There are plenty of shaggy dog tales in sport, but when it comes to sheepdog trials’ Bayley’s Shield, the narrative couldn’t be more straightforward – King Country has the silverware all locked up.
Chris Baker with his dog, Neg, competing at June’s Bayley’s Shield Challenge in Taupō. Photo: Take the Moment Photography
Having lifted the sport’s equivalent of rugby’s Ranfurly Shield from Waikato in June, the King Country team must now defend it against Northland at the upcoming King Country Charity Trials.
“I’m confident we can defend it even though they’ll be sending a pretty good side,” King Country team captain Chris Baker said. “I think the current Tux Open Yard champion, Shaun Haynes, will be on the Northland team, competing in the open, and they’ll be pretty handy at the intermediate and maiden levels too.”
The open class is open to all, while entry into the intermediate and maiden classes is based on experience.
Born and raised in Cambridge, Baker is the Piopio Station Trust’s farm manager – he enjoys his job, but that’s not the only reason he whistles while he works.
“Can I whistle? A lot of people whistle through their mouths, and some only use voice commands, but I use a shepherd’s whistle just because I find it easier,” Baker said.
The right whistle, the right team and some dogged companions should ensure the shield is safe, but that’s not all that’s on the line at the Taumarunui tournament running from September 12 to 14.
The King Country Charity Trials also provide the next step towards national honours in the Tux Yarding Challenge and Handy Dog event series.
Classic hill trials run from January through to June, while yarding and handy dog events fill in the off-season. Yarding involves moving sheep through a course and into a pen, while handy dog events feature a mixture of paddock work and yarding.
Both provide a more level playing field, taking place on flat ground. In some cases, competitions are held indoors but they still test the same essential skills as hill trials, Baker said.
“Horse arenas are pretty big, so the size of the courses is about the same. Dogs need to be confident enough to go indoors and work – sometimes it can take them a little while to adjust, but a good dog should be able to handle it no trouble.”
Whether a yard dog or a handy hound is required depends on the event.
“Our dogs have been refined a lot, but they’re either heading dogs or huntaways. You get a bit of variation amongst them but, basically, they originated as border collies and we’ve refined them and bred them for traits that we like,” Baker said.
“Yarding has heading dogs, which work quietly and just eye the sheep, while handy dog events are for huntaways – they work quite differently and bark at the sheep.”
Heading dogs use their heads, working in front of the sheep and employing guile to get the job done, whereas huntaways are more boisterous and aggressive, pushing flocks along.
“In both, a dog needs a certain amount of breeding and ability, but the best have a bit of an X factor about them.”
Every good dog also needs a best friend and that’s where Baker and his two-legged teammates step in.
“You need patience and working stock well comes with experience, so you have to be committed and put the time in. It’s also really important to bond with your dog,” said Baker.
“A good trainer can take an average dog and make it functional, but he’s probably not going to win trials; a very good trainer can make an average dog good and good dogs great.”
While some rural sports are no country for old men, age is no barrier in dog trials – it’s experience that really separates the men from the boys.
At a mere 53, Baker has plenty of competition ahead of him.
“That’s the beauty of dog trials – it’s based on skill more than age, so we’ve had guys competing into their eighties. I started when I was about 30, although I’ve always had an interest in dogs and I was working on the farm and shepherding for years before that.”
Some country sports may struggle to replace old stock, but yarding and handy dog trials are helping ensure young blood joins the fold. A new brood of lifestyle farmers is also throwing their hats, and themselves, into the show ring.
“There aren’t as many people working on farms as there used to be, not as many sheep and fewer people with dogs to work them, but young ones are still getting involved,” said Baker.
“These events seem to appeal to people with small blocks who might have one or two dogs, and then there’s dog obedience people looking for a new challenge. We’ve had a few people like this have a go at sheepdog trials, which has to be good for the future of the sport.”
Chris Baker with his dog, Rain, at June’s Bayley’s Shield Challenge in Taupō. Photo: Take the Moment Photography
