Wagin National Yard Trial Championship.

Wagin in Western Australia was the host town for the Midalia Steel National Yard Dog Championship of 2012.

This was the first time it has been held in Wagin, WA's last host town was Northam in 2005.

A new course was set up at the Wagin Showgrounds. The showgrounds also host the Wagin Woolerama, a huge sheep and wool show held in March each year.

Weatherwise there were a few cloudy chilly days mixed in with some nice warm sunshine and cold nights, including an icy start to the last day.

The sheep were the difficult part.

The novice sheep were Dohne Merino cross ewes, and in typical Dohne style did not want to flock together. They were difficult to move out of the big holding yard into the smaller pens, mainly as they continually tried to break back towards the sheep in the cooling off area.

There was no trailer to load in this event, just a drenching race, a draft and a few pens to move through.

The course for all events was fairly tricky. Gates had to be open and shut in a few different ways so needed a bit of thinking to remember where to go next.   

The open sheep were young Merinos ewes. These were also quite lively, did not like to flock together and could run very fast if they had a mind to, often into the fence. A few decided they did not like being in the yard and so leapt over the fences in fine style.

The sheep for the open finals were 2 year old merino weathers. they were fairly big, strong and agile.

If they did not like the look of the dog they just stood there and refused to go anywhere.

Even if one of them headed in the right direction the rest did not want to follow so the dog had to constantly go back and move the next lot up.

The draft was the hoodoo, with many competitors running out of time here. The sheep just circled around and would not flow. If the dog was brought up to move the front forward, the rest of the sheep simply ran to the back of the pen and had to be restarted. Often one or two would go but the rest would not follow. The truck also caused a few issues with the sheep refusing to come back down the ramp or jamming tight at the gates. There were not many high scores for the duration of the trial.

Results.

All Kelpies unless stated.

Midalia Steel Novice Yard judged by Ken Atherton.

1st. Andrew Gorton. Just Martha. 103 (BC)

2nd Gary White. Whites Mitch. 93.

3rd. Nigel Armstrong. Cagella Kinda. 70

4th Gary White. Binnaburra Lady. 67

5th Tony Boyle. Boylee Tobie. 59. (BC)

Midalia Steel National Australian Yard Dog Trial. Top 26.

Judged by Neil Kristianson and Rick Jones.

1. Lee Mickan. Barkel Sasha. 24. SA.

2. Kevin Howell. Karana Tige. 35.

3. Alvin Reid. Phileve Roz. 0 TAS

4. Lee Mickan. True Blue Rosie 11. 15.5.

5. Dennis Kline Barerock Charlie. 0. TAS.

6. Joe Spicer. Gogetta Miss Tory. 0.

7. Rex Hocking. Washpool Flynn. 0. 

8. Joe Spicer. Gogetta Vision. 0.

9. Nigel Armstrong. Yarralonga Darkie. 17. WA.

10. Kevin Howell. Karana Ripper. 9.

11. Rex Hocking. Washpool Lee. 13.

12. Joe Spicer. Gogetta Token. 47.5.

13. Kevin Howell. Karana Sami. 50.

14. Steven Wilksch. Seldomin Joe. 21. SA.

15. Joe Spicer. Gogetta Package. 14.5. 

16. Gary White. Whites Oz. 10.

17. Gordon Curtis. Binnaburra Jess. 0.

18. Kevin Howell. Karana Duke. 0. NSW.

19. Barry McCreanor. Eulooka Chevy. 1.

20. Ken Atherton. Ramulam Gus. 36.5. (BC).

21. Joe Spicer. Gogetta Bosker. 45.5. VIC.

22. Rex Hocking. Washpool Rubina. L/S.

23. Kevin Howell. Karana Abba. 39.5. NSW.

24. Gary White. Whites Fella. 14.

25. Andrew Gorton. Boylee Ella. 0. WA (BC)

26. Joe Spicer. Gogetta Brue. 51.5. VIC.

MIdalia Steel National Australian Yard Dog Final.

1st. Joe Spicer. Gogetta Brue. 131.5

2nd. Kevin Howell. Karana Sami. 122.5

3rd. Ken Atherton. Ramulam Gus. 121. (BC).

4th Joe Spicer. Gogetta Token. 116.5.

5th Joe Spicer. Gogetta Bosker. 116.

6th Kevin Howell. Karana Abba. 103.5.

7th Steven Wilksch. Sedlomin Joe. 101.

8th. Kevin Howell. Karana Tige. 79.5.

9th Lee Mickan. Barkall Sasha. 55.5.

Midalia Steel Preliminary Open Yard Championship.

1st. Joe Spicer. Gogeta Bosker. 77.5

2nd Kevin Howell. Karana Sami. 70 

3rd. Ken Atherton. Ramulam Gus.  (BC). 74

4th Gary White. Whites Fella. 77

5th. Joe Spicer. Gogetta Package. 73 

6th Lee Mickan. Barkel Sasha. 72

7th Kevin Howell. Karana Ripper. 71.5

8th. Rex Hocking. Washpool Rubina. 71

9th Joe Spicer. Gogetta Miss Tory. 70.5

10th. Rex Hocking. Washpool Flynn. 65.5

11th. Joe Spicer. Gogetta Vision.  64

12th Gordon Curtis. Binnaburra Jess. 57.5

The lovely moon on the first morning of the trial.  

Michael Green's Pomander Val.

Denis Kline's Barerock Charlie, loading the trailer.

Gary White and White's Oz.

Joe Spicer and Gogetta Bosker.

View from the Grandstand: ie our sheep suppliers Semi.

Lee Mickan and True Blue Rosie at the draft.

Rex Hocking and Washpool Flynn,

The 'grandstand' from ground level.

Gary White's Whites Oz.  

Ken Atherton and Ramulam Gus,

Gary White's Whites Fella  

Gary White's Whites Fella.

Andrew Gortons Boylee Ella

Denis Kline's Four Oaks Richo.

Main winner of the weekend Joe Spicer with our sponsor from Midalia Steel in Wagin

The top 12 in the preliminary Yard Dog Trial Final, with the two Judges.

Photos below indicate how tough the sheep were. They simply would not look away from the dog.

Denis Kline's Four Oaks Richo  

Whites Fella

Whites Fella  

Boylee Ella

Photos and Article by Nan lloyd.

I have endevoured to get correct names to dogs and handlers but mistakes can be made, please let me know if I have mislabled a dog or handler.

I have many more photos which I will add to a web album along with photos from the National Kelpie Field Trail Champs. 

The link to these will be posted on this site, once completed.