Dog-trialling duo Les Roughan and Prince are 100 not out.
Mr Roughan, of Gore, and Prince have been competing at the South Island and New Zealand sheep dog trial championships at Alpha Burn Station near Wanaka this week.
"We're a good old pair. There wouldn't be many 12-year-old dogs [here]. I think I would definitely be the oldest competitor here. It doesn't worry me, anyway," the spritely octogenarian said.
While Prince was being retired from trialling after this week's competition, there were no such plans for Mr Roughan to relinquish the sport.
As long as he had his driver's licence, he planned to live on the farm at Mandeville, now taken over by one of his sons, and continue to attend trials.
He usually attended about 20 trials throughout Otago and Southland each season and carried a stick embossed with both his name and that of his late wife, Joan.
"I've always liked working dogs. Right from a small boy I always had a pup following me. My father always said I'd make a shepherd one day," he said.
He enjoyed the people involved in the sport, saying they also seemed to enjoy him.
"Even the 18-year-olds will come and talk to me."
He has three dogs and it was his two heading dogs, Prince and Flirt, who qualified for the championships.
Prince, who was named top dog for the Southland centre at the ripe old age of 11, was destined for a new home on a lifestyle block where he was going to be well looked after.
The dog was very special and Mr Roughan was feeling "a little bit guilty" about running him at his age.
"He still thinks he's a boy," he said fondly, as the dog gambolled around.
While describing Prince as "one of the best but not the best" of the dogs he had owned, he rated Flirt as one of the best he had ever had.
"She does everything I ask her and she picks up what I want very quickly."
Mr Roughan has been attending national championships since 1982 and while he has "never really got into the top stuff", he has won two Southland championships and one Otago championship.
One of his greatest thrills was being first to run, with his dog Jill, at the new Canterbury A and P showgrounds in Christchurch.
The pair qualified with that run so Jill was also the first dog to run in the ring.
"For a Southlander to go up and do that," he said, laughing.
Son Trevor was competing at the championships with a heading dog, Kim, and there was a "friendly" rivalry.
Mr Roughan was thrilled to have been asked to judge the bench class with fellow dog trialling identity P. L. Anderson.
TUX South Island and New Zealand Championship Dog Trials after day three.
Long head. - Tom Manson, Mohaka, Glen; Eric Stringer, Kyeburn, Matt; Ross Millar, Little River, Shade; Scott McRae, Molesworth, Elle; Neil Evans, Omihi, Gem; Graham Wellington, Aria, Teak; Rob Mather, Mangamahu, McQueen.
Short head and yard. - Boyd Tisdall, Strath Taieri, Jackie; Kelvin Sadler, Waimate, Trix; Dick Roy, Gore, Rei; Guy Redfern, Kaikoura, Kane; Roger Tweed, Waitahuna, Tom; Andy Clark, Tai Tapu, Lady; Bruce Parkinson, Raetihi, Brook.
Zigzag hunt. - Mark Porter, Waingaro, Moss; Todd Heynes, Alfredton, Rua; Lloyd Duffy, Egmont, Pearl; Steve Kerr, MacKenzie, Dodge; Mark Loye, Okawa, Troup; Dan Greenwood, Hilton Gapes, Cruise; Kerry Kilmister, Tinui, Todd.
Straight hunt. - Steve Kerr, MacKenzie, Bully; Dave Vaughan, Taieri, Earl; Roger Tweed, Waitahuna, Gemma; Robin McKenzie, Warepa, Ned; Aaron Bell, Waitaki, Molly; Murray Kennedy, Wyndham, Stream; Glen Tomlinson, Omarama, Tune.
