KING Country growing future farmers graduate Michelle Van Zweeden competed in the Handy Dog event with Chip and Gem and paced second maiden. Photo: Supplied.
The Tux 2023 dog trial season has ended, culminating in the North Island finals at Taupo earlier this month.
To qualify, the dog had to have finished first or second in any of the preceding regional competitions.
Hopeful contestants looking for a last shot at getting into the North Island run-off flocked to Aratiatia station for the final heat of the year.
Of the 204 heading dogs that competed in the Waikato heat of the yarding challenge, five to make the runoff were from the King Country.
Robyn Stephens from the Te Kūiti club placed third with a score of 96 with maiden, Libby.
Dawn Jones and her dog Speed from Awakino scored 94.25 to finish 7th.
Nigel Sinton and Sticky from Kaitieke scored 92, Stephen Winiata Dunster and Cap from Taumarunui scored 90.5 and Lex Grattan and Brie from Kaitieke were close behind with 90.
Anita Lamb from Āria and her dog Ziva made the maiden run off.
The North Island final on December 3 was highly contested with high quality work demonstrated.
Performing well were Chris Baker from Piopio who scored 98 with dog Ned to place fourth. With dog Burn, he was 10th, scoring 94.5.
Robyn Stephens and Libby were fifth, with 97 points, Lex Grattan and Brooke were 11th with 94 and Dennis Gloyn from Āria was third in the maiden event, scoring 91.
At the same venue, 65 Huntaways competed in the Waikato heat of the Tux Handy dog, won by Dawn Jones and Bess on 97 points.
Other King Country competitors to do well were Rod Walker from Taumarunui with Bounce, 96.5 points; Ruth Coleman from Awakino with Del, 94; and Dan Hartley from Te Kūiti with Tux, 90.
Hartly placed second maiden competitor in the North Island.
Mitchell Hoare from Te Kūiti who had previously qualified his Huntaway, Code, joined them in the North Island final of 12.
None performed quite as well as in the Waikato heat, but Rod Walker placed third with 97.5, Ruth Coleman was sixth, 93.5, and Dawn Jones, 8th, 91.
Club trials begin again in January. These are hill trials scattered throughout rural New Zealand.
