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Enfer World Sheep Dog Trials 2005 - Charleville Estate, Tullamore - July 7-10th 2005
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The New Zealand Team that’s coming to Ireland are looking forward to the challenges of Trialing in Ireland. The format is completely foreign to both dogs and men but we believe we will make our presence felt. All members have represented NZ in the Wayleggo Cup, which is an annual test series between Australia and NZ.
To get to Ireland has taken over 12 months of planning and raising funds. Back in September 2004 we held a special trial using the format that will be used at Tullamore and from that trial the top four competitors were picked to represent NZ.
Four other competitors from that Trial are also travelling to Ireland to compete so NZ will have strong support at the World Championships. With supporters and competitors NZ will have at least sixteen people in the travelling group. The dogs are obviously travelling first class as their cost of travel and getting through customs is two and a half times the cost of the poor handler who has to travel economy.
Fortunately, our major sponsor of Sheep Dog Trials in NZ, Purina Tux came up with a sponsorship package, with help from our other sponsors DU Pont, Merial and Balance to get the NZ Team to Tullamore.
NZ made the commitment to go to the World Championships from a suggestion made to the association from Tony Shields (A past President of the NZSDTA) who had been at the Championships and felt our dogs would be competitive. One day perhaps the Championships can be in NZ.
Profiles.
Selwyn Dorward (Team Manager)
Selwyn and his wife Jill have farmed 700 acres for 30 Years, running sheep, cattle and process cropping near Hastings in Hawkes Bay. Hawkes Bay is on the East Coast of the North Island.
Selwyn has been Dog Trialing for exactly 25 years and has been in 6 Finals at National Island Championships.
He has been involved in National administration for 15 years and is presently President of the New Zealand Sheep Dog Trial Association.
His dog Sailor (named during the first defence of the America’s cup) is five years old and is presently the top dog in their province. Sailor’s parents were both placed at Island Championships for Selwyn.
Bernard Arends (Captain)
Bernard and his partner Marie farm a sheep and cattle farm near Dannevirke in Southern Hawkes Bay. Bernard has been Trialing for 21 years and is one of NZ’s most successful trialists having won three NZ Championships and seven Island Championships and also been placed on two occasions in the Australian Supreme Championship.
Bernard has represented NZ against Australia in several test teams. He has two dogs entered in the World Championships, Slate and Macca.
Slate is the NZ selection trial held tp pick a team to come to the World Championships.
Eion Herbert.
Eion is 46 years young and with his wife Mandy farm 230 acres and lease another 300 acres near Nelson, which they have farmed for the last four years. Nelson is at the top of the South Island. Eion has been dog trailing for 26 years and has been placed in several NZ and Island Championships.
His Dog Chief is a six year old heading dog. Chief has been placed in two NZ Championships and this year was a finalist in the TUX Yarding Challenge.
Murray Child.
Murray is 51 years young and married to Kathryn for 29 years. They have two adult sons and farm 1000 acres, farming sheep and beef in Northland, which is in the North of the North Island.
Murray’s dog Glen is 9 year old and has represented NZ in the 2002 Test Series against Australia, which NZ won. Glen has been placed four times at NZ and Island Championships and runner up on Television’s dog show in 2003. Murray with different dogs has finished runner up on four occasions at NZ Champioships and placed eighteen times in NZ and Island Championships.
Murray currently runs six dogs at club trials and has had fifty one wins and one hundred and twenty other top placings at club trials in the last four years.
Murray is looking forward to visiting Ireland and competing at the 2005 World Championships.
Barney Strong
Barney is 67 years old and farms a 600 acre sheep and beef farm on the Western Bays of Lake Taupo. He has been Trialing for 40 years and judging for 30 years. He was introduced to dog trials by Ronnie McDonald and Ivan Lopdell. Barney attributes much of his success to this day to those two men. Barney is not one to keep records but has qualified 30 dogs in that time for National Championships. To his credit are two NZ Championship wins and several Championship placings.
Barney has also been in a NZ Team in the trans Tasman series against Australia. His dog Smoke is 6 years old and has been a consistent performer over the last four years. Given the right conditions this dog can score very highly. Smoke is equally happy doing the hill trials and show trials. Smoke’s parents were both successful trial dogs for Barney.
Also competing from NZ are Rob Mather with dog Lace, Ken White with Chide, Tony Shield with Lad, (Lad was shipped to NZ as a pup after the last World Championships and Peter with Chester.