people and he failed to yard the rei.,,.-.ining three. .M itheson's (Hakiter;i:,!i'-.) Lassie, black .and white slut, 15 months ~1,1, healed v.-..•]!. and brought, with surprising care, tiie ll ick back, and tried to pen the'in for 15 minims with .surprising intelligence, k eping them for the whole of that time i;i its immediate vicinity, hue failed to yard. Admirably managed by his master. James Oliver's briiidlo do/Gyle headed well. One sheep got away, but he yarded the others. Under the eye of hia mas'er controllable, ■ •'tit ctmaßageable at distance. W. Sutherland, juur'a. (Dnntroon) black and van Hog. Sharp, starred too vigorously, A'ork 'd as though a good dog, but out of .iraining. Recalled T. Bro vn's black ind white Sandy smarted too briskly. As li:-:sty and unsuecessfuP as his immediate predecessor. A. Fn'*sytil's (B-il-■•uddei-y) black and tan dog Roy headed veil • but 'failed to do any good on account of his wa-'t of applic itioti. Orr's (Station Peak) black dog Darkie gave every evidence of b<ing a cu-.ning ex-aerieno-d animal under die-guidance of I). M'l-Cenz--. Moice.uvivd splendidly with sheep at uioutii of pun hi attempting to run them in, wh-'eb lie a- last sne-e--eded in d-.ing in lSniin. .las. Park's (Oukaike) black and tan dog Dainty. Travelled all round liel'i. scattered fl .ck into three 1- <rs. and had m abandon at-r-iijpt ia ya, d. J.da.'i Sutherland's black I'al t;>!>, .-.>g Seer.. L've'y and well illan iged. Yarded, in Hum. Judges vere of opinion that h- was too hasty; '<w lie is a fine clover animal, and seemed to us to- d-serve .some rec ignition of his ihditv. YoCNO ; -OC-.-5 —p.r-; 1 prize, !S; second aiz-, Lo ; third p.iz .L 3. viiuo conditions a:i i;i e ■■■•'.: of Id D >g«, wir.h eScep- j t.ioi; of di.srat.c-, which was ."00 yards. i ?Jathies--.ti''ft (Haka eiamea) black and' .vhite shit- 1j :ss o also cotnoet -d in thi? : e!a u s. But she failed in accomolish the I victory i hat sig.ialis d her eiiorts as to ; lea.hr in the lir,-:r. class. M'GlavV ! (l\.u.-o-) bl Lck -Mid tan dog Rock (l.Vj aimths) .vork-'d wond rfady well ; under! ■i-rfecr, coiniuau i ; bea ing good. (h;e j if the Pest sheep dogs on the il -id. j ibeierfsoii'-■( ■'. or -v.) i>- a'-: ~,i ! ran s!u i'rimnier. (JaVe ev id..:,-a- a of ms ffici-nt raining. TJnd- -v fair e-'in n md. KiddeL's (Moi-rakf) I.lack and tan dog (16 m mths). eading was seirc-.-'y second to that of ■i:V other dog m this class. In bringing aaclc, failed to ke.-p fl-ok together, and, inparently frotn want of experience, velped so much aa '.••. disconcert, sheep. He nronn'sos b; bo a eiev.-r dog Menzi s' (S r a:io:i peak) black, wh t<-, and tan shn b.pbv. H-aadel well, bur SJattered 11 ,ck <!i ..v-r the (i-i.-l. I niin'-liat.-ly aPrer t'.e contest was I ■v r. rlie jir.z-s. as f•! ows, w,ifß pud iver to the winners bv the Secretary, to ■viioiu is mainly die; the great success tiiat attended the ev m? : aged r.-,o=. Firs I'nze, Ll2 -Mr. Mathe-ic.nY. ! ;.-!aio Sucfi'cJ prizi. LS -Mr. -niUh's Clvtlc Third prizs, Ls—M'- Orr's Darkie. First prize, LS-Mr. M-leby's Rock S cowl ])rh;e, L.» —Mr. Mathoson's Lassie Tiiird priz-.-, L:!— Mr. itiddc-H's Don.

Mr. AL.itUtid (.nx-iil-<l lu-.ch, :md the vi-it r.s wi-rn kin-U" iiivicei.l to partake i liyre if by the ■ : -o;i^i ; <-*;"«.