Wagin Arena 2022

Article and photos by Nan Lloyd

The annual Wagin arena trial has always been run in March, in conjunction with the Woolorama, a huge sheep, wool and machinery show.

However due to Covid restrictions the Woolorama was cancelled shortly before the event, but fortunately the trial was permitted to go ahead.

The weather was fairly warm, which is typical for this time of the year, but the evenings were pleasant and the mornings a little damp.

It warmed up in the afternoon to become quite uncomfortable and most people hosed their dogs down before and after their run.  Some even thought to hose themselves down to cope better out in the sun.

The sheep were three-year-old wethers, they were smart, challenging, and point pinching, proving difficult to keep on course, and to keep straight.  The first obstacle, the race, was the most difficult, so a few people retired or crossed there.  However, once the race was completed, the bridge was a lot easier and quite a few pens were achieved.

The sheep quickly worked out the weaker dogs and ran them off the ground, heading at speed back to the let-out to re-join their mates.  If the sheep got onto the fence, they were difficult to bring back on course.  There were some reasonable scores from the more experienced dogs though, and most people had the opportunity to work them.  The sheep got a little heavier towards the end of the trial and in the open final only half of the 12 finalists managed a second score.

There were 48 entries in the novice with 7 scores, 47 entries in the improver with 10 scores and the open had 60 runs with 30 scores.

As this was the first trial of the year and almost 5 months since the last trial, it was a good social event and opportunity to catch up with friends.

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Encourage
Judged by Des Davies

1	Rob Smith	Boonining Duck (K)
2	Sarah DeBueger	Marionvale Possum (K)
3	Cathy Neale	Amarillo Alfie
4	Petra Guse	Mouse
5	T Ward	Boss

Novice
Judged by Steve Wallace

1	Peter Gorman	Pendalup Lucy	82
2	Rose Cassidy	Nolans Shana	63
3	Nan lloyd	Binnaburra Merlin (K)	59
4	Jan Cornish	Bellevue Ted	43
5	Nan lloyd	Kumbark Lexie (K)	39
6	R Smith	Boonining Duck (K)	38
7	Tony Boyle	Boylee Pickles	32

Improver
Judged by Phil Dorrell (Top five run off)

1	Nan Lloyd	Kumbark Lexie (K)	78	74	152
2	Dave Lacey	Farnam Will	70	79	149
3	Simon Leaning	Marionvale Di	61	62	123
4	Gordon Curtis	Kumbark Scotty (K)	73	X	73
5	Nigel Armstrong	Tumutvalley Roy (K)	67	X	67
6	Rose Cassidy	Nolans Shana	54	–	54
7	Nieil Kristiansen	Badgingarra Sir Ben	51	–	51
8	Des Davies	Marionvale Bella	41	–	41
9	Tony Boyle	Boylee Cournel	22	–	22
10	Tara Herbert	Marionvale Tess (K)	9	–	9

Open
Judged by Marianne Rogers

1	Nigel Armstrong	Yarralonga Scope (K)	73	83	156
2	Tony Boyle	Boylee Sugar	71	74	145
3	Peter Gorman	Pendalup Lucy	83	58	141
4	Tony Boyle	Boylee Midget	78	49	127
5	Tony Boyle	Boylee Cournel	70	54	124
6	Neil Kristiansen	Princes Delta	72	29	101
7	Ivan Solomon	Nolans Bart	83	X	83
8	Gordon Curtis	Whites Joe (K)	81	LS	81
9	Dave Lacey	Akoonah Tusker	80	X	80
10	Simon Leaning	Marionvale Andy	78	RTD	78
11	Simon Leaning	Marionvale Di	77	RTD	77
12	Ken Atherton	Ramulam Fella (K)	75	RTD	75

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