WAITAKI SHEEP DOG TRIAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1076, 1 October 1879, Page 2

WAITAKI SHEEP DOG TRIAL.

(ritO.U OUK SPECIAL < ) [ DrxxitooN, October 1. The weather is fair fur the Sheep Dog Trial. The sun shone brightly during the ! iiiuriiiiicr, but a cold wind \v;w blowing off : the snowy ranges, and a few drops of rain I fell. The trial is being held 011 a portion | of the racecourse, which is in capital con- : dition. At the appointed time there was I a good attendance of spectators, and the number was greatly augmented during the day. Amongst those present there were many flock-owners, fanners, and shepherds from all parts of tlie district, and great interest is being taken in the various conrests and performances of the competitors, which are carefully watched and freely criticised. The Hon. Robert Campbell has kindly provided the Committee with 130 shorn sheep, and the}' gave the dogs plenty of work to manage them. Each . dog was allowed four sheep, and twenty minutes to yard them in a yard composed of six hurdles. The scoring was by points for the work done. The judges were — Messrs. 11. Little, Xgapar.i; A. M'Donald, Awamoko ; and T. M'Donald, Corriedale. The tirst dog to compete was Mr. Mathieson's Lassie, the winner of last year's Aged Dug Stakes. She worked remarkably well, and quickly headed the sheep, | which had been given a start of half a j mile, and brought them back very quickly, I eventually putting them in the yard, j amidst applause, within fifteen minutes. Lassie, which h»i!s from ffakateramea j Station, scored the full number of points | allowed (twenty-four). Clyde, the pro- ! perty of Mr. William Smith, of Station | l'eak, was the next to compete. Tie I headed his herd, and brought them down [very well for a time, hue they then got J separated, and making for the crowd, ! rhe dog. though working very well, I v. as unable to get ilio sheep r:ro the yard. The judges gave him eighteen points for the work done, which was very good, though the dog was unfortunate. Mr. George Macpherson, of Oma ram a, then sent in /felp, a young dog of twenty-two months old, who apparently lost sight of his sheep, and started after some sheep that had gone away from the previous competition. Speed, the property of 7tlr. Cameron, of Black Point, next competed. The heading and working in this trial was again very good. i:.deed : the sheep were almost, in a direct line to the yard, in which they were placed, after a little trouble, in fifteen minutes, and Speed secured nineteen points. Darkie. belonging to M>. 11. J-?. ();t, Station Pea!:, headed his sheep very well, but allowed one to get away. He broui ' the others down, but failed to get them within some distance of the yard, though ho worked very well indeed. Jfr. M'Lcay's liock, the winner of the Young Dogs Stakes last year, was the next competitor, and the trial was looked forward to with great interest. At first, Rock did not get a good sight of the sheep, which consequently got a long way off before they were headed. He eventually rounded the sheep and brought three of them safely into the yard. His working was grand, especially when yarding sheep, which «as accomplished in fifteen minutes amidst applause. He was given twenty-three points. Toss, the property of Mr. M'Auly. of Totara-, came next, but. though he started very well, the trial was a failure, the sheep ' being separated ami the trial abandoned. After the adjournment for lunch. Lindy, belonging to Mr. Jieid, of Kurow, competed, but the trial resulted in nothing, ilie sheep being divided immediately after the dog went up to them. Mr. Macplicrson's Fly followed, and showed a great amount of good work, though unfortunate in losing one of her sheep, and failing to got the balance into the yard when brought down. Turnbull's Tyne showed really fine working powers, added to a deal of speed. He lost something in heading his sheep, but he brought them down very well. He narrowly escaped getting them into the yard, having pitted two of them, but a lot got separated, and the time allowed being up, the trial v was over The judges gave Tyne eighteen points. His work was remarkably good. Slights Ned was the next competitor, but the trial resulted in nothing, the si.ecp being separated. Sandy, belonging to Mr. M'Millan, Benmore, had a very successful t trial, heading, working, and finally yarding . his sheep remarkably well, amidst ap- i plause, in 14 minutes. He obtained the i full number of points the property of J. A. Sutton, of Lake i Ohau, failed to sight his sheep, and the j trial v.'as given up. James Gray, of Ben- < more, then sent Don, but failed to find i the sheep. ,