NORTHLAND SHEEPDOG TRIALS
NORTHLAND CENTRE IS MADE UP OF 12 SHEEPDOG TRIAL CLUBS, ALL NORTH OF AUCKLAND. EACH CLUB RUNS ONE TRIAL A YEAR THIS IS NORMALLY RUN OVER TWO DAYS. THEY RUN FROM THE END OF JANUARY TO THE END OF APRIL. EACH TRIAL CONSISTS OF 4 COURSES. 2 ARE FOR HEADING DOGS (SHORTHEAD & YARD) & (LONG HEAD). 2 ARE FOR HUNTAWAYS (ZIG ZAG HUNT) & (STRAIGHT HUNT) ALL COMPETITORS THAT GET 5 POINTS QUALIFY FOR THE ISLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS BUT YOU NEED 6 TO QUALIFY FOR THE NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. THESE ARE HELD IN MAY AND BEGINNING OF JUNE EACH YEAR. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF A & P SHOWS THAT HAVE DOG TRIALS AS AN EVENT. THERE IS ALSO A YARD DOG COMPETITION FOR HUNTAWAYS. AND THE TUX NZ YARDING CHALLENGE FOR HEADING DOGS. THESE ARE RUN WITH ONE IN MOST CENTRES AND WINNERS RUNNING IN A FINAL TO DECIDE THE OVERALL WINNERS. TUX IS A MAJOR SPONSOR FOR ALL OUR DOG TRIAL THOUGH OUT NEW ZEALAND.
First trial for us this year was in Taupo. Tux yard dog and Tux Yarding Challenge. Cyril & Girl placed 4th. Will take photo's of dog's & dog trialling when I get there and add them over the coming year. Kaitaia Tux yard dog will be next followed by the Tux Yarding Challenge at Kaiwaka early January 2011. Hill dog trials start at the end of January 2011.