Cookhouse helper Sarah Neilson is calling it a day at the club after 21 years in the area.
She and her husband Andrew have sold their sheep and beef farm and are moving to Alexandra "for a new adventure".
"We are too old for the hills, I guess," Mrs Neilson laughed.
Bar manager Sandra Chapman said the club’s annual trial over two days in Dunback last week would be her last behind the bar.
She reckons the best part of her job was meeting the patrons.
"They are entertaining and when they’ve had a few they are more entertaining — it has been fun."
Cookhouse manager Linda Smith , the wife of club president Lloyd Smith, is relaxed about filling the vacant positions because her daughter has taught her how to advertise the positions on social media.
She joked about some advice she once gave her daughters.
Cookshops in Omarama and Gore are now run by her daughters, who enjoy being part of their rural communities.
Triallists from throughout Otago, Southland and Canterbury compete at Waihemo, many chasing competition points to qualify for the South Island Championships in Blenheim on May 6 and the North Island and New Zealand Championships in Taranaki on May 27.
Some shepherds compete at trials, such as Waihemo, to display their skills to help secure work for any farmers watching and needing staff.
"That’s a bonus for the young people," Mrs Smith said.
Ngāi Tahu planted forestry on land near the courses in recent years.
Mr Smith was thankful John and Katrina Caley bought the 200ha sheep and beef farm Cressbrook five years ago and the club’s four courses could remain there rather than being planted in trees.
"They are good courses and I don’t know where we would have shifted to — it worked out well," he said.
Before competing at Waihemo, he already had enough points to qualify a dog for the nationals.
"There’s not too many corners of New Zealand I haven’t seen through dog trials," he said.
Club secretary Jazz Drummond — , Mrs Neilson’s daughter — had qualified a dog before but was taking a break from competing in the sport despite loving it.
Motherhood and working part-time at PGG Wrightson in Palmerston was taking the time it would take to train and qualify a dog.
To hold a dog trials took a community effort, Mrs Drummond said.
Liberator Colin Chapman, who is married to Sandra, was releasing Romney sheep on the straight hunt course.
The sheep for the four courses were provided by Stoneburn farmer Will Heckler.
Mr Chapman said he no longer competed in the sport but helped out to keep the event alive.
"If you don’t keep things like this going in the community, we will lose it and we haven’t got much left in our area as it is — all we have left is the bowling club and the dog trials."
