The Te Puke Sheep Dog Trial Club ended a 54-year-old tradition for the district when it held its last trials on the MacDougall farm at Pukehina in March.

A huntaway works sheep up the hill.

Most shepherds use whistles but some use voice commands, or a combination of both.

The changing face of land use means there are fewer sheep farmers left in the Te Puke district, so finding animals for the dogs to work is becoming harder.

'Since 1960 we have held trials on this farm but Te Puke is now a dairying and kiwifruit district and we have to truck in sheep for the competition – so next year we are moving to where the sheep are – probably at Manawahe or Rotorua,” says Lindsay Wright, the club's assistant secretary.

'The club is grateful to the MacDougall family for the use of the property over all those years; and it's quite sad to see that association end,” says Lindsay.

During the club's 2014 two-day event on the farm in Old Coach Rd in early March, about 80 shepherds from Rotorua, King Country, Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Rotorua tested their skills – and those of their dogs – against crafty Romney sheep.

They included competitors with years of experience, and newcomers who competed on what is described as one of the best trial courses in the country.

The courses included steep hills and flat areas, which tested the communications and skills of dogs and shepherds as they worked to move and pen sheep under the watchful eyes of judges from the King Country and Hawke's Bay.

During the years, the club has provided facilities, including judge's ‘huts', toilets and a half-round barn, which doubles as the secretary's office and catering facility. For many years Pukehina School has provided home baking and sandwiches for morning and afternoon teas and lunches.

Dogs and shepherds work together to move sheep through the short head and yard course at the Te Puke Sheep Dog Trial Club's event.

Judges Graeme Brier of the King Country, and Alex Stewart of Te Puke, judge the long head course on the first day of the Te Puke Sheep Dog Trial Club's event.

Bryce Gilbert of Tauranga, with Belle, is about to compete on the long head course at the Te Puke Sheep Dog Trial Club's event.

Don Alabaster of Rotorua, with his dog Boss, is about to compete on the huntaway course at the Te Puke Sheep Dog Trial Club's event.