The Last week of May 2025 The New Zealand and South Island Dogtrial Championships were held at Lochiel Stn on SH 7 adjacent to the Hanmer Springs Turn off, who knew?

The annual celebration of mans best friend indulging in perhaps the dying throws of an industry that once held the economy of the Nation in credit, took place, again who Knew? Possibly almost 500 dogs qualified from the local events at the 157 clubs across the nation, coming together to decide the South Island long head, short head and yard, strait hunt and zigzag hunt then with the top seven from each running off to decide the Four New Zealand Champions, and apart from a bit of sponsored commentary on digital media it did not happen for all but a very few aficionados.

With sheep numbers plummeting from the days of Muldoon’s skinny sheep program underpinned by his largely regarded as insane, one dollar a sheep subsidy to a National flock imagined at 70 million, to a current estimated 23 million, 30%?

Now fewer people will eat mutton hogget or lamb, preferring Chicken and the now idiotic termed artificial meats made using incalculable costs in resources and energy?
Oh The well known Scottish Family Chain selling beef patties in a bun remains a staple food but just how many will order a Lamb dish at a restaurant. I know I do as with Lambs approaching $200 a body at slaughter and a small leg of Lamb beginning at $20 on special it has just disappeared from the menu at many housholds.

Then consider wool now all too often earning less than the cost of removal apart from Merino and the realisation that Lange’s prediction of the “Sunset Industry” are upon us, however is that the only reason the annual sport of dog trialling is also to be ignored.
I know I know that there has never been a conviction at a dogtrial ever but the skills, training and energy that leads to a successful outcome for man and dog in an exacting test where success too often evades all but a lucky few, while a MSM seems intent on bagging a Coalition night after night while filling spots with an anti Trump tirades it seems the sport that was established to settle arguments who had the best assistant musterer round a cabin high in the high country will join “Fred Dag” in the mists of time.

Who managed to ignore Frank Torley and his “Dog Show” when TV was limited to two channels.

Aah Well some might say it is progress while we apparently are to obsess over a perverted assistant temporary press secretary who just happened to be employed in the office of the Prime Minister.

Sorry if I do not wish to join the masses.