WAITAKI COLLIE DOG CLUB.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12536, 6 May 1915, Page 7

WAITAKI COLLIE DOG CLUB.

30th ANNUAL TRIALS. Officials: Hon. Life Member, .Mr J. Menzies. President, Mr X. Hayes. A r ice-president, Mr It. W. Trotter. Judges. Messrs M. L. Elliot and \X. Menzies. Time-keepers. Messrs A. Curie, C. Smith. E. Dunstan, and J. Delargy. Hon. Secretory and Treasurer, Mr AV. H. Boss. Committee —Messrs D. M'Kenzic. AV'. Menzies AV. Milne. AV. Barclay. C. . Smith, R,' C. Gillies. AY. K. Saxton, F. AV. Corrigal, AV, Stewart, J. Hassall, J. Green. AV. Hogg. J. Barda-v, A. Curie, A. H. M'Kinnon, A. Chapman. E. Russell, S. AYelsh, A. A. M'll wraith, AV. Clear, J. Trotter, P. Heckler. A. MLcod, A. Paterso'u, A. Muuro. J. Delargy. and E. A r alentine,

The thirtieth annual AVaitaki Collie Dog Trials opened in perfect weather, indeed it is to bo doubted if the glorious day which dawned yesterday has been equalled for several meetings. Entries were only. six short of those received last year' and Kurow presented an animated scene from Wednesday evening onwards, owing.to the presence of the number of entrants from as far ■ north as Culverden and as far south as the Bluff, and the many who congregate at Kurow from the surrounding district, to whom the trials and the danco and jollities concomitant to them form an event of outstanding social importance. The trials were held in Mr AV. H. Ross' paddock, and several minor improvements had been effected in this ideal testing ground, notably the clearing of some of the scrub on the lower ■portion of the hill, and an extra wing to the fence on the spur on the huntaway and slow section of the spur. The sheep were some especially good merinos, lent by Mr Geo. Stringer, ]of Te Akataraw'a Station. They were strong and stuck well together, none splitting upon the hill and on only twooccasions on the flat. They were in splendid condition and fully tired out some of the older dogs, though they could not by any means have been called wild. The fitness of their condition, however, put such heart into them that they were a trifle more stubborn than might be found to be the case at former meetings here and meetings elsewhere. The Ha.ka course is in any ! case a bit of a teaser, both as regards length and steepness, so that dogs were put to a severe test yesterday. The day was windless and instructions were clearly heard by dogs. The sheep were, with one or two infrequent exceptions, got well and smartly away by those in charge of the yards on the hill, and even those that took the wrong road were no trouble to get out of the way, owing to the lie of the country. For some reason not accountable under the ideal conditions the general standard of work done was not up. to that of last year. The opening event was the Head. Bring Back, and "Yard, for which, there were 35 entrants, tour only of whom did not compete. Matters went without a hitch, thanks to the efficient arrangements of the timekeepers aud secretary, and the whole of the firstclass was run by 4.30, and a start was made with Class If. The number of young men from the back country was considerably less than that of last year owing to the exigencies of station work and no doubt also to the absence of some through the war. There were present, however, a goodly assemblage, including many vehicles and a fair sprinkling of ladies. • The refreshmentdepartment was in the hands of Air AV. Laurenson, and satisfied the wants of the most exacting. The first class to be run was the Head. Bring Back, and Yard, familiarly known as the '"short pull." The first dogs away had undoubtedly the advantage, as the sheep being not long in off the grass wore not hungry, and travelled well, while those loosed later wvve more "sticky."

To watch the dogs handling their sheep on the rough slopes was an education, and some of the yard work, while not brilliant, wa-s most interesting to watch. Following are the placed tykes and those whose performances brought thorn very near it : J'. Pollock's -Sharp —Heading 8, liring back 10, work at yard 6, command G; total ... ... 30 J. Pollock's Boli—7. 10, 3, 6 ... 26 •J. B. Purdue's Lochicl Kep—7, 8, 4. G :• ... 2o K. Russell's Scott—s. 10, 4, o ... 24 J. M'Aughtrie's Cloud—6, 6. G, 5* 23i AY. Hogg's Boh—6. S, 4, 5 23 J. Purdue's Lochicl Don—7. 7. 4. 5 23 Sharp hunted to the viqht and headed well in lmin 20secs. He pulled well am! held well 1 at the yard, and was well under command. Bob won tu-o seconds at Haka last vear, and lias won many prizes at, other : -liow.s. He hunted to the right, but headed rather slacklv in. 3nrin 2sec. His nulling was good, hut he was prone to ringing the .-keep at the yards. This dog .has won a large sum for its owner. Ijv whom lie was bred.

Lochicl Kep hunted to the right, and went out very- freely, making a good head in IJmin. stopping well. He puli«d rashly, and his work at the yaxd. though' showing worth, was too keen.

Scott cast to the right, but c.nst too far loft and crossed back to the right just under the sheep, heading close /ai 2min. He pulled well. Cloud' hunted to the right and bonded well but close. Stopped to order in ljmin. He pulled slackly, but his holding was fairly pood. Mr Hogg's Bob went out with the aid of many instructions, making a fairlv good head in 3min. He pulled over a pood course, with, however, some, noise, and his holding was poor, structioiis. making a fairly good head in 3min. He pulled over a good course, with, liowevcr, some noise, and his holding was uoor. . Locliiel Don cast to the r'ght and headed well in 2min 5-ec. His pulling was med.iumly good and bus work at"the vard was wide and rash. Mr Purdue,' who hails from Nightcaps, has won many events at Nightcaps. Balclutha Mossburn. and elsewhere. Mr 'M'Aughtrio's dogs have often been Dlaced at Haka. Mr Russell is well known at the Haka trials. Only five, dogs out of the 35 entries failed to find the sheci>, and in several of these/instances there were excuses. The spoedv desoateh of Class 1.- made it possible to run the first two or the Huntnwav and Slew Class by dusk.

ANNUAL BALL. The social side of the Tr/aJs was evident last night, the excellent floor ol the Haka VaJlev Hall being-well occupied.' At 8.'30 Mr A. . M'llwratth commenced his onerous duties as M.U by calling on Miss Frasor and Mr '.. Valentine to lead the grand march. Some thirtv couples tcok the floor -n the ensuing schottischc, a number that was econsiderabrv augmented as the evening drew on. The visiting owners were present in full force and car? and' traps were rolling'over the bridge from 3 o'clock onwards in. a maimer that ceriouslv depleted Kurow's population for the'time being, till hid es and gentlemen, were so evenly matched as regarded numbers, and the fun or the evening was assured. 1 .hemen were, if anything, m excess but things were the less enjoyable on that account. Messrs C Sherwin. and M'Leod Sni;:th provided the rvthniic cadences requisite on piano and cornet, and. the supper being catered for by Messrs Barclay Bros.. Haka. for Haka's greatest earn'val event was all that could be desired. Visitors' and residents enjoyed themselves thoroughly, dancing continuing until an early hour.