Date: Notice: 11th August 2011 PRESIDENTS REPORT – AUGUST 2011   In  this  my  first  report as  your  new  President  I  would  first  of  all  like  to  say  a  big    “thank  you” to  our  outgoing  President  Merv King  for  the  outstanding  job  he  has  done  over  the  last  four  years.  A  lot  goes  on  behind  the  scenes  and  Merv  has  spent  a  lot  of  time  and  effort  in  keeping  our  association  ticking  over  smoothly.   Congratulations  to  Ken  Patterson  and  the  North  Otago  team  for  running  such  a  good  Tux   South  Island  championship  at  Waitaki ...  Efficient  organization  produced  a  very  enjoyable  week, with  a  lot  of  good  work and  everything  went  well.   Jim  Chaffey  and  the  Wairarapa  Southern  Hawkes  Bay  centre  also  deserve  congratulations  for  hosting  an  excellent  Tux  North  Island  and  New  Zealand  championship  at  Masterton.   Entries  were  some  of  the  highest  ever  and  again  extremely  good  organization  and  teamwork  resulted  in  a  high  standard  of  work  and  another  memorable  week.   With  the  end  of  the  Open  trial  season  comes  the  Tux  Yarding  Challenge  and  Tux  Handy  Dog  series  as  well  as  many  showring  and  charity  events.  I  had  the  pleasure  of  attending  the  Taranaki  Showring  Dog  Trial  Event  in  Hawera  and  with  200  entries  and  an  extremely  high  standard  of  work  all  under  cover  it  was  an  impressively  organized  event.  The  spot  prizes  make  it  quite  unique  and  the  prizes  and  trophies  for  the  winners  were  amazing. Good  luck  to  everyone  competing  in  these  events  in  the  coming  months.   John Harvey President New Zealand Sheep Dog Trial Association 19 August 2009 NEW PUBLICATION   John Tombleson, life member of NZSDTA and president of Poverty Bay Centre from 1958 to 1979 recalls events in which he was involved during those years. Read about his experiences as a competitor, official and judge. This is an informative and entertaining book which will delight sheep dog trialists and others.   To obtain your copy , please send a cheque for $30, made out to John Tombleson, to PO Box 113 , GISBORNE 4040 and include your name and address.   Enquiries: 06-868-7280 or 06-867-8331 or aliross@xtra.co.nz         12 July 2009 TUX SOUTH ISLAND DOG AND SHEPHERD TRAINING DAYS Grant Calder of Lauder Station  St Bathans is the coordinator of the South Island Dog and Shepherd Training. Grant would like people in the South Island to contact him to register their interest which would enable him to Document a list You may do this by email at rgcalder@xtra.co.nz or text/phone 021 775440 Training times and dates with information will then be notified. 20th July 2007 Les Knight  Sheep Dog Training DVDs are available from The Secretary NZSDTA. Cell Phone 027 2119117   Email: NZSDTA@xtra.co.nz   OVIS CERTIFICATES At all dog trials at every centre and club in New Zealand it is mandatory that "All classes and types of dogs entering trial grounds must have Ovis Certificates of no more than 30 days prior to trial." This approved Council recommendation,without exception, is to be strictly enforced and applies to all dogs, competing or otherwise, present on trial grounds. Dogs are to remain in vehicles until certificates have been checked.