Our Partners

Key Partners

We're proud to announce Wilson Hellaby as the main sponsor of this year's Wilson Hellaby Cup – Cadet Challenge at the National Sheep Dog Trials.

The dog trialling tradition is one worth protecting, and it lives or dies on the next generation picking up the lead. That's exactly what the Cadet Challenge is all about — giving our young trialists a stage of their own, a bit of healthy competition, and the encouragement to keep the sport alive for years to come.

With Wilson Hellaby's backing, we're able to put the spotlight firmly on these up-and-coming cadets and the stations and programmes growing them. We're looking forward to welcoming Smedley Station, Pukemiro Station and Growing Future Farmers to this year's challenge — three names doing real work to develop the rural leaders and dog handlers of tomorrow.

A huge thank you to Wilson Hellaby for getting in behind our cadets. Here's to a great competition, some sharp young dogs, and the future of the sport in good hands.

Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre, Aratiatia

We couldn’t do this event without the partnership we have with the Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre. With their partnership we are able to use suitable grounds for the Sheep Dog Trials as well as allowing us the space outside for the many sheep that are brought in for the event.

Tutukau Trust

Tutukau Trust have been amazing by providing the sheep for us to use for the Sheep Dog Trials. Their partnership over the last 2 years has been invaluable.

Midlands Rural Transport

Midlands Rural Transport has been vital in the transportation of the sheep from one place to the other.

Black Hawk

Black Hawk have been a key sponsor since our trials first started in 2023 and we are immensely grateful for the time, commitment and product they have invested in our Sheep Dog Trials.

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Our naming rights partners

Te Akau Open Class Prize Pool

Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM has been nurturing the land to produce pasture second to none. Large paddocks allow all horses to run freely and develop naturally in a magnificent environment.

The property is utilised for raising foals and weanlings, educating yearlings, pre-training, training and spelling racehorses, as well as broodmares, alongside its successful sheep and cattle operation.

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Rockend Hereford Intermediate Class Prize Pool

Rock-End Herefords is a polled Hereford stud run by the McCormick family located in the Paraheka Valley, King Country, New Zealand.

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Piquet Hills Maiden Class Prize Pool

We’ve been helping farmers get the most out of their sheep and beef farming operations since 1966.

Thanks to our long-standing roots in the industry, our breeding programme is built upon knowledge and genetics that have been optimised over time – to ensure that the future of your farm is prosperous. With progressive and innovative breeding programs producing high performance lines of rams and bulls – your farm’s genetic future is in safe hands.

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Schaw Livestock Open Man - Maiden Dog

Blackhills Fencing Top Maiden Man - Dog

Prize pool partners

Bayleys Taupo (Westerman Realty Limited) is a family owned and operated real estate company in Taupo, committed to providing the most sophisticated real estate experience in New Zealand. Built on the foundations of customer service, team work, integrity, innovation, marketing and communication. Consistently recognised as a top performing office across the national Bayleys network.

One team, working together to seek the very best outcome for our clients to buy and sell their property.

Bayleys Taupo

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Black Hawk

Black Hawk has cared deeply about pet nutrition from the outset.

To us, every ingredient matters. Everything we do, and every product we make, is about ensuring our pet gets everything they need and nothing they don't. We source our premium ingredients form local farming partners, develop our recipes with our team of expert pet nutritionists and vets, and manufacture in regional Australia.

We are extremely proud of this commitment, as well as our long-standing loyalty to Australian farmers and regional communities. This is reflected in the ingredients we buy, and the wide range of community programs we support.

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