ow
sh
time
country meets city
at sheepdog trials
@The Windsor Function Centre
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Photos by Vickie Priestley
by Penny Webb
The Hawkesbury Showground will
come alive with the sounds of the
country again this month when the
inaugural Three Sheep and Yard Trial
event kicks off on May 28.
The Sydney Sheepdog Club was
formed recently for the sole purpose
of running an annual Three Sheep
and Yard Trial in the Sydney area.
Nelson resident Alison Burrell
is the President of the Sydney
Sheepdog Club and is looking
forward to bringing the event to the
‘city’.
“Many of us who are involved in
sheepdog trials travel to rural areas
to compete. We often travel all over
New South Wales, down to Victoria
and up to Queensland,” Alison
explains.
“We wanted to create an event in
Sydney, especially in this area of the
Hawkesbury with its country roots
for local people to go to and also
encourage tourists to visit our area.”
Local Maurice Metherell from
Wilberforce will be competing with
four of his seven border collies and
is happy the event will be held in his
own backyard (metaphorically of
course!).
“Most of the trial events we go
to are held on the other side of the
mountains. Sometimes we can travel
up to four or five hours to get there.
Having it in the Hawkesbury is great,”
he says.
Three Sheep and Yard Trials are
a way for farmers and owners of
sheepdogs to highlight their dog’s
skills through demonstration of the
tasks the
dogs would
undertake
on stations,
farms or when
they’re on the
road droving.
The trials
are run with
three sheep.
Sheep are
released from
one end of the
ground and the
dog cast to pull
them to the
handler. This
demonstrates
the dog’s
capabilities in
driving sheep
unaided. The
second test
is to pass the
sheep through
a gate or
race in order
to show the dog, by strategy and
command, can direct his charges into
or through a given place. A bridge
must then be negotiated until finally
all three sheep are penned and held
until the handler shuts the gate.
The handler commands the dog
through a series of hand or stick
signals, verbal directions or whistles.
Maurice has been involved in
sheepdog and yard trials for seven
years and will spend the next few
weeks preparing at his property in
Wilberforce where he runs a few
sheep and cattle.
“I had always wanted to get
involved but previously never had the
time. I’m not retired but the kids are
off my hands now so I thought I may
as well do it,” Maurice explains.
Alison is excited about the
opportunity Hawkesbury locals and
Sydney-siders will have to watch the
action at the Showground and the
opportunity it brings to promote the
sport.
“I’ve always liked watching
animals doing what they’re bred
to do. When I was younger I liked
watching sheepdog trials on
television but it’s not on anymore,”
Alison says.
“Whenever I tell people what I
do they often remember watching
it on TV too. As it’s not broadcast
anymore, having this event in
the Hawkesbury is a way we can
promote the sport and people can
come and appreciate it.”
T
ickets to watch the Three Sheep
and Yard T
rial events are free. Go to
www.sydneysheepdogclub.com.au for
more information.
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ISSUE 60 // MAY 2015 45