Author Nan Lloyd
Images by Nan Lloyd and Simon Wallace

The Pingelly recreation grounds were the venue for the inaugural Pingelly arena trial, run by the Esperance Sheepdog Club.

The recreation center was built in 2018 and has won many awards, including the prestigious George Temple Poole award in 2020. Built entirely of timber it cost almost 10 million to build.

It is the largest timber building in WA since WWII and the largest civic building since 1920. It is used for meetings, sporting events and is open for all meals. Many of the competitors were happy to have a great place to eat and meet up after a tough days trialling.

The trial was run in conjunction with the Pingelly Shearing competition as well as a market day.

The sheep for the novice and improver event were hoggets recently shorn and were difficult to settle. With a tendency to head to the bottom left side of the ground they took some holding onto. Competitors who managed to get them down the ground did better, but at times they made a run for it again as they rounded the winding pegs.

The grounds were dry and dusty which made for great photos but sometimes dogs and sheep disappeared entirely in a cloud. They were however quite good obstacle sheep but the pen was not always easy.

The open sheep were similar age, but with some wool on so were a little better but still not easy. These were a little heavier and more difficult to move so some competitors struggled to get them down the ground.

There was a tie for first in the open. After the runoff the winner was Tony Boyle with Midget.

In the novice there were 13 scores from 50 runs.

In the Imp there were 11 scores from 57 runs

In the open there were 25 scores from 82 runs.

Novice Winner Simon Leaning – Marionvale Di, and 5th Tony Boyle -Boylee Major Full results below

Novice Placings
Judged by Karyn Buller

1	Simon Leaning	Marionvale Di	78
2	Peter Gorman	Pendalup Niki	77
=3	Rick Janitz	Ramulam Bee (K)	75
=3	Peter Gorman	Badgingarra Sir Ben	75
5	Tony Boyle	Boylee Major	70
6	Ken Atherton	Ramulam Fella (K)	69
7	Rick Janitz	Badgingarra Izzy	67
8	Nigel Armstrong	Tumut Valley Roy (K)	57
9	Ken Atherton	Ramulam Charlie (K)	52
10	Rose Cassidy	Nolan’s Sharna	50

Improver Placings
Judged by Rick Janitz

1	Dave Lacey	MGH Jack	80
2	Karyn Buller	Boonining Maisy (K)	79
3	Phil Dorrell	Jandoree Shrek	78
4	Simon Leaning	Marionvale Di	76
5	Stephen Wallace	Gibson’s Sweep	69
6	Jenny Palm	Brindabella Domini	68
7	Peter Gorman	Pendalup Niki	64
8	Ken Atherton	Ramulam Fella (K)	60
9	Tony Boyle	Boylee Chillie	59
10	Rose Cassidy	Nolan’s Shana	56

Open Finals
Judged by Ken Atherton

1	Tony Boyle	Boylee Midget	79	88	167	76	243
2	Dave Lacey	Akoonah Blondie	82	85	167	Rtd	167
3	Dave Lacey	Akoonah Holly	82	79	161
4	Dave Lacey	Akoonah Lady	82	78	160
5	Tony Boyle	Boylee Sugar	79	74	153
6	Simon Leaning	Marionvale Lad	92	42	134
7	Frank Maynard	Coshies Buddy	65	65	130
8	Dave Lacey	Brands Hatch Tusker	68	61	129
=9	Tanya Debijl	Ramulam Secret (K)	70	49	119
=9	Peter Gorman	Pendalup Cloudy	66	53	119
11	Jan Cornish	Bellview Ted	66	47	113
12	Dave Lacey	Summerville Katie	72	X	72