12-05-2025
Award for keen, ambitious triallist behind host Earnscleugh Station
Central Otago dog triallist Alistair Campbell is the first recipient of a merit award from the North Otago dog trial centre.
The award, which was endorsed by the New Zealand Sheep Dog Trial Association, was presented to Mr Campbell at the centre championships at the Patearoa Collie Club trial grounds last week.
At the presentation a certificate was presented, which included a summary of Mr Campbell's dog trialling history written by fellow Omakau Earnscleugh Collie Club dog triallist Paul McCarthy, of Alexandra.
It said Mr Campbell's interest in dog trialling began in the late 1960s. Brought up on Beaumont Station, he had plenty of chances to advance that passion.
The intensity of that interest only grew when John Bartlett joined the shepherding staff.
Mr Bartlett not only brought some new bloodlines of both heading and huntaway dogs to the area, but also more structured and intense training methods, some of which were still used by Mr Campbell.
In 1970, he qualified his first dog, a huntaway, for the New Zealand championships at Mararoa, near Te Anau.
A keen and ambitious farmer, it was not long before he went farming on his own account. In 1972, he shifted to Locharber in the Canterbury high country.
In 1977, he was on the move again, this time to Te Akatarawa Station in the Waitaki Valley, and in 1981 he managed to acquire Earnscleugh Station, which was no mean feat, and a testament to his ambition and drive, Mr McCarthy wrote.
''Through these years of rapid progress Alistair understandably didn't trial as much as he does today but always had dogs that could compete and took a keen interest in bloodlines. He was also a strong member of the Omakau Collie Club.''
In 2015 due to a property sale, the Omakau club had to move and Mr Campbell offered Earnscleugh Station to use as its new grounds.
The first trial was held in 2016 with very little in the way of facilities but was a success, and the Omakau Earnscleugh Collie Club went about building all the necessary infrastructure required with the aim to be able to run a major championship. In 2022, the club hosted a very successful South Island Championships.
''It is without doubt that none of this could have been without the unwavering and wholehearted support from Alistair and his family,'' Mr McCarthy said.
— APL
