Getting sheep shape at Pyramid Farm
The vineyards at Pyramid Farm in Marlborough’s Avon Valley have never been run of the mill, with plantings that follow the natural contours of the land, 250 metres above sea level.
The sheep look suspiciously at the steep hill in front of them and the three humans flanking them.
They haven't noticed the dog and handler standing further back as they creep cautiously forward uphill trying to keep away from the humans.
Then with the shout of "time" it all changes, the dog comes flying at them like a missile; the silence is broken as the dog finds its voice with a cacophony of barks and the handler yells instructions and whistles fervently as he manoeuvres the dog with skill to force the recalcitrant sheep up the hill.
The scene above was repeated hundreds of times over as over 120 competitors and dogs from all over Canterbury battled it out in the four classes of long head, short head, straight hunt and zigzag hunt over two days, near Waiau, in North Canterbury.
The Waiau Collie Club was holding its 88th annual Sheep Dog Trials and also was hosting the Farmlands Canterbury Centre Championship for the first time in a number of years.
The Short and Long Head courses were close to the road and four-wheel drive utes festooned with dog crates straddled the road trying for a good view of the action.
But the access to the Zigzag and Straight Hunts was a bit more challenging, with four river crossings, that due to the welcome rain had a bit more water in them than normal for this time of year.
Competitors, spectators and dogs alike sought shelter from the heat anywhere they could find, in riverbeds, under or up trees but all were vocal in their applause as the trialists locked in a battle of wits with the sheep.
Several times the sheep had their way, with their stubborn streak having no respect for skill or experience and in doing so destroyed the hopes of many a competitor during the weekend.
A check of the brilliantly shined trophies and honours board at the results shed revealed a competition steeped in history and tradition.
With all of the big names of Canterbury dog trials having had competed here, names like Dick Carmichael, Neil Manson, the late Ted Phipps and Peter Kidd were represented frequently at a competition that has continued right through the Second World War.
Kidd, Manson and Carmichael were all competing over the weekend, with Manson and Kidd engaged in a tight battle for the straight hunt title.
Manson won the Collie Clubs competition and readied himself for another run as the top five got to face off for the Canterbury title.
However, it wasn't to be as Manson's son Sam and dog Jack showed that next generation is ready to takeover, when he beat his father in the final, but just lost out to Peter Kidd.
In winning the Straight Hunt with his dog Punch, the Tai Tapu-based Kidd was able to complete a three-peat of titles. The other championship titles went to Neil Evans and Rose from Omihi taking out the Long Head, Andy Clark and Jan taking out the Short Head title and Mark Mallinson and Yeti from Geraldine taking out Zigzag Hunt.
