Sheena Martin & Sav, competing in the final run-off on Saturday afternoon. Photo: Takethemoment.co.nz

Women might have been in the minority at the Bayleys Sheep Dog Trials at Taupō but they certainly made their presence felt, with Sheena Martin from Hawkes Bay winning the final runoff on Saturday June 28 with her dog Sav.

By Virginia Caro

Of the 23 finalists at the charity event – a fundraiser for the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter - nine were women.

Three hundred dogs competed at the Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre over four days from June 25-28, with the huge indoor hall providing an ideal all-weather facility so the torrential rain did not affect the contestants.

The 900 ewe hoggets from Tuturau Trust provided a suitable challenge again at this third running of the event, which raised more than $36,000 for the Rescue Helicopter.

Sheena Martin pocketed $1,500 for the win.

“This is a great event, and a fantastic facility. The sheep were ideal, there for the taking, but still asking the question.

“It’s a huge amount of work to run a trial like this, but you’ve got a great team, so keep it up.”

John Foss was runner-up with Gem, and Leo Jecentho third with Rob.

The Judges’ Award for the most promising Maiden also went to the fairer sex, with 19-year-old Holly Bird, from Taihape, selected by judge Murray Child, from Whangarei.

A second-year cadet at Pukemiro Training Farm, near Dannevirke, she took home a Stihl chainsaw and safety gear courtesy of Blackhills Fencing.

Her dog, 18-month-old Jude, was bred by Guy Peacock, who mentors the cadets at Pukemiro in dog trialing.

His son Harry, as a second-year cadet, won the Maiden man/Maiden dog class last year, and was runner-up to the overall winner, who was Murray Child.

The dog trials community still refers to all contestants as “man” whether they are male or female, which does not cause dissention.

Bird is from a sheep/beef farm, where she says, “I was more the dog than anything!”

Maiden/Maiden winner Bradley Anderson and Merv. Bradley is a cadet at Smedley Station in Central Hawkes Bay. Photo: Takethemoment.co.nz

She wants to be a shepherd and build up a team of dogs, before hopefully taking over the family farm.

“I will need lots of experience before I do that.”

Cadets are selected from applicants for prized positions on training farms.

The winner of this year’s Maiden man/Maiden dog was Smedley Station Training Farm second year cadet Bradley Anderson, from Gisborne, but not from a farming background, with 15-month-old Merv.

It was the first time Smedley cadets had competed at the event, but they will be back next year. The Tikokino, Central Hawkes Bay, Training Farm takes 13 cadets a year, while Pukemiro takes six.

The dog trials equivalent of the Ranfurly Shield, the Bayleys Shield, with five-man teams, was run in conjunction with the event on Saturday morning, with the holders, King Country, defeating the challengers, Waikato, by 429.5 points to 419.5.

Yvonne Westerman, of Bayleys Taupō, says, “If you’d told me three years ago I’d be leading the administration of a four-day dog trials event to raise funds for the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter, I’d have said, ‘Get out of here!’ But here we are, $86,000 later, and I’m already looking forward to next year.”

Organiser Dave Schaw was exhausted but happy, saying, “It is unbelievable, there were 50 Maiden/Maidens, so that is good for the future of the sport.”

The auction of donated items saw two huntaway pups sell for $3,500 and $3,400, with the other three heading pups also selling well.

The last two days of the event were live streamed, which drew much positive comment, especially Graham Northcott’s commentary.

The hugely popular raffle for the child’s motorbike, donated by Huka Honda, was won by a grandfather from Hawkes Bay, who was so keen to win it he bought $100 worth of tickets!