Dogs at the centre of action on Rural Day

The social whirl, the waiting for events to start, and the pressure to perform to perfection in front of large crowds all proved a little too much for some of the canine contestants in Feilding.

The fox terrier Manu put his best paw forward, but he couldn't cut it with the big huntaway farm dogs, their style and their barks.

Hundreds of people made their way to Feilding on Friday as town and country rubbed shoulders at the annual Rural Day. .

Alan Irwin and his dog Oscar won first prize for the dog's big bark and good control in the Huntaway Big Bark competition.

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The winner was the police team, which was neck and neck with another team until the final leg. Then officer Lee Oudenryn, a former winger for the Warrior's rugby league team, won the final sprint.

Team manager Neil Martin, a rural police officer, swore the team had no practice, but planned to go for a debrief at a Feilding bar.

The first women's team home was Fisher print. The green-wigged Manawatu District Council team won the best-dressed award.

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