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Great Southern Working Sheepdog Club

Albany Show Arena Trial

9th - 11th November  

Report by Jenny Whitelock

Photos by Nan Lloyd

The Albany Show each year provides a colourful backdrop for the running of the Albany Arena Trial, and also brings the year's arena trialling to an end with presentation of the Arena Dog of the Year Trophy. Triallers and their dogs will now enjoy a long break to firstly wind down, and then bring their dogs back up to fitness and finesse for when trialling starts again towards the end of February or beginning of March 2019.  

The Albany Agricultural Society and in particular their representative, (current President) Mrs Erika Henderson, have been a wonderful support to the Great Southern Sheep Dog Club since 2008 throughout the trials and tribulations of ongoing infrastructure improvements and the associated changes of venue. The inconvenience of the long-winded process has been well worth the wait with this year, the second year at the new venue, starting to feel more like a home ground.  

Sincere thanks from all the WAWSDA triallers to Dr Malcolm Webb & his wonderful staff at Albany Veterinary Hospital who have supported the Albany Sheep Dog Trial since it's inception in 2008. Every year Malcolm's team put together beautiful vet hampers for the first place-getters of each class, making the Albany Trial a popular one for triallers to aim at winning. It is always a pleasure to catch up with Malcolm when he personally attends the Trial to present the prizes.

Thank goodness for another long-term supporter of the Albany Trial or there wouldn't be a trial!...A HUGE THANK YOU to Colin, Janine & Rosie Ayres of Bornholm (Albany) for supplying sheep to run at the Albany trial every year since 2012.  

The sheep this year were similar to those of previous years...HUGE "worldly" 3 year old wethers - Merino cross Shetland Pony! At their age, and at this time of year with so much feed around they were "feeling their oats" and fairly put it to the dogs and their handlers, cheekily trying every trick in the book. The challenge at the let-out yards was keeping the big fellows in. If they thought about getting out, just one step and they literally walked over the fence panels! The big bullies of sheep were able to pick the weaker dogs and take them for a ride straight back to the let-out pens. They were also inclined to "hide" in the obstacles given half a chance and a few triallers were caught out leaving their sheep back at the previous obstacle as the cunning sheep ducked back inside as the handler stepped away.

The weather was kind for dog trialling for the duration of the weekend. Friday and Sunday were pleasantly sunny and mild with Saturday being a little overcast and cooler. As per usual the wind rose as each day wore on, but seemingly had no further adverse effect on the sheep as they were wiley anyway!  

Congratulations to Dave Lacey on his winning of the Arena Dog of the Year (& Breeder of the Arena Dog of the Year) with Akoonah Holly. Dave and Holly scored a total of 53.7 points over the year. Tony Boyle was Runner-up in the Arena Dog of the Year competition with Boylee Sugar scoring a total of 43.5 points over the year.  

Winner of the Cocoacina Trophy for Highest Scoring Novice Handler in the Arena Dog of the Year Competition was Tanya de Bijl with Boylee Scout.  

Winner of the Phil Slade Perpetual Trophy for Top Scoring Dog in the Open Qualifying Round of the Albany Trial was Nick Webb with Morillo Roy on a score of 81 points, which was also the highest score over the entire weekend.  

For those who are interested there were 34 runs in the Novice class with 5 scores, 4 of those including the pen and the 5th timed out at the pen. There were 30 runs in the Improver class with 8 scores and 47 runs in the first round of the Open class with 26 scores, 8 of those including the pen.

Novice judged by Phil Dorrell of Narrikup/Mount Barker

1st. Ken Atherton. Karrobar Cobba. 60 + 32 = 92. (Kelpie)

2nd. Tony Boyle. Boylee Guss. 56 + 24 = 80.

3rd. Jan Cornish. Bellview Ted. 77 + Scr = 77.

4th. Nan Lloyd. Kumbark Ace. 52 + 0 = 52. (Kelpie)

5th. Jenny Whitelock. Jensown Shamrock. 46 + Scr = 46.

Improver judged by Doreen Hansen of Qualeup/Kojonup

1st. Tony Boyle. Chillie. 69 + 62 = 131. (Kelpie/Huntaway X)

2nd. Karyn Buller. Boonining Rosie. 69 + Ret = 69. (Kelpie)

=3rd. Jan Cornish. Bellview Ted. 58 + Scr = 58.

=3rd. Jan Cornish. Boylee Biddee. 58 + Scr = 58.

5th. Ken Atherton. Karrobar Cobba. 55 + X = 55. (Kelpie)

6th. Nan Lloyd. Kumbark Ace. 44 (Kelpie)

7th. Vicky Dorrell. Ramulam Smokey. 42. (Kelpie/BC X)

8th. Karyn Buller. Boonining Maisie. 33. (Kelpie)  

Open judged by Dave Lacey of Waroona

1st. Tony Boyle. Boylee Sugar. 79 + 66 = 145.

2nd. Ivan Solomon. Perangery Trish. 75 + 68 = 143.

3rd. Peter Gorman. Coshie's Dusty. 77 + 58 = 135.

4th. Ivan Solomon. Perangery Sasha. 63 + 58 = 121.

5th. Nick Webb. Morillo Cinda. 77 + 41 = 118.

6th. Grant Cooke. Grassvalley Sky. 57 + 58 = 115.

7th. Tony Boyle. Boylee Midget. 56 + 58 = 114.

8th. Vicky Dorrell. Ramulam Smokey. 63 + 40 = 103. (Kelpie/BC X)

9th. Nan Lloyd. Barkervale Oswin. 58 + 30 = 88. (Kelpie)

10th. Nick Webb. Morillo Roy. 81 + Ret = 81.

11th. Ken Atherton. Badgingarra Champ. 64 + X = 64. (Kelpie)

12th. Grant Cooke. Grassvalley Bluey. 57 + X = 57.

         WINNERS CIRCLE

Novice: (L to R) Nan Lloyd, Ken Atherton, Tony Boyle

Improver:  (L to R) Ken Atherton, Nan Lloyd, Karyn Buller, Tony Boyle, Malcolm Webb

Open:  (L to R) Grant Cooke, Nick Webb, Tony Boyle, Ivan Solomon, Peter Gorman

The sheep scheming a plan at the bridge

Phil Dorrell's Ramulam Tippy trys some sweet-talk

Rick Janitz' Badgingarra Izzy wins an argument

Karyn Buller and Boonining Maisie

Karyn Buller's Boonining Maisie

Jenny Whitelock's Jensown Sooty - Who is more surprised?

Stalemate! Badgingarra Jem

Erika Henderson presents Nick Webb with the Phil Slade Memorial Trophy

Jenny Whitelock and Boylee Talent in negotiations

Rick Janitz' Ramulam Bea studies from the letout