Heading dog Skip had a cracker of a weekend.

The two-year-old took out a first place, two second places, and two third places at the Lowburn Collie Dog Club (LCDC) trials held on Friday and Saturday (January 27-28) in Cromwell.

Owner and trainer Kimberley Crack was thrilled with Skip’s first win. 

“I’ve had him since he was a pup. I’m a shepherd on Lake McKay Station in Wānaka and Skip works with me mustering,” she said.

This year marks 109 years since the club began its annual dog trials. 

Life member Jack Davis with dogs Glen and Nell 

The club was originally built behind the Lowburn Hotel and later moved to its current site at the southern end of Sugarloaf hill.

The trials consist of four courses: the heading dogs compete in the long pull and the head and yard, and the huntaways in the zig-zag hunt and straight hunt.

Glen didn’t place this year but had a great day out

Each competitor begins with 100 points, with points deducted for any errors on each course.

It takes great skill to send a heading dog up the hill to pull the sheep down, or a huntaway to push them up.

Enormous patience is required to complete the course. This was a first-time win for Skip, in the head and yard event in the local maiden category

Dogs are directed by voice commands and whistles; the heading dogs have 16 minutes to complete their two courses and the huntaways have 10 minutes for their zig zag and straight hunt.

Dave Vaughan, a judge for 20 years, timing the runs

The club held around 500-600 runs each trial in the 1990s, but participation declined in subsequent years with fewer farms due to land being converted to vineyards (from around 1997).

Club secretary Pru Heaney said they had a total of 338 runs over the two days this year which they were very pleased about. 

Results for Open categories 2023 (for the complete list, click here).

EVENT І - Long Pull

Open

1. S Hunter Lucy 96.5

2. G Reed Jess 94.5

3. I Anderson Dick 93.5

4. I Anderson Jet 93

5. B Murphy Fleck 92.5

EVENT ІІ - Head and Yard

Open

1. L Smith Ted 95.5

2. A Herriot Flame 95

3. I Anderson Jet 94

4. A Stewart Breeze 91

5. R Aubrey Strike 88.5

EVENT ІІІ - Zig Zag Hunt

Open

1. M Lucas Chook 97

2. S Hunter Hood 96.75

3. L Smith Charlie 96.5

4. R Sellers Drew 96

5. G Metherall Blast 95

EVENT ІV - Straight Hunt

Open

1. L Smith Charlie 97.5

2. S Hunter Chime 97

3. A Goulding Ernie 96.5

4. A Hawker Squid 96.25

5. J Caley Mavis 96

PHOTOS: The Central App