Onlookers could have been forgiven for thinking the national short head and yard final was an Omihi Collie Club event.
The top-seven leaderboard had no less than four whistler and dog combinations from the small North Canterbury club in the final at the New Zealand Sheep Dog Trial Championships in South Otago.
Over the five-day event 260 competitors with 500 dogs were working about 4000 sheep in the four main sections.
Omihi farmer Neil Evans combined with his dog Tess for a back-to-back win in the short head and yard with a total haul of 192.75 points. He won the same title last year after also claiming the national long head at Gore with Tess’ mother in 2010.
Runner-up was Bob Bruce with dog Susan from Te Aute on 189.50 points.
Greenvale’s Brian Dickison and Jake were third with Mr Evans also finishing fourth with Smoke.
Omihi clubmates Fergus McLean with Dan was fifth and Ian Stevenson with Zac was sixth, while Waihemo’s Lloyd Smith finished seventh.
Mr Evans said the win was sweet because of the double and the strong performance by the Omihi club.
"It’s pretty special to back it up. I’m very, very happy with the run. Tess has been consistent and in the last four New Zealands [competitions] — we obviously missed one because of Covid-19 — she’s been in five run-offs."
The 8-year-old was at her peak with still a few years left of competitive dog trialling, he said.
Pleasing for him was being in the same run-off as Mr Stevenson, who took him to his first dog trial 45 years ago, while Mr McLean is his nephew.
Mr Evans and Tess were also sixth in the national long head event, while Mr McLean and Suzie finished third in the straight hunt.
This would be Omihi’s best result since it was formed just over 100 years ago, he said.
"We were a wee bit tinny we got six of the run-off positions out of the 28 which is pretty special really."
Mr Evans said there were only 15 to 20 members within the small club.
Mr Evans has just been named to captain the four-man New Zealand team which includes Mr Stevenson for the transtasman test against Australia at the Ashburton A&P Show in October.
Joining them will be Mr Dickison and Waikato’s Leo Jecentho and Tess, who won the North Island short head and yard championships, while Mr Smith is the reserve.
Mr Evans said they would be keen to reverse last year’s result.
"We went over to Tasmania last year and unfortunately we lost two tests to one, so there’s a bit of unfinished business I suppose."
Tahatika’s Paul Collins and Sky won the long head with a one-point margin separating them from runners-up Banks Peninsula stock manager Barry Thompson and Bolt.
Mr Thompson earlier won the South Island championships, but his national haul of 191 points after two runs was just shy of a national title.
"The sheep seemed tricky in the run-off but Bolt was so focused. All dogs knows the difference between work and competition, but he just seems to love performing under pressure," he said.
Mr Thompson grew up in North Otago.
— Additional reporting ODT
New Zealand Championship final results
Long head: Paul Collins (Sky), Tahatika, 1; Barry Thompson (Bolt), Tai Tapu, 2; Michael Lucas (Dixon), Lowburn, 3; Anthony Barton (Jess), Waikari, 4; Lloyd Smith (Guide), Waihemo, 5; Neil Evans (Tess), Omihi, 6; Mark Copland (Don), Methven, 7.
Short head & yard: Neil Evans (Tess), Omihi, 1; Bob Bruce (Susan); Te Aute 2; Brian Dickison (Jake), Greenvale, 3; Neil Evans (Smoke), Omihi 4; Fergus McLean (Dan), Omihi, 5; Ian Stevenson (Zac) Omihi, 6; Lloyd Smith (Ted), Waihemo, 7.
Zigzag hunt: Clark Chrystal (Jude) Waikoau, 1; Gavin Drake (Short), Mataroa, 2; Samantha Shaw (Rogue) Matawai, 3; Samantha Shaw (Lottie), Matawai, 4; Grant Plaisted (Coke), Waikari, 5; Lindsay Wink (Grace), Weber, 6; Brian Sparrow (Jerry), Greenvale, 7.
Straight hunt: Ethan Smith (Chub), Patearoa, 1; Robbie Calder (Angus), St Bathans, 2; Fergus McLean (Suzie), Omihi, 3; Dan Broughton (Louie), Banks Peninsula, 4; Steve Kerr (Charge), Mackenzie, 5; Craig Johns (Clay), Raetihi, 6; Dave Stuart (Jade), Rangiwahia, 7.
