A dog trialling enthusiast who has been giving to the sport for more than 75 years was this month honoured for his contribution.
Archie Reid, of Waihi Station, was presented with the Straight Furrow Merit Award for services to dog trialling, at the Tux South Island and New Zealand Championship trials held at the property last month.
Gerald Johnson, the spokesman for the Geraldine Collie Dog Club who nominated Mr Reid for the award, said the club ''could not function'' without Mr Reid's generosity in making available the grounds and his Drysdale sheep.
Not only had he helped the local club, he had opened up the property for regional and national events also, Mr Johnson said.
Mr Reid ran his first dog as a schoolboy in 1939 at the Taieri trials.
He bought Waihi Station in 1970 and the Geraldine club grounds were set up there in 1975, when it lost access to its previous grounds.
The Geraldine club hosted the national competitions for the first time this year and Mr Johnson said it was fitting Mr Reid be honoured in this way.
''Seventy-five years on, he is still a very active competitor and club member.
''During this long involvement with the sport, he has been a most enthusiastic club member and has been club president on more than one occasion and is a life member of the club,'' Mr Johnson said.
He had also ''competed in provincial championships and has judged the Otago championships on one occasion''.