By Casey OÇonnor
Freestone Paws and owner Jim O’Çonnell starred in the DogPro Working Dog Sheep Dog Trials at the Karara Showgrounds earlier this month.
The event was the first trial the Karara Working Sheep Dog Association had hosted since 2016.
Association secretary Cameron Smith said it was a very successful event.
“We were really pleased with the attendance,” Smith said.
“It was a great event. We had about 40 participants and dog numbers in all three Trial classes were excellent.
“Between the carry over effects of Covid and the drought we were delighted with the response.”
Smith said the open final, judged by Snow Potter, was dominated by the Tara visitors O’Connell and Freestone Paws.
O’Connell and his dog scored a whopping 96 points in the first run and backed that up with 90 points in the second run for a winning score of 190 well clear of the remainder of the 102 dogs in the class.
Craig Freestone and his dog Freestone’s Dixie won the highest scoring handler bred dog.
There 73 in the Improve Novice and the Encourage class for beginners attracted 35”.
The numbers reflect the growing popularity of the sport.
The Encourage final was won by Alex Noy and his dog Buaraba Rusty with a combined score of 174 points.
Alan Leech judged the Novice final. The winner was the Peter Mitchell’s Dog Hudsons PD with a combined score 187.
The winner of the Improver final was Clinton Hall and Serrano Rooster (185points).
“DogPro the official sponsors of the Queensland Working Sheep Dog Trials sponsored the Karara event in conjunction with the QWSDAI,” he said.
“The sport is very family orientated. Families travel to the various events, camp at grounds for the weekend and all members of the family can compete if they wish. Local competitors from the Southern Downs were joined at Karara by visiting competitors from Tara, St George and Surat.”
While growing in popularity, the sport is far from new, dating back to the late 1800’s with the first competition held at Forbes NSW in 1870.
It has grown to be a popular hobby for primary producers who have dogs for work and recreation.
It’s popularity now extends to the sheepdog enthusiast who pursues the sport for pleasure and to keep alive the tradition of the bush.
Cameron Smith explained that judging in today’s competition is complex with dogs and their handlers taking on a marked course of three obstacles – Bridge, gate and finally pen. A course that is very similar to the first trials with some minor modifications.
The Karara Association is affiliated with Queensland Working Sheep Dog Association which holds 23 trials across southern Queensland from January to November.
Competitions like the Karara trial certainly attract top handlers along with some very clever and well trained dogs.
