Victorian Davina Campbell and her dog Glamorgan Peter turned in two impressive rounds in the Open finals to take out the title at this year’s Cobar Sheepdog Trial on Sunday at Ward Oval.
Campbell and Glamorgan Peter recorded 93 points in their first round of competition and followed it up with a score of 94 in the second round to grab the title win by two points.
Second was Nyngan’s Gary White (with his dog White’s Chrissie) who finished with 185 points.
In third place was another Victorian Paul O’Kane and his dog O’Kane Charles Dickson on 180 points.
At the end of the first round O’Kane was well out in front after recording a near perfect score of 99, however a poorer performance in the second round of 81 points, saw them finish overall in third place.
Local handler Mick Hudson and MGH Boy placed 4th and Hudson also took out 5th place with MGH Jess and 6th place with MGH Meg.
There were 65 entries in the Open class.
Hudson won the Improver Final from a field of 20 entries.
He and MGH Tip finished well ahead of the top six entries in the Improver Final recording 166 points to win the event from Jess Macleod (and Freeway Oops) with 149 points.
Julie Sanderson with her dog Rowen Marley were third with a score of 120.
Gary White and White’s Jimmy were 4th, Davina Campbell and Glamorgan Ellie-May finished 5th and Daniel Stephens and Stevo’s Lass ran 6th.
The Novice class attracted 42 entries with the top five progressing to the final.
The locals finished in the top places with Daniel Stevens and Lindsay’s Milly winning by one point with a total of 175 ahead of Frank Singleton and Quickstep Dom on 174 points.
Paul O’Kane and Morgan’s Ashley Cooper were third; Singleton and MGH Blackie were 4th and Frank Sutherland and Pendallip Sue finished in 5th place.
Kirk Grogan and Chad won the Farmers Trial with Ian Johnson and Mag second and Steve Motton and Mater in third place.
Peter Miller’s dog Bundy and Ruth Steven’s dog Bonza tied for first place in the Dog High Jump event after both jumped 2m 17cm.
Mick Hudson’s Snap was third at 1m 98cm and Tom O’Neill’s dog Bowser finished in 4th place after jumping 1m 79cm.
The Cobar organising committee’s secretary Emily Knight said the four day event, which attracted more than 100 dogs this year from four different states, went every well.
She said the committee was encouraged by members of the NSW Sheepdog Workers Association to host the Nationals competition to be held in two years time.
