SHEEP DOG TRIALS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 11, 13 June 1913, Page 7

SHEEP DOG TRIALS.

TARANAKI CLUB. FIRST DAY;S MEETING. The first annual meeting of the Taranaki" Sheep Dog Trial Oub, held in conjunction with the Winter Stow, eventuateil' yesterday at Frankleigh Park in fine but bitterly cold weather. For a first attempt, the trials proved a decided success, and as soon as New Plymouth people realise what an interesting day eaii Ite spent in watching the dog.-> at work, the 'attendances will become much larger. "The object of such trials is to improve-the-breed of slieep dogs: to do away' with, the class of animal that bites the sheep, arid substitute the almost-human worker, which does i(,s duty quietly, steadily ami effectively. The phraseology of sheep-dog trials may prove puzzling to the uiiitiated, but it needs- only a few lessons from an o'-l hand before a novice can, tajce an intelligent 'interest in the movements, of the animals, and the.owner's command of the dog aii'd'the command of the sheep, of the" dogs which performed yesterday appeared to possess extraordinary intelligence. When cast off in'the'fiist competition, they had "to raec over a 400-yard course, in the middle of which' was a big gully, andliead the three sheep, which were released at' the top of the hill. -Many dogs failed to sight tlieir quarry. Some were not able to head,; and chased their sheep over the hill, and the spectators looked for dog and sheep in vain. One dog that had this bad luck' retired from the competition by the back entrance; it did not want to perform in public any more, and ' appeared to lie expecting a warm reception from its master. The more successful dogs headed in safety, brought back in good or' indifferent line, and waltzed the : sheep around the ring in order to demonstrate their skill.

Mr. H. J. 11. Okey, M.P., was present during the day. The officials, who performed their duties capably, were-as follows:—Judge, Mr'. Wm. ft! Grant;' supervisor, Mr. J. H. Bagley; flag steward, Mr. R. Johnstone; dog stewards, Messrs J. 11. Street and F. W. Standish; mounted- stewards, Messrs A. Lister and W. Stanley; timekeeper, Mr. J. Bennett; ground committee, Messrs H. Joll, Giddy, Smellie, J. Scott, Knuekey and Haskell.

To-day some fifteen dogs have yet to compete in class 2, and the third class will also bs run off, completing the meeting. Yesterday's results:— Heading and Bringing Back—About 400 yds; time, 12 minutes; points, heading bringing back 8, under command 0, holding 4; total 30, Competitor to-stand in ring, and, on receiving signal, to start his dog, head sheep and haul to ring and hold them to the satisfaction of the judge— B. Quthrie's King, heading 9 points, bringing back 5, under command 8, holding 4; total 26 1 S. Kennedy's Boss, Junr., 7, (>, S. 4, 25 2 K. McMullian'i Fly, 8, 6, 6, 3. 23 3 P. W. Jones' Moss, 8, 5, 6, 3, 2-2 ...... 4 P. Cleland's Floss, 9, 3, 5, 2, 19 ....5 Twenty-one started. The following were the judge's remarks with reference to the first three dogs:— King—Cast to right; went out free; good line; headed in 4<ssec, Started a little rash; made good head; lot sheep slightly off course; dog rash. Brought into ring slightly on side; held well- let sheep out of ring once. Cood command; fair style..

Boss, Junr.—Cast to right; went out free; g oo d line; came in on cast; stopped and re-east twice. Headed in one minute. Cast out after finding sheep; , itle slow at starting. Split s ft ee p. sightly at fence; dog kept twisting sheep about on coursfe; over-ran his herd near bottom of i„„. Brought sheep in (ring slightly on side. Held well; good style; good command. Fly—Oast to right; went out freegood line. Headed in ofeec. Made good head; started nicely; a little slow at starting. Brought down hill in fair linelet sheep off course before com in" into fenee; dog slow to come into position when told in ring. bought into ring! slightly on side; kept sheep in rin». Fair I Style; command fair at times. OUESfiIKO, COMPETITION. A guessing competition was held during the afternoon. Mr. K. (I. Broad, 'if Urenui, guessing 133%1bs as the weight of two sheep, the correct weight being 1321b5.