POVERTY BAY SHEEP DOG TRIAL CLUB.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2477, 16 April 1909, Page 3

POVERTY BAY SHEEP DOG TRIAL CLUB.

FIFTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. President: Mr. J. A. Caesar,, yiccPresidents: Messrs A. Dewing, E. M. Hutchinson, and E. Murphy. Patrons: Hon. Captain Tucker, Messrs W. D. S. MacDonald, D. Cameron, M. Hingston, A. F. Kennedy, C. J. Parker, J. Russell, It. Sherratt, W. Graham, A. Wachsmann, J. W. Bright, T. Holden, Jeff. McLean, O. Noonan, C. White, F. Hall, D. J. Barry, Geo. Hawkins, J. A. Lucas, W. D. Lysnar, Hon. Ja-s. Carroll, R. S. Chilton, and'.F. J. Lysnar. Judge: Mr. O. Davis. Timekeeper: Mr. E. 1). Bilham. Flag Stewards: Messrs G. Honton and F. McKenzie. Committee: Messrs W. E. Astin, G. Hinton, A. Do very, E. Tait, D. McKenzie, A. Thompson, A. McKenzie, J. Hyde. W. Bonis, F. McKenzie, A. Burch, A. Anderson, F. Steggall. F. Cook, F. Calcott, E. D. Bilham, K. McDonald, W. Bougen, J. Herbert, and E. W. Bousficld. Ground Committee: Messrs J. Herbert, A. Vright, G. Hinton, A. McKenzie, F. McKenzie, O. Neenau, and E. D. .Bilham. Dog Stewards: Messrs J. Herbert and D. McKenzie. Secretary: Mr ]). Thehvall. Treasurer: Mr. J. A. Caesar. The fifteenth annual meeting of the Poverty Bay Sheep Dog Trial Club opened at Ormond yesterday. The weather was dull in tho morning, but cleared off about noon, and the afternoon was beautifully fine. The judge (Mr. C. Davis), and Messrs P. Dolbel (Taradale), P. G. L. Mackenzie (Dunnovirke), and F. J. Beechan (Taihape) arrived by the boat from South in the morning."and wero met hv the secretary of the club (Mr. R. Thehvall). As the launch arrived too late to catch tho morning train, arrangements were made to convey the party to Ormond by motor car. However, the car broke down, and the southern contingent had to murnov out in a buggy and pair. The trials commenced at 9.80 a.m., ■when the judge arrived on the ground, with Class I. (head, bring back, and hold until judge is satisfied). , About half af mile. Time, lomin. Points: Head 10, bring back 10, command 6, hold 4. . There were sixty-four entries for this class, which occupied the whole of the day. 36 dogs going out by 5 o’clock, when proceedings were terminated on account of the failing light. The work done was far from satisfactory, only eight dogs succeeding in bringing tho sheep into the ring. The course for the long head is a most difficult one, and a severe test of a dog’s sagacity. Many of the competitors consider tho course too difficult, and the Hawke’s Bay competitors admit that the country is the most difficult'they have seen. The dogs worked fairly well in the morning, but in the afternoon dog after dog failed to get up to the sheep, the majority coming to grief at the same spot—an intersection of fences on top of the ridge out of sight of the man working the dog. Many experienced and tried dogs would.go out in fine style, but fail in an almost incomprehensible way when thov got to the top of the ridge. The dogs! which did best work yesterday were Mr. F. Sutenberg’s Tu. Mr. P. G. L. Mackenzie’s Lad and Roy, Mr. G. Hinton’s Flo and Skipper, Mr. A. Thompson’s Sprigg, and Mr. H. Thompson’s Joe. Class I. will be continued this morning. There was a satisfactory attendance yesterday, amongst the visitors being Mcsrss A. Dewing, A. H. Hodge, Bartencta.' 81 - }' ° There was an exceptionally largo number of ladies present during the afternoon. Aftexjaoou tea was provided by the cl til),'and was dispensed by Miss" T. -McKenzie, ably assisted by Messrs A. McKenzie and A. Deiery. The committee had tho arrangements for the trials in perfect order, and all worked hard at their respective duties. The President (Mr. J. A. Caesar) was present throughout the day, and took an active part in the work, besides receiving and entertaining the visitors. The secretarial duties wore carried out by Mr. R. Thelwall to the satisfaction of everyone. Mr. C. Davis judged in his customary conscientious manner, covering a lot of ground in order to keep the tlogs'in sight. Mr. E. D. Bilham made a- careful timekeeper, and Mpssrtf F. McKenzie and G. Hinton were tho flag stewards. Messrs A. Do very, K. MacDonald, Mr. Bonis and others" did good work at the yards, and a feature of the trials was the enthusiastic manner in which all tlio members of the committee worked to ensure success. NOTES. Mr. P. Dolbel, of Taradale, who is a competitor at the trials, is one of the most enthusiastic supporters of. sheep do" trials in Hawke’s Bay. He is a vice-president of the Hawke’s Bay Central Dog Trial Club, and the last trials of the club wore held on liis property at Taradale. . . „ _ Mr. P. G. L. Mackenzie, of Dannevirke, is secretary of the Bush Districts .been Dog Trial'Club, and his dog Lad secured second pjaee at the Hawke s Bay Central Club’s last trials. ' . Mr. F. J. Beechan, of Taihape, is another slice]) dog,' enthusiast,' and is reported to have a clever dog with bun in Speed, whose performance to-day will be watched with interest. In conversation with a “Times’’ representative yesterday, Mr. C. Davis, the judge at the trials, expressed the decided opinion that the breed of sheep dogs had deteriorated greatly witlun recent years. 1 hey had lost that quickness of eye which meant everything in a shecip'dog.; The dogs ol : 40 years a go wore ■ incomparably cleverer and quicker of £ bye than ihdse of today. He and Mr. V. Dolbel, of Tnrada'le, were importing a smooth-haired Collie dog and bitch from Scotland, with the ex Press object of endeavoring to secure that quickness or eye which was altogether lacking in the dogs performing at present dog trims.

THE SOCIAL. The annual socisiL under the auspices of the club was, hold in- the Ormond Ha'll last night, and was largely attended. Dancing was- kept® up with vigor until an early hour this morning. The floor was ini capital order, the supper was excellent, and first-class music was provided by Air.. A. F. AVOO- - orchestra. Messrs 3. Herbert, A. McKenzie, and K. - Ma-cDonakl officiated meet capably as M.O.’s. _v.ongs and recitations were interspersed between the dances, and the, social, which was excellently managed, was unanimously voted to *be the most enjoyable ever held bv the club.