18/06/2026
FARM CADETS TO FEATURE AT DOG TRIALS
The 2026 Bayleys Sheep Dog Trials at Taupo on 23rd-27th June will feature an inaugural team competition for farm cadets. This fourth annual fundraising event for the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter takes place indoors at the Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre, Aratiatia, so is unaffected by inclement weather.
Organiser Dave Schaw is passionate about encouraging youngsters into the sport of dog trialing as well as supporting the rescue helicopter, so achieves both at this special charity event. The three previous dog trials raised over $86,000 in total, and with 260 entries this year, it looks like another successful occasion despite the tight economical times.
Farm cadets have featured individually previously, with Pukemiro’s Harry Peacock sensationally placing second overall in 2024, and Smedley’s Bradley Anderson winning the maiden man/maiden dog last year. The Judge’s Award for the most promising maiden went to Pukemiro’s Holly Bird last year, so competition will be keen.
Growing Future Farmers Waikato have entered cadets for the first time, but they have been mentored by successful national representative Leo Jecentho, so will be well prepared. Other training farms are expected to participate in the future, once they are “up to speed.”
The Wilson Hellaby Cadet Challenge takes place on the Friday, with teams comprising three cadets, who are also included in the overall judging. The Growing Future Farmers Waikato team is Hayward Vanstone, Luke Jones, and Max Cornes. They are based with farm mentors, and participate in online learning as well as hands on practical work.
Pukemiro Station, near Dannevirke, will be represented by Luke Smillie, Oliver Selby, and Sophie Chandler, while Smedley Station, in Central Hawkes Bay, have Ged Billing, Spencer Newman, and Fletcher Kopua. They also have two competing individually, Sophie White and Robbie Evans.
This year’s judge is Peter Campbell, a successful competitor and experienced judge from Northland, who also mentors aspiring dog trialists. An ever increasing number of participants are women, with Sheena Martin winning with Sav last year. Tradition refers to “man and dog” which she is perfectly comfortable about.
Sponsorship from local and regional businesses enables generous prize money to be paid as well as covering all the overheads involved in organizing an event of this size. Tutukau Trust supplies the 900 sheep required, and they are transported free of charge by Midland Rural Transport.
An auction of donated goods is a major attraction on Friday at mid-day, with well bred sheep dog pups the star items. They are advertised on the event’s page, which resulted in the top priced pup going to a telephone bid from the South Island previously. Huka Honda have again donated a kids motorbike which was a successful raffle item last year, and is proving popular again.
Blackhawk nutrition for dogs has partnered with the event from the outset, enabling all proceeds to go to the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter, which needs advanced aviation night vision goggles to extend their capabilities. As Dave Schaw says, “It might be a good day today, but you don’t know what tomorrow could bring.”
Written by
Virginia Caro
The photo is Smedley Station’s Bradley Anderson competing Merv last year, courtesy Take The Moment Photography.
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