May 11, 2026 • 7 mins
A legend of the sport previews the North Island and New Zealand Sheep Dog Championships coming up later this month (May 25-29) in Hawke’s Bay.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's all going to be happening in hawks Bay later
this month, In fact, May twenty five to twenty nine,
it's the New Zealand Dog Trial Championships in conjunction with
the North Island Champs. To tell us more, a man
who comes with a big rap. His name is Rocky Hawkins.
He's from the Hawk's Bay and Rocky my old mate
(00:20):
Graham Williams up the road in Gisbon said, you are
a legend and I need to talk to you about
the New Zealand Dog Trills coming up the championships. Do
you believe everything?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
He says, no, and you'd only find yourself in trouble
if you did.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Yeah, you're very well connected. What's your connection with the
New Zealand Dog Trail Champs coming up? As I said
later this month, I'm.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
A Gidan boy originally, but I've been down here for
thirty ideas and I'm prevident of the Hawk's Bay Association
which is hosting the championship. So I'm on the firing
line when things go wrong, and you hear nothing about
me when they go well.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
So they're being how at tat? Which is what about
halfway between Hastings and why puk.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, yeah, pretty much. Yeah, about twenty five minutes south
the hostings.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Yep, okay, so you've have to set up the course
for four disciplines. It's still four disciplines.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Yeah, yes, it is. Yep. Yeah. It's held at the
at the Tidy Dog Trill club Ground. It'll be the
seventh time I think that they've been held there since
nineteen seventy seven, so it's real good grounds can get
a bit of trouble with five early in the morning.
Sometimes it's just that time of the year.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
How many competitors are you expecting, Because it would appear
to me and my dad used to be a dog trialist.
I used to have friends who were good dog trialists.
I used to love commentating it at the rural games
in a past life. It would appear to me that
dog trialings are going through a bit of a renaissance.
Is it getting more popular? Rockie?
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Yeah, it has been in different areas. I mean areas
like given have had a hell of a hiding with
pine trees. I mean they've gone from having I think
a dozen clubs and when I was up there, down
to seven. Then they lost another one last year with
White Power Station Dog Trolls. That was their last one.
That's if you know, all planted and trees, which is
(02:19):
just another club that's gone under because of that. But yeah, overall,
fend Of like Wanganui, I mean they've got a hell
of a big following. You know, They've still got a
lot of big stations and a lot of shepherds over there,
So yeah, it's certainly it's certainly got as strong areas
and the other areas some are just hanging on.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
But yeah, perhaps I was more referring to, I think
the increasing number of female competitors and it was a
bit of an eye opener for me when I went
down to the Federated Farmers High Country Field Day Glenary Station.
It was a fantastic day. But you look at the
crew of shepherds down there. They were dominated by young
females who all had a big team of dogs and
(03:03):
all of them I think we're kind of dog trialists
as well.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Yeah, I look, there's some fantastic girls around. I mean
the current new Villain champion Viig Veg Champions, Samantha Shaw
from Giveslon. You've got Steph Tweed from down South. She's
eats of all the time. Joe wore up in Giveslon
and we're just very lucky that Beck Scragg and Wirel's
looking after young kids now because when she gets out
(03:28):
and gets furious, use trouble as well.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
So four disciplines, two hunt away, two heading are the
clear favorites or is it just on the day?
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Oh, I think you are a lot of guys. We've
got heading dogs and hunter wives. But yeah, a lot
of the older guys once they're not doing so much
work just stick to the heading dogs are but easier
to control and handle them, probably don't need quite so
much work as a young boy stiss hunterway. But yeah,
we've got like, it's all entries of three hundred and
(04:01):
ten competitives and there's about five hundred and thirty odd
dogs competing, so it's a both week.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Who are your icon competitors?
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Oh yeah, Look, I mean Lloyd Smith in the South
Island of a legend. He's got a record as long
as your arm. He's won five New Villain Championships. But
I think has one of his four days of his
ability with his training days. He's been doing that for
years and he's certainly lifted the caliber of dogs around
the country, and I mean, you know, there's any amount
(04:33):
of young guys around with good, good dogs now, and
I think of a lot of its attributes goes, you know,
to Lord's ability to put his training methods across. But
my one time icon who I've grown up with and
followed all my life and I've always had total respect
from his mourv utting and gives. Then I think he's
what he's got. He's got the best record of anyone
(04:55):
alive in New Zealain. He's won seven New Villain championships
with five different dogs. I think he's been in just
under seventy runoffs, which is an amazing feat. Was probably
twenty five different dogs. And he's just a great fellow
that will talk to anybody and he's a big game player.
(05:15):
He'll come up from behind him and one when people
have just about forgotten he was there. So he's someone
always to look out for. He's he's eighty two or
three years old, still climbs on a forth every day
and goes to work in the back of gives them
in an area that's again surrounded in pine trees.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
So yeah, absolutely try don't start Graham Williams on the
pine trees. I guess it's the equivalent of like those
of us with memories long enough for that magnificent show,
the Dog Show. Ginger Anderson, he was a bit of
a household name and dog trialing.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Yeah, well he is in him and Murv a pretty
good mates too. So yeah, Ginger is still about and
he's another one with a record of as long of
your arm. You know, there's numerous numerous people in your
villain that is super capable and have had a lot
of success.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Let's just finish on the social fabric of dog trialing
and rural and New Zealand. As a young kid, I
spent many a happy hour running around with other kids
while our dads back in those days, we're having a
couple of quiets after the dog trials.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Yeah, look, I mean the social side of it's fantastic.
I mean I grew up up the East Coast and
you know those dog trolls up there, and those those
were a hearty annual. You know that all the locals
would come down on a Saturday night and the guitar
would come out with the big barbecues, and like you say,
there'd be kid running around, et cetera, and it was
a fantastic lifestyle and we used to look forward to it,
(06:40):
you know, as a young sheep every weekend getting to
the trials, and it's a great it's a great way
to meet lots of other young guys. You end up
playing rugby with them. You're selling dogs to each other,
and you find out who's working. We're and networking for
jobs and that sort of thing. And like you said,
it's a good post to have a few beers afterwards,
and yeah, the social ads. And unfortunately with all the
(07:05):
pine trees going in and and that sort of thing,
it's getting less and less.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah, that is a real shame. Don't start me on
the pine trees where we should be growing the sheep
and beef. But nevermind. And of course with the rise
of all these young female shepherds you go along to
the dog trails and meet your future wife. Hey, Rocky Hawkins,
good luck for those National Dog trails coming up in
Hawk's Bay May twenty five to twenty nine. Will keep
an eye on the results here on the country.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yeah to you, Jamieen, thanks very much for your time.
It's all going to be happening in hawks Bay later
this month, In fact, May twenty five to twenty nine,
it's the New Zealand Dog Trial Championships in conjunction with
the North Island Champs. To tell us more, a man
who comes with a big rap. His name is Rocky Hawkins.
He's from the Hawk's Bay and Rocky my old mate
(00:20):
Graham Williams up the road in Gisbon said, you are
a legend and I need to talk to you about
the New Zealand Dog Trills coming up the championships. Do
you believe everything?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
He says, no, and you'd only find yourself in trouble
if you did.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Yeah, you're very well connected. What's your connection with the
New Zealand Dog Trail Champs coming up? As I said
later this month, I'm.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
A Gidan boy originally, but I've been down here for
thirty ideas and I'm prevident of the Hawk's Bay Association
which is hosting the championship. So I'm on the firing
line when things go wrong, and you hear nothing about
me when they go well.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
So they're being how at tat? Which is what about
halfway between Hastings and why puk.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, yeah, pretty much. Yeah, about twenty five minutes south
the hostings.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Yep, okay, so you've have to set up the course
for four disciplines. It's still four disciplines.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Yeah, yes, it is. Yep. Yeah. It's held at the
at the Tidy Dog Trill club Ground. It'll be the
seventh time I think that they've been held there since
nineteen seventy seven, so it's real good grounds can get
a bit of trouble with five early in the morning.
Sometimes it's just that time of the year.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
How many competitors are you expecting, Because it would appear
to me and my dad used to be a dog trialist.
I used to have friends who were good dog trialists.
I used to love commentating it at the rural games
in a past life. It would appear to me that
dog trialings are going through a bit of a renaissance.
Is it getting more popular? Rockie?
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Yeah, it has been in different areas. I mean areas
like given have had a hell of a hiding with
pine trees. I mean they've gone from having I think
a dozen clubs and when I was up there, down
to seven. Then they lost another one last year with
White Power Station Dog Trolls. That was their last one.
That's if you know, all planted and trees, which is
(02:19):
just another club that's gone under because of that. But yeah, overall,
fend Of like Wanganui, I mean they've got a hell
of a big following. You know, They've still got a
lot of big stations and a lot of shepherds over there,
So yeah, it's certainly it's certainly got as strong areas
and the other areas some are just hanging on.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
But yeah, perhaps I was more referring to, I think
the increasing number of female competitors and it was a
bit of an eye opener for me when I went
down to the Federated Farmers High Country Field Day Glenary Station.
It was a fantastic day. But you look at the
crew of shepherds down there. They were dominated by young
females who all had a big team of dogs and
(03:03):
all of them I think we're kind of dog trialists
as well.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Yeah, I look, there's some fantastic girls around. I mean
the current new Villain champion Viig Veg Champions, Samantha Shaw
from Giveslon. You've got Steph Tweed from down South. She's
eats of all the time. Joe wore up in Giveslon
and we're just very lucky that Beck Scragg and Wirel's
looking after young kids now because when she gets out
(03:28):
and gets furious, use trouble as well.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
So four disciplines, two hunt away, two heading are the
clear favorites or is it just on the day?
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Oh, I think you are a lot of guys. We've
got heading dogs and hunter wives. But yeah, a lot
of the older guys once they're not doing so much
work just stick to the heading dogs are but easier
to control and handle them, probably don't need quite so
much work as a young boy stiss hunterway. But yeah,
we've got like, it's all entries of three hundred and
(04:01):
ten competitives and there's about five hundred and thirty odd
dogs competing, so it's a both week.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Who are your icon competitors?
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Oh yeah, Look, I mean Lloyd Smith in the South
Island of a legend. He's got a record as long
as your arm. He's won five New Villain Championships. But
I think has one of his four days of his
ability with his training days. He's been doing that for
years and he's certainly lifted the caliber of dogs around
the country, and I mean, you know, there's any amount
(04:33):
of young guys around with good, good dogs now, and
I think of a lot of its attributes goes, you know,
to Lord's ability to put his training methods across. But
my one time icon who I've grown up with and
followed all my life and I've always had total respect
from his mourv utting and gives. Then I think he's
what he's got. He's got the best record of anyone
(04:55):
alive in New Zealain. He's won seven New Villain championships
with five different dogs. I think he's been in just
under seventy runoffs, which is an amazing feat. Was probably
twenty five different dogs. And he's just a great fellow
that will talk to anybody and he's a big game player.
(05:15):
He'll come up from behind him and one when people
have just about forgotten he was there. So he's someone
always to look out for. He's he's eighty two or
three years old, still climbs on a forth every day
and goes to work in the back of gives them
in an area that's again surrounded in pine trees.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
So yeah, absolutely try don't start Graham Williams on the
pine trees. I guess it's the equivalent of like those
of us with memories long enough for that magnificent show,
the Dog Show. Ginger Anderson, he was a bit of
a household name and dog trialing.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Yeah, well he is in him and Murv a pretty
good mates too. So yeah, Ginger is still about and
he's another one with a record of as long of
your arm. You know, there's numerous numerous people in your
villain that is super capable and have had a lot
of success.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Let's just finish on the social fabric of dog trialing
and rural and New Zealand. As a young kid, I
spent many a happy hour running around with other kids
while our dads back in those days, we're having a
couple of quiets after the dog trials.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Yeah, look, I mean the social side of it's fantastic.
I mean I grew up up the East Coast and
you know those dog trolls up there, and those those
were a hearty annual. You know that all the locals
would come down on a Saturday night and the guitar
would come out with the big barbecues, and like you say,
there'd be kid running around, et cetera, and it was
a fantastic lifestyle and we used to look forward to it,
(06:40):
you know, as a young sheep every weekend getting to
the trials, and it's a great it's a great way
to meet lots of other young guys. You end up
playing rugby with them. You're selling dogs to each other,
and you find out who's working. We're and networking for
jobs and that sort of thing. And like you said,
it's a good post to have a few beers afterwards,
and yeah, the social ads. And unfortunately with all the
(07:05):
pine trees going in and and that sort of thing,
it's getting less and less.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah, that is a real shame. Don't start me on
the pine trees where we should be growing the sheep
and beef. But nevermind. And of course with the rise
of all these young female shepherds you go along to
the dog trails and meet your future wife. Hey, Rocky Hawkins,
good luck for those National Dog trails coming up in
Hawk's Bay May twenty five to twenty nine. Will keep
an eye on the results here on the country.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yeah to you, Jamieen, thanks very much for your time.
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