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A young local sheepdog handler scored his first big trial win last month, taking out the zig-zag hunt title at the annual Northland Sheep Dog Trial Centre Championships.
Fletcher Sceats was the youngest competitor in the final at the Broadwood Sheep Dog Trial Club event from February 20 to 22, but with faithful huntaway dog Sarge at his side managed to beat four experienced senior triallists to the trophy.
Sceats, who was brought up on his family farm in Kaipara Flats and went to Mahurangi College, has been involved with working dogs and trialling for more than a decade. He’s been a member at several clubs in and around the region, including Helensville, Rodney and, most recently, Molesworth.
He has spent the last few years working at Oneriri station in Kaiwaka, where the Molesworth Sheep Dog Trial club is based and his grandfather, legendary local dog handler Bob Sceats, is patron.
Although Fletcher has scored a number of wins and places over the past year, the Broadwood win was his first big event title, beating well-known Northland triallists Grant West, Murray Child, Scott McRae and Mike Moody with a first run score of 95 out of 100 and 94.5 on the second.
Sceats’ win coincided with centenary celebrations for the Broadwood club, which lies west of Mangamuka in the Far North. The next big trial will be a bit easier to get to – the Rodney Sheep Dog Trial Club event, which is being held on Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29, at 324 Old Woodcocks Road, Kaipara Flats. All welcome.
