Ice in their veins: Stewart elated to win national title

Southern dog triallist Alan “Snow” Stewart has realised a long-held ambition to win a New Zealand Championship event. He talks to Shawn McAvinue about the journey with heading dog Ice to winning a green tie.

‘‘It’s pretty special. It’s only starting to sink in,’’ southern dog triallist Alan ‘‘Snow’’ Stewart said on winning a national title.

About 300 triallists and about 500 sheep dogs descended on Hawke’s Bay in the final week of May to battle it out across four events: the long head, short head and yard, zig-zag hunt and straight hunt.

The competitor and dog with the most points in each event wins the North Island Championship.

The top seven competitors in each event compete in a run-off for a prized New Zealand Championship title.

Stewart and his dog Ice, of Galloway in Central Otago, finished second in the long head at the North Island Championship, one point behind Jim Wilson and dog Jude, of Hawke’s Bay Centre.

In the run-off, Stewart scored 91.50 points, 1.50 points more than Wilson, placing him a half point ahead on aggregate and on the top of the podium.

Winning the championship event was ‘‘pretty cool’’, Stewart told Southern Rural Life on a break from fencing on his farm last week.

The 74-year-old had been in a New Zealand Championship run-off three times and this was the first time he had won.

The two earlier attempts were with huntaway dogs.

He thanked southern triallists competing in Hawke’s Bay including good mate Roger Sellars and fellow members of Omakau Earnscleugh Collie Club and Greenvale Sheep Dog Trial Club, where he is a life member, for helping keep his nerves in check leading up to the run-off.

‘‘They were all pretty supportive leading up to the finals.

‘‘I always get a bit nervous when I get into these big occasions, but I managed to hold it together this time.’’

His 4-year-old heading dog, Ice, was a special canine.

‘‘He’s got the X-factor when he’s on sheep.

‘‘He can normally make average sheep into pretty good sheep by the time he’s finished his run.

‘‘That’s what sets him apart.’’

He and Ice had won seven open events this season and placed seventh in the short head and yard at the South Island Championship in Western Southland last month.

‘‘He’s been building up for it.’’

In the New Zealand run-off, Ice’s excellent execution of the outrun, the part where he leaves the side of his master to approach the sheep, set him apart from the rest of the field.

A testing moment in the competition was when sheep stopped to graze rather than approach the ring.

Ice needed to get close to the sheep to stop them grazing. When a sheep had its heads down grazing, anything could happen when they suddenly saw a dog ‘‘up the stump’’.

The grazing sheep raised their heads and ran about 20m. ‘

‘Thankfully they ran pretty straight.’’

Stewart was born and raised in Greenvale, Southland.

He and his wife Sue moved to Galloway to develop a 320ha sheep and beef farm about six years ago, leaving their children to farm in Southland.

His family helped him celebrate the win.

‘‘They were pretty stoked. ‘

‘We depend on dogs to do a big part of our farm work.’’

He would continue competing in the sport. ‘‘You don’t want to let your guard down, otherwise your dogs deteriorate and you’ve always got to have another young dog coming on in case something happens.’’

Stewart’s sister and Greenvale Sheep Dog Trial Club life member Janis Steel said she was ‘‘delighted’’ by her brother’s win.

Their late father Alan ‘‘Snowie’’ Stewart, who was a keen triallist, would be proud of his son’s achievement, she said.

Omakau Earnscleugh Collie Club president Dave Kenny, of Ida Valley, said the win was a fantastic achievement.

‘‘It couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.’’

Stewart gave his all and did a lot behind the scenes for the club.

‘‘Whenever there’s a hand needed, he’s always the first to offer.’’

Four other southern triallists competed in the run-offs for the New Zealand Championship.

In the short head and yard:

Roger Tweed and dog Kane, of Waitahuna Collie Club, placed second in North Island and fourth in New Zealand.

Lloyd Smith and dog Guide, of Waihemo Collie Club, placed seventh in North Island and third in New Zealand.

In the zig-zag hunt, Jack Ellingham, of Waikaia Collie Club, placed second in the North Island and seventh in New Zealand.

In the straight hunt, Steph Tweed and Fault, of Waikaia Collie Club, placed second in North Island and fourth in New Zealand.