Dogs show the skills

THE 20th sheep, cattle and duck state championship trials will be held on Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30.
The trials are held at Paul Macphail’s Beloka Kelpie Stud, on the South Gippsland Highway at Welshpool.
Mr Macphail said they have seen many of Australia’s greatest working dogs and their fantastic handlers competing in the trials over the last 20 years.
The trials began life 20 years ago at the Yarram Show. When sheep were in short supply, Mr Macphail started Victoria’s first cattle dog championships.
“Over the years the event has grown and we have had many different competitions and events on,” he said.
“Trials of all sorts, flyball, frisbee, working dog auctions and novelty events. People love to come down and spend a great weekend with their dogs, no matter how good or not so good they are, it is all about having fun.”
The Beloka trials are open to all levels of competitor, from strict beginners to the best dogs in Australia.
“You won’t find that anywhere else,” Mr Macphail said.
The feature event of the weekend will be the top dog challenge, which will see dogs from all over Victoria and Tasmania competing.
“Dogs capable of working sheep and cattle in the yards and in the field will battle out for the title of top dog,” Mr Macphail said.
“It should be a great event.”
To celebrate the 20th anniversary the dog trials will be looking for talent in any shape or form, for the comeback of the Aussie Dog’s Got Talent contest.
“Competitors will have two minutes to do an act with their dog and will be judged by a panel of three people, a cross between the X factor and Red Faces,” Mr Macphail said.
“This will be done Saturday night at 8pm.”
Over the rest of the weekend there will be cattle and ducks trials, yard, utility and three sheep trials, city slicker trials and around lunchtime there are novelty events like the high jump and working dog race, farm agility, obedience challenge and puppy on sheep.
“It is always a great weekend for the whole family, with or without your dog,” Mr Macphail said.

Weekend fun: Paul Macphail from Beloka Kelpie Stud in Welshpool is looking forward to the 20th annual sheep, cattle and duck state championships, held at his property on Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30.

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Posted by Sarah Vella on Oct 25 2016. Filed under Sport. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry