Keen triallist ‘chuffed’ with win

South Otago farmer Henry Smith reckons he gets "more surprises than prizes" when it comes to dog trialling, but he was "pretty bloody chuffed" when he and his huntaway bitch Trix won the zigzag event recently at the Southland Centre Championships at Mararoa.

Trix is a 5-year-old Mr Smith has bred from an older bitch he owned. He first trialled her last year and she qualified in one day as a maiden, intermediate and open dog.

"She’s come on really nicely. It’s a pleasure to run her now to be honest. I can trust her and enjoy it."

Trix is the only huntaway Mr Smith is entering in competitions this year, as well as a heading dog.

"Huntaways are my specialty. Usually I have about three competing but most of my team has been retired and I have a number of young ones I am training up."

Mr Smith, alongside his wife Jasmine, moved to Clinton a year ago so he could take up a role as second in charge at Jeff Farm.

He credits his strong interest in dog trialling to his uncle, Simon Prouting.

"He’s a keen triallist in the North Island. I was very fortunate to have access to some high-quality blood lines right from the start."

Mr Smith trained as a cadet at Smedley Station in Hawke’s Bay and caught the bug for dog trialling young.

He competed in his first trial at the age of 21 and has been following the circuit for the past eight years.

"Dog trialling has been my passion. It’s fair to say I have sought out jobs over the years where I knew I would be working under some high-calibre dog men."

Mr Smith believes it has been this inside knowledge that has helped him improve quickly.

"Clerking at trials and attending judges’ days have been really helpful. Even if you’re not planning on judging, getting the rules down pat and knowing what parts of a run can really stuff up a score have been helpful.

"There is a whole lot more to it than just sending your dog out."

Mr Smith spends three to four evenings a week training his dogs and enjoys training sessions with the cadets at Jeff Farm.

"There are some keen young shepherds we have here, so it forces me to get in the pen and keep up the training. I like to share what I can. I also enjoy the young energy the cadets bring."

The next month or so will be busy for Mr Smith. He plans to attend a few more trials as he prepares for the South Island and National Championships at the end of May being held this year in Hanmer Springs.

"I was really happy with how Trix went at last year’s nationals. It’s a pretty humbling sport though. One minute you’re on cloud nine, the next you’re scratching your head wondering where things went wrong," he said, laughing.