Nyngan played host to the inaugural Australian Utility Championships Sheep Dog Trial over the weekend at the pristine grounds of the Nyngan Showgrounds.

Fifty competitors and over 200 runs were contested to determine the winner of the event with rain not deterring the workers on the first day of competition.

The discipline of Utility Trialling is a combination of field work and yard work, which entails a competitor casting a dog onto three sheep, bringing them down to a delivery area - progressing to a set of yards where the sheep are put through a drenching race and a draft with 18 other sheep.

Three sheep are then drafted off and re-enter the arena to complete three obstacles which are the gap, race, and pen.

A competitor is given fifteen minutes to complete the course and a score is given according to the skill displayed.

According to President of the Nyngan Sheep Dog Workers Association, Gary White, “Utility Trials are a true indication of an all-round working dog, and this event is designed to showcase this”.

“Nyngan has been hosting dog trials for over 70 years and this year we decided to hold the first ever Australian Utility Trial. There are a lot of yard trials for inside work and 3 sheep trials for out in the paddock but not many trials that combine both into the same course,” said Mr. White.

“We are thrilled with the entries and the trial has been a great success with competitors travelling from Tasmania, Victoria, Qld, NSW and one of our Judges travelled over from WA,” he said.

“We were lucky to have so many people step up to sponsor our event and we are most grateful to them for their support.”

“We look forward to seeing the trial become bigger and better not just as a nod to the sport but for a small town like Nyngan it provides an economic boost and attendees get to see our great town at the same time.”

Adrian Carpenter made the trek from Tassie for the event and has enjoyed the whole experience. “it’s been a very good trial but very challenging and I was able to see many good working dogs in action.”

“Because Tasmania has a smaller number of events and less workers we don’t get to see as many trials or really top-notch handlers as we would like, we have great handlers in Tasmania, but it is fantastic to have the opportunity to see the way everyone trains their dogs in different states,” he said.

Championship placegetters.

I have enjoyed meeting and watching everyone work and am looking forward to the 2023 event,” said Mr. Carpenter.

The eventual winner was Danny Kerr of Sydney who is only relatively new to the game but made his mark by taking out the top spot with his dog Mingle.

Committee Vice President David Motley told the Western Plains App that the event has surpassed expectation.

“Our small committee has hosted visitors from all over Australia to attend this event. The sheep loaned to us by “Egelabra’ were a very good test both in the yards and at the obstacles. A great time was had by all, and it was great to see everyone come together both competitively and socially. We are excited for next year,” Mr. Motley said. 

Novice winner Dave Motley.

The trial Judged by Daniel Pumpa (NSW) Novice, Richard Davies (Vic) Nursery and Gordon Curtis (WA) Championship/Improver was challenging at times with the first day awash with rain. The handlers continued to take the field and due to the amount of entries competition continued late into the evening.

“It was a very well-run event with an array of handlers from beginners to experienced workers. I really enjoyed watching everyone and was more than happy to make the trip over to support the organisers in this first-time event,” said Judge Gordon Curtis.

I am a keen Trialler and working dog enthusiast, so it was no sacrifice to be able to watch and judge what I enjoy for a few days,” he said.

Judge Daniel Pumpa.

While the Trial was run over 4 days, it incorporated the Nyngan Ag Expo on Saturday which gave competitors a big audience and many people could be seen around the arena watching the great work of dog and handler.

Success of the event can be summed up by Miss Hanna Crawford (8) who competed in the Nursery section. “That was the most fun I have had in my whole life,” she said.

Eight year old trialler Hanna Crawford in action.

 Results:

Nursery

1st Barrick Parker – Blockenup Yoko - NSW

2nd Daniel Raynor – Fernlee Gee – NSW

3rd Nicole Henry – Nix Dart – NSW

Novice

1st Dave Motley – Motleys Joy - NSW

2nd Les Everleigh – Hiltons Major – NSW

3rd Greg Walton – Milburn Harvey - NSW

4th Gary White – Whites Albert – NSW

5th Maurice Metherell – Wilbo Mitch - NSW

6th Brad Clark – Ruby – VIC

Improver

1st Gary White - Whites Billie – NSW

2nd Maurice Metherell – Wilbos Joy – NSW

3rd Danny Kerr – Mingle – NSW

Nyngan's Gary White won Improver and Champion of Champions.

Open – Championships

1st Danny Kerr – Mingle NSW

2nd Gary White – Whites Billie – NSW

3rd Bree Cudmore – Native Hut Digger – VIC

4th Les Eveleigh – Nixes Bundy – NSW

5th Les Eveleigh – Hiltons Major – NSW

6th Gary White – Whites Albert – NSW

7th Maurice Metherell – Wilbos Joy - NSW

Novice placegetters.

Champion of Champions

1st Gary White - Whites Pint - NSW

2nd Gary White - Whites Benny - NSW

Stockmanship Awards:

Hanna Crawford – South Australia

Adrian Carpenter – Tasmania

Danny Kerr - NSW 

Louise Brassall and Rex.