Dowerin Arena.

Dowerin Arena. August. 27-30th.

The Dowerin arena trial is usually run as an unofficial event but this year Ballidu was unable to run their official trial due to lack of sheep and drought, so the Dowerin trial was made an official event to fill the gap. The trial was run on a supreme course.

It is run in conjunction with the Dowerin Machinery field days, one of Australias largest and most impressive field days, showcasing everything from farm machinery, vehicles, sheep and wool as well as lifestyle and leisure products.

The weather for the trial was quite pleasant and mild until the afternoon of the last day when the rain started. It quickly became quite heavy, making trialling miserable for dogs and handlers, although local farmers were happy.

The sheep were young merinos, not too long off shears and they didn’t like dogs. They were inclined to run and split at the drop of a hat and many dogs battled to keep them together. They seemed to work better for calmer dogs with a fair amount of eye, although if they became too calm they were then difficult to move. The bridge was the hoodoo obstacles and a lot of runs ended here as the sheep either refused to walk up it, split and caused a cross, or just did laps around it. There were not a lot of pens.

In the novice there were 36 entries and 8 scores, in the improver 39 entries and 14 scores and in the open 41 entries and 20 scores.

Novice, judged by Brad Rose.

1st Grant Cooke. Grassvalley Blue. 90.

2nd. Jenny Nolan. Nolans Emma. 63.

3rd. Jenny Nolan. Nolans Scout. 62.

4th. Rod Forsyth. Barkervale Austin. 56. Kelpie

5th Nan Lloyd. Kumbark Ace. 55. Kelpie

6th. Tony Boyle. Chillie. 49. Kelpie X.

7th. Helen Svalbe. Booninning Swag. 48. Kelpie.

8th. Jenny Nolan. Nolans Jedda. 47.

Improver, judged by Jenny Atherton.

1st. Gordon Curtis. Kumbark Indi. 89. Kelpie.