Extra effort put into working the sheep before the Southland Tux Yarding Challenge has paid dividends, organising committee member Trevor Roughan says.
The challenge was held on Glen Islay Station near Mandeville last week.
Graeme Cole, of Seddon, and his dog Kevin won the event three points ahead of second placegetter Chris Calder and Bruce, of Timaru.
Waikaka’s Brian Dickison and Mack were third.
In the maiden dog class, Waikoikoi’s Levi McCall and Jane were first.
Mr Roughan said in his 20 years of being part of the challenge he believed the sheep had performed the best he had ever seen.
‘‘We had a good group of young guys come on board and they were enthusiastic about training the sheep.’’
Half-merino, half-crossbred hoggets which had been wintered on the station were used in the challenge.
Being part merino possibly made the sheep easier to work and more ‘‘docile’’, he said.
There were 122 entries which was down on last year, he said.
The event was judged by Geoff Finch, of Milton, with help from clerk Emma Renner, of Telford.
The top two finishers from every region qualify for the national final in January next year at Pleasant Point.
