Hypro Albany Arena 2024

Report by Marianne Rogers

Albany is a wonderful place to run a sheepdog trial this late in the season, with mild temperatures well suited to both dogs and sheep. Friday and Saturday were distinctly chilly for competitors, but Sunday warmed up enough to be very pleasant.

The last arena trial of the year was a great event put on by the very dedicated, small team at Esperance Working Sheepdog club with loan of yards and obstacles from Stirling club. Additional help with set up was provided by some members from PAWS, Mayanup and NDWSD clubs. Running and organising a trial at a location remote from the homes of triallers is a huge undertaking. It is great to see the co-operation of members from different clubs helping to keep this trial going, and hopefully this will continue well into the future.

The sheep were feisty blue tags that were fit and ready to test the dogs. Provided the dog worked well, high scores were possible.  The Open was run first, followed by the Novice then the Improver. There was a ring off of 40 points for both the Improver and Open. Due to high transport costs, the sheep were reused but stood up to this pretty well, only showing a tendency to head back to the let out during the Improver. The lights on the trial ground were left on at night, so the sheep were probably exhausted by the third day.

Results:-

Encourage:- a tie between Anna Jennings with Marionvale Sunny and Natasha Hull with Dunn’s Meg.

Novice:- 11 scores out of 54 runs. Judge Des Davies. Terry Martino had his maiden win with Marionvale Bo.

Improver:- 8 scores out of 52 runs. Judge Richard Mc Guire. Sue Doherty had her maiden win with Just Patterson.

Open:- 20 scores out of 65 runs. Judge Rod Forsyth. Peter Gorman and Badgingarra Missy took the win.

The Cocoacina Award (The highest score by a Novice Handler in the Dog of the Year competition) was won by Per Einarsson with Karridowns Zoftie. The recipients of this award routinely go on to win a trial so it is a great predictor of future achievements.

Dog of the Year for 2024 was won by Simon Leaning with Marionvale Di, the clear winner with 80 points. This is the highest score achieved by the DOY in recent years. Simon was also awarded the trophy for the breeder of the DOY. Simon with Marionvale Woody was the runner up with 52.5 points

Marionvale Di has had an awesome year also winning the Utility Dog of the Year competition and the Perth Royal Show Arena Trial. Di won both the Australasian Utility, Novice and Open Championships and represented Western Australia at the National Supreme Champion ships at Geelong.

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Encourage

Worker	Dogs Name	Registration
= 1 Edwards A	Marionvale Sonny	W2248 – 21
= 1 Hull N	Dunn’s Meg (K)	W2107 – 20

Novice
Judged by Des Davies

Place

Place	Worker	Dogs Name	Registration	Score
1	Martino T	Marionvale Bo (K)	W 2903 – 19	75
2	Solomon I	Mac’s Sal	W2198	73
3	Wallace Steve	Rocky Roxie	W2164 – 22	61
4	Rogers M	Marionvale Aykeira	W1870	54
5	Herbert T	Marionvale Tess (K)	1792 – 10	50
6	Monaghan C	Graedawn Finn (K)	W2155 – 21	47
7	Leaning S	Marionvale Pete	2223	46
=9	Rogers M	Amarillo Artimyst	W1986 – 19	40
=9	Dorrell P	Jandore Shrek	W1943 – 17	40
10	Wallace Steve	Pendalup Pete	W2163 – 22	37

Improver
Judged by Richard McGuire

Place	Worker	Dogs Name	Registration	Score
1	Doherty, S	Just Patterson	W2220 – 22	69
2	Morton L	McConnell’s Johnny	2170 – 21	66
3	Wallace Steve	Rocky Roxie	W2164 – 22	63
=4	Martino T	Marionvale Bo (K)	W 2903 – 19	55
=4	Leaning S	Marionvale Woody (K)	2159	55
6	Wallace Steve	Bellview Bridget	W2094 – 21	53
7	Wallace Steve	Floroy Jess	W2162 – 22	52
8	Davies D	Boylee Finn	W	51

Open
Judged By Rod Forsyth

Place	Worker	Dog	Registration	Round 1	Round 2	Total
1	Gorman P	Badgingarra Missy	2158	92	88	180
2	Leaning S	Marionvale Woody (K)	2159	89	85	174
3	Cooke G	Pendalup Gilbert	2180 – 22	85	87	172
4	Morton L	Perangery Maudie	2014 – 19	77	83	160
5	Cooke G	Grassvalley Palmer	2100 – 20	85	74	159
=6	Solomon I	Rocky Fran	W1936 – 16	82	76	158
=6	Atherton K	Ramulam Prickles (K)	2079 – 20	77	81	158
8	Harries H	Waterlea Tas	W1871 – 15	75	73	148
9	Atherton K	Ramulam Charlie (K)	2020 – 18	80	65	145
10	Leaning S	Marionvale Di	2046	83	39	122
11	Leaning S	Yarrabee Jack (K)	2116	90	X	90
12	Wallace Steve	Floroy Jess	W2162 – 22	79	RTD	79

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