Novice Triallist Kay McClymont Triumphs at South Island Challenge

Kay McClymont and her dog, Peggy Sue, secured a remarkable victory in the novice section of the South Island Yarding Challenge on November 22, 2023. The event took place at the West Otago A&P Show in Tapanui, where McClymont expressed her surprise at winning. “It was exciting,” she stated, emphasizing the thrill of the competition.

This duo stood out as the only novice finalists capable of successfully penning a flock of composite hoggets. Their performance earned them a place in the upcoming New Zealand Yarding Challenge final, scheduled for January 18, 2024, at Aratiatia Station in Taupō. This will be McClymont’s first experience competing in the North Island and at a national final, adding to the anticipation leading up to the event.

To prepare for the challenge, McClymont plans to intensify her training with Peggy Sue, who competes under the name “Peg.” “I don’t want to go all that way and not be competitive, so we’ll be ramping up the training through December and early January,” she explained. Despite the rigorous training ahead, McClymont finds joy in the process. “The training never felt like work because I enjoyed it so much.”

McClymont manages a farm specializing in sheep, beef, and deer on approximately 12 hectares near Tapanui and works for VetSouth as the Tapanui clinic coordinator. She bred and trained Peggy Sue from a pup, with the dog being sired by Brian Dickison’s dog, Cole. McClymont has been part of the Maitland Sheep Dog Trial Club for over a decade and acknowledged the club’s support.

The community aspect of the sport resonates with her. “You’re all competing against each other, but everybody is so encouraging and supportive,” she remarked. Notably, four out of the five novice finalists in Tapanui were women, showcasing the growing participation of females in the sport. “It’s really great to be involved in, and there’s a lot of females in it now, which is really good.”

Earlier this season, McClymont and Peggy Sue also excelled at a heat for the New Zealand Yarding Challenge at the Ashburton A&P Show, where they won the maiden section with a score of 91.5 points. Reflecting on that achievement, McClymont admitted, “That was a shock as well.”

The results from the Tux New Zealand Yarding Challenge at the West Otago A&P Show highlighted the competitiveness of the event. In the open category, Ian Stevenson with his dog Queen took the top spot with a score of 98, followed closely by Levi McCall and Amy Robertson with scores of 97 and 96.5, respectively. In the novice category, McClymont and Peggy Sue led with a score of 77.5, ahead of Sage Spence and Mitchell Hancox.

As McClymont and Peggy Sue prepare for the challenge in Taupō, their journey is not only a reflection of personal achievement but also a testament to the supportive community within the sheepdog trialing sport. With training ramping up, their dedication and passion are set to shine on a national stage.