Lloyd Smith, of Palmerston, was the best-performed Otago triallist at the North Island sheep dog trial championships, held at Whangara, near Gisborne, last week.
Smith and his dog, Ernie, finished fourth in the zigzag hunt, with a score of 96.75 in the first round and 92 in the run-off.
The New Zealand championships begin at Gore on June 7.
