Winning a New Zealand sheepdog trial title is the ''second biggest thing'' that has happened to Terry Bould this year - after getting married.
Mr Bould (32), from the Leithen Valley, near Gore, and Cash won the zigzag hunt title at the championships, which were held recently at Waihi Station, near Geraldine.
The pair were also second in the South Island championship in the same event.
Originally from Hawkes Bay and not from a farming family, Mr Bould always wanted to go farming.
He started dog trialling when he was about 19 and first qualified a dog for the national championships when he was 21, which he recalled being ''pretty neat''.
While Mr Bould said he had a lot of faith in 5-year-old Cash, who was easy to work, he was not an ''over-confident person'' and he did not head to the championships with big expectations.
''I just wanted to put them [the sheep] out the top [of the course]. That was my goal,'' he said.
He scored 98 points out of a possible 100 in his first run, finishing second to Murray Child and Frank, from Whangarei, in the South Island championship.
He admitted he was more nervous during the week - sitting on the leaderboard for three days and not knowing how long it would be ''before you fall off'' - than when he went into the run-off for the New Zealand title.
He was ''pretty calm'' for his second run, despite having a sheep that ''didn't want to be there'', and the duo scored 96.5 points to secure the national title.
It was his greatest dog trialling achievement and winning the title was ''pretty cool'', he said.
Busy with his own wedding and also attending other weddings, he did not get to as many trials this year, which might have been to his advantage, he said.
He was very grateful for the help he had received training his dogs from Ron Stevenson and Bill Lott, who had both been successful triallists. Mr Bould helps run his wife Bee's family farm and Cash was back to work as usual this week.
Next year, the South Island championships will be held on his home ground of Greenvale.
''So no pressure,'' he quipped.
Eoin Herbert and Storm, from Wakefield, won the long head national title, Peter Kidd and Chief (Christchurch) won the short head and yard and Murray Child and Frank (Whangarei) won the straight hunt.
Barry Hobbs, from North Otago, and Ben were third in the short head and yard and Rick Aubrey and Toby (Wanaka) were sixth. Lloyd Smith and Quake, from Palmerston, were seventh in the straight hunt, having placed second in the South Island championship.
South Island titles were won by Paul Robinson and Libby from Havelock North (long head), Tom Manson and Glen from Raupunga (short head and yard), Murray Child and Frank from Whangarei (zigzag hunt) and Tony Fairweather and Reign from Napier (straight hunt).
Results of the New Zealand championships.-Long head: Eion Herbert and Storm (Wakefield), 192.75, 1; Steve Murphy and Treat (Whangamomona), 189.75, 2; Paul Robinson and Libby (Havelock North), 188, 3; Garry Smith and Ned (Masterton), 186, 4; David Sheild and Clyde (Dannevirke) 185.25, 5; Tim Hunter and Grace (Pahiatua) 185, 6; Merv Williams and Jet (Raetihi), 174.25, 7.
Short head and yard: Peter Kidd and Chief (Christchurch) 191.75 1, Bob Bruce and Skip (Otane) 190.5 2, Barry Hobbs and Ben (Herbert) 188.5 3, Tom Manson and Glen (Raupunga) 187 4, Paul Evans and Bryte (Kimbolton) 185.6 5, Rick Aubrey and Toby (Wanaka) 161.25 6, Scott McRae and Elle (Wellsford) 157.75 7.
Zigzag hunt: Terry Bould and Cash (Gore) 194.5 1, Dan Murphy and Rebel (Stratford) 192.9 2, Simon Prouting and Vince (Dannevirke) 192.8 3, Murray Child and Frank (Whangarei) 191.8 4, Alex Matthews and Kate (Raetihi) 186.1 5, Dave Stuart and Turk (Ashhurst) 185.5 6, Stuart McNeill and Sue (Napier) 177.3 7.
Straight hunt: Murray Child and Frank (Whangarei) 196 1, Dan Murphy and Rebel (Stratford) 194.75 2, Graeme Dickson and Pound (Hawera) 194.5 3, Tony Fairweather and Reign (Napier) 193.75 4, Guy Peacock and Frank (Taihape) 191.25 5, Mark Mallinson and Freedo (Geraldine) 190.5 6, Lloyd Smith and Quake (Palmerston) 189.5 7.
