Barking dogs, people of all ages and great food made for a grand birthday party in St. Batans on Saturday.
The St. Bathens Collie Club celebrated its 100th anniversary by inviting the community, sponsors, competitors and everyone involved in dog testing to the proving grounds.
Club secretary and treasurer Janet Smith said the club relies on sponsors and the local community to support the event each year and would like to thank them for their support.
Jim Morgan, the club’s oldest member, now in Omakau, at 95, cut the cake.
Two freshmen, Don Malcolm of Mount St. Batans Station and Grant Calder of Lauder Station, were awarded badges for their long-term commitment to the club.
Malcolm said he thought he was a little too young to become a Life Member.
Calder said he is 75 years old and has had dogs for 70 of those years.
One of the biggest changes he saw over the years was the involvement of women in dog testing and farming.
Women were more than capable, he said.
At the age of 23, he won the New Zealand title at Kaikohe with Danny, a dog tamed by his wife Robin.
“She handed him to me with tears in her eyes and said I’d rather win the title with him.”
Mr. Calder and Danny won both the South Island and New Zealand competitions.
Mr. Malcolm and Mr. Calder provided sheep for testing on dogs.
Family traditions were rooted in the Collie Club.
Calder said Saturday’s event was the third time three generations of Calder had attended. Previously he was there with his father and grandfather, then with his father and his son. Now he was a senior member of the trio.
Becs Calder, a centenary committee member and restaurant team member, said there were four generations of Calder women in the restaurant when her daughter was young.
Diet was an important part of the dog trial and presented unique challenges, Mrs. Calder said.
Until that day, it was always unknown how many people were there. Soup was not on the menu this year as the trial changed from his March to his January.
The community has been generous and donated a lot of food, she said.
After the procedure, barking rounded off the afternoon.
Climbing up to the table and performing was the biggest challenge for some.
Barkup winners were Archie Calder and Gavin.
Equal in second were Amy Lee Matthews and Smoke, also of Vex, and Zara Glennie and Stella, also of Vex.
The ordeal ends today.
julie.asher@odt.co.nz
