Sally Mallinson has been secretary of the Hilton-Gapes Valley Collie Club for the past 14 years and works full-time at Temuka Farmlands in a senior sales position, although she says her strengths lie in animal health and everything to do with farm dogs — a passion of her life
‘‘As I am quite busy with a full-time role ... I only have half an old heading dog left,’’ she said.
‘‘I have been interested in dog trials and the working dog for as long as I can remember.’’
Mrs Mallinson also holds the role of publicity officer for the Canterbury centre, collating points and writing material surrounding the trial community and events.
She speaks fondly of her father’s love for the English language and how she might have the position today because of it.
‘‘When I spent some time in Canada, he sent my letter back with all of the mistakes corrected,’’ she laughed.
‘‘I enjoy getting it right. You just need to change a few things and the whole context of the story becomes wrong.’’
Born in Kurow and after growing up in South Canterbury, Mrs Mallinson studied agriculture at Lincoln University, planning to be a farm adviser ‘‘which was my goal in life’’.
‘‘I started shepherding and quickly found that a) people do not really like farm advisers and b) I really enjoyed shepherding.’’
A passion for dog trialling and those involved in the sport has kept her coming back year after year.
Mrs Mallinson is a finalist in the contribution to rural sport category of the New Zealand Rural Games, alongside fellow South Canterbury woman Gemma Oliver, for rodeo.
‘‘I am extremely honoured and humbled by it. Just the nomination alone, it is huge.’’
‘‘All the way through my life I have been involved with dogs. I truly, honestly love the working dog, although I was never really good at trialling because I was always nervous.’’
‘‘When I met my husband Mark, he taught me a lot. I had an old mentor, Mr W.V. Kerr who taught me a lot, too. I used to pester him because he was kind of a legend. He used to come to a property I worked on in Danseys Pass for mustering a couple of times a year and had a very good heading dog at the time. I ended up having a pup by him, we became good friends over the years, I was lucky to have him as a mentor.’’
Technology has changed over the years but Mrs Mallinson was adamant the sport’s essence remained the same — a social sport.
‘‘Dog trialling revolves around volunteers. I think it helps if you have knowledge of the whole sport as it becomes easier to get it done. From editing and producing the national newsletter three times a year I have got to know a lot of the community.’’
Mrs Mallinson sees a bright future for the sport, if youth come on board.
‘‘Canterbury has 18 clubs. We also have [a competition] called the Five Nations that runs between Mt Nessing, Mackenzie, Geraldine, Hilton-Gapes Valley and Levels. It was a popular competition in the 1960s recently reinstated to get young people involved,’’ she said.
‘‘These people that you held in awe when you were 21 or something have become good friends. I hope it becomes the same for the next generation. Dog trialling is a community and I do not plan on leaving.’’
Dog triallist Steph Tweed (Waipara) and Alexandra woolhandler Pagan Karauria are both finalists in the rural sportswoman of the year, Sarah O’Reilly (Rakaia) is a finalist in young rural sportsperson of the year for harness racing, and harness racing driver Ricky May, of Methven is a finalist in the lifetime legacy award.
