Dogpro Plus Holmbush Arena trial. June 6th-9th.

Holmbush, just out of the Wheatbelt town of Kellerberrin, was a new venue for the Great Southern clubs annual arena trial. Holmbush is the property of Rod and Judy Forsyth and was  a lovely setting for a trial.

Sheep were supplied by Rex and Rachel Luers. Thanks also to Kelvin and Jonelle Tiller who had sheep on standby, but which were not needed due to a number of scratchings. Also many thanks to Graham Laird of Russell’s Transport who transported the sheep free of charge driven by Robbie Stevens from STS Transport.

They were very good trial sheep, challenging at the pen and the race but keen to go up the bridge, causing a few issues when people had to re-work the obstacle. They stood up to the weaker dogs and would run if the dogs were a little pushy, but everyone had a good opportunity to work them. Quite a few people got to the pen on a high score only to run off the points when the sheep refused to go in.

WA’s wheatbelt had experienced their driest season since records began, and when competitors arrived at the ground there was only dust and wind. That changed overnight when the rain came and there were smiles all round as about 30 mm fell over the weekend. So no-one worried too much about the wind and the cold but it did get a little uncomfortable and most people were looking a little like Eskimos. The wind actually made walking up the ground quite challenging, and competitors had to be careful they did not get blown off course.

It was an enjoyable well run trial, with some high scores from the open dogs to finish the weekend.

There were 39 entries in the novice with 13 scores, 38 entries in the improver with 12 scores and 76 entries in the open with 36 scores.

Results.

Encourage judged by Yvonne Haynes from Perth

1st Des Davies and Marionvale Bella.

Novice judged by Doreen Hansen from Kojonup.

Final Judged by Tanya DeBijl.

1st. Dave Lacey. Somerville Katie. 89+94=183.

2nd. Rod Forsyth. Barkervale Austin. 83+61=144. Kelpie.

3rd. Nan LLoyd. Kumbark Ace. 87+41=128. Kelpie.

4th. Rod Forsyth. Grassvalley Hazel. 75.

5th. Dave Lacey. Coshies Kimba. 71.

6th. Frank Sutherland. Rocky Magpie. 70

7th. Nan Lloyd. Whites Ree. 60. Kelpie.

=8th. Tony Boyle. Boylee Whitie. 50.

=8th. Len Morton. Perengary Sadie. 50

10th. Tony Boyle. Boylee Major. 43.

Improver Judged by Nan Lloyd from Beverley

1st. Peter Gorman. Badgingarra Pip. 91+81=172.

2nd. Karyn Buller. Booninning Maisie. 85+57=142. Kelpie.

3rd. Alison Burrell. Illoura Penny. 85+DQ=85.

4th. Ken Atherton. Badgingarra Champ. 83. Kelpie.

5th. Rick Janitz. Badgingarra Izzy. 82.

6th. Doreen Hansen. Jandoree Harley. 78.

7th. Tony Boyle. Boylee Gus.

8th. Ivan Solomon. Perengary Di. 66.

9th. Len Morton. Perengary Sadie 66.

10th. Marianne Rogers Ok Anwenell. 61.

Open Judged by Ken Atherton from West Arthur.

1st. Tony Boyle. Boylee Sugar. 94+97=191.

2nd. Grant Cooke. Grassvalley Moss. 89+94=183.

3rd. Ivan Solomon. Perengary Sasha. 87+94=181.

4th. Peter Gorman. Coshies Dusty. 87+90=177.

5th. Tony Boyle. Boylee Midget. 87+90=177.

=6th. Peter Gorman. Princes Sally. 93+80=173.

=6th. Ivan Solomon. Perengary Di. 85_88=173.

8th. Dave Lacey Akhoona Holly. 86+86=172.

9th. Dave Lacey. Akhoona Lady. 85+85=170.

10th. Gordon Curtis. Kumbark Tina. 90+77=167. Kelpie

11th. Peter Gorman. Pendalup Steel. 92+70=162.

12th. Grant Cooke. Grassvalley Blue. 97+DQ=97.

13th. Frank Sutherland. Pendalup Sue. 90+X=90.

New South Wales visitor, Allison Burrel and Illoura Penny at the bridge.

Gordon Curtis's Kumbark Tina.

Frank Sutherland and Pendalup Sue. Frank was wearing his pink hat he purchased fron the Kellerberrin Hotel and was raisning money for breast cancer.

Ivan Solomons Perengary Di.

Marriane Rogers and Marionvale  Aykeira, showcasing the dry conditions.

Novice Placegetters. Dave lacey 1st, Rod Forsyth 2nd and 4th, Nan Lloyd 3rd.

Improver placegetters. Ken Atherton 4th, Alison Burrell, 3rd, Karyn Buller 2nd.

Peter Gorman, 1st.

Open Placegetters. Tony Boyle 1st and 5th, Ivan Solomon, 3rd, Peter Gorman 4th,

Grant Cooke 2nd. 

Article and photos by Nan Lloyd