It was over in the blink of an eye.
The race was won for the second year in a row by Rusty (3), of Lake Hawea, belonging to Travis Brenssell.
Dozens of enthusiastic terrier owners entered their pets.
A short-legged non-terrier of unknown breeding won the race but was disqualified, causing some initial confusion for organisers before the winner was identified.
The imposter's owner was embarrassed his pet won and slunk away quickly at the end of the race, relinquishing the prize of dog food products to Mr Brenssell and Rusty.
Mr Brenssell said Rusty did not train for the event. "He knows what he is doing," Mr Brenssell said.
Dozens of other dogs did not.
They were given plenty of opportunity to get a close-up whiff of the bait by huntsman Glynne Smith, who did several passes along the start line with a dead rabbit.
When the command to go came, many sat down or turned around and left the field.
The speedy ones were on the rabbit in a flash and soon the show arena was seething with yapping dogs and frantic owners calling them to heel.
Second was Tim Edie of Birchwood Station's Seb (2), and third was Georgia Underwood of Lake Benmore, with Julie (8).
Meanwhile, Ken and Joss Taylor from Otautau won the 2009 Meat and Wool Golden Lamb (Glammies) award with their Textra lamb, processed at the winning plant, Alliance Group, Mataura.
The Glammies Champion retailer title was shared by Freshzone Countdown and Freshzone Woolworths, both from the South Island.
Malvern Downs Station of Tarras, owned by Robbie Gibson, won the new John Smedley Award for the three highest scoring fleeces in the stud and merino flock, while Robbie Calder of St Bathans and his dog Neville won the Willis Scaife Memorial Trophy for dog trialling.
President Phill Hunt thanked volunteers who helped set up the grounds and welcomed the support of sponsors and Combined Rural Traders, which had enabled the town to put on a "world-class show".
