They say every dog has its day and yesterday nothing could have been more true as 84 of man's best friends took to the slopes of Coronet Peak in the Speight's Dog Derby.
Part of the 2008 American Express Winter Festival, the Dog Derby was once again a huge hit with farm dogs - and wannabe farm dogs.
Unsuspecting skiers and boarders were forced to "watch out for the yellow snow" as the record number of dogs and their owners rode in chair lifts to the top of the race track, some canines marking their territory on the way.
Then they hurtled down the slope at breakneck speed - some owners sitting, others rolling.
While some pairs managed to stay together, many were separated with the dogs more intent on frolicking in the snow, much to the disgust of their soon hoarse masters.
One competitor overtook the rest of the field at the bottom of the slope and on standing up revealed his secret weapon - a plastic shovel, used as a seat.
Another made practical thinking go a long way, gliding past the field on a snowboard, with his dog sitting at his feet.
Most were dressed for the occasion, wearing the lowest coefficient-of-friction clothing they could find - generally waterproof pants.
However, Mark Wilson, the Queenstown representative on the Speight's Ale House delivery to London last year, wore his trusty Stubbies shorts.
After reaching the bottom of the slope, the big challenge began with the shepherds trying to whistle-command their dogs through two marker posts.
As they whistled, yelled, cursed and pointed, the confusion reached fever pitch, while their "best friends" stood staring at them, bemused and barking - anything but going where their masters intended.
Eventually, Steven Joyce and his dog Fall were declared the winners from Mike Gill and Zig with Daniel Price and Lyod third.
Sharon Chant and Tap won the women's section.
The action then moved to the Village Green, in the heart of Queenstown, for the dog barking contest, with the animals supposed to stand on a hay bale and bark on cue.
While most managed it, others did not, forcing the owners to take to the hay bales themselves - on all fours - and bark like a dog, in front of hundreds of amused onlookers.
The highlight of the festival today will be the Fresh Choice Ladies Cocktail Evening at Memorial Hall, where this year's Top Bloke contestants will do their best to bribe and pamper the ladies (in return for a vote) before the 2008 Top Bloke is named on Sunday.
