Author Nan Lloyd
Images by Nan Lloyd and Karyn Buller

The second Yard and Utility trial for the year was held at Kendenup, and run by the Stirling sheepdog club.

Kendenup is app 350kms south of Perth.

It can be quite cold at Kendenup but this year the weather gods were kind. It was a little damp on Fri morning and there was some rain Fri night but otherwise it was quite pleasant. The temperature was a little variable during the day dropping up and down depending whether it was cloudy or sunny so it was a jacket on, jacket off weekend, but otherwise it was great trialling weather.

The sheep were young merino ewes, fairly small and light to work. Outside they were tricky and difficult to keep together, resisting efforts to yard them, so many people lost a lot of time and points trying to get them into the yard.

Once inside they were a little inclined to split and break, and if pressured wanted to jam up in the force sections and at the gates.

The top teams handled them well though, and there were some good scores, with only eight points separating the top 5 in the open yard.

It was a great trial and the BBQ in the evening was enjoyed by all, with the usual tall tales to tell.

In the novice Utility there were 32 entries. Novice yard had 39 entries.

Open Utility had 42 entries, and Imp/open yard had 37 entries.

Novice Utility L-R Dave Lacey Akoonay Holly 3rd, Blake Robinoson Nap 1st.

Novice Utility, judged by Allan Dunn.

1	Blake Robinson	Nap	86	Kelpie
2	Jim Harradine	Dryandra Bridie	81	BC
3	Dave Lacey	Akoonah Holly	72	BC
4	Jason Crockford	Wyandora Pippa	70	Kelpie
5	Blake Robinson	Ramulam Kick	68	Kelpie
6	Simon Leaning	Binge	67	Kelpie
7	Jason Crockford	Wyandora Dusty	66	Kelpie
=8	Dave Lacey	Farnham Will	63	BC
=8	Nan Lloyd	Kumbark Lexy	63	Kelpie
10	Dave Lacey	MGH Jack	61	BC

Novice Yard, judged by Allan Dunn. Scores out of 50.

1	Dave Lacey	Akoonah Holly	47	BC
2	Simon Leaning	Marionvale Lad	46	BC
3	Blake Robinson	Ed	44	Kelpie/BC
=4	Jason Crockford	Wyandora Dusty	42	Kelpie
=4	Simon Leaning	Binge	42	Kelpie
=4	Nigel Armstrong	Yarralonga Opal	42	Kelpie
=4	Simon Leaning	Marionvale Chip	42	Kelpie
8	Blake Robinson	Ramulam Kick	41	Kelpie
=9	Nan Lloyd	Binnaburra Merlin	40	Kelpie
=9	Jim Harradine	Dryandra Cooch	40	BC
=9	Neil Eastough	Easties Bones	40	BC

Improver Yard, judged by Ken Atherton.

1	Blake Robinson	Nap	186	Kelpie
2	Neil Eastough	Easties Bones	173	BC
3	Blake Robinson	Ramulam Kick	92	Kelpie
4	Allan Dunn	Gogetta Thor	91	Kelpie
=5	Simon Leaning	Marionvale Chip	90	Kelpie
=5	Balke Robinson	Ed	90	BC
=7	Jim Harradine	Dryandra Bridie	89	BC
=7	Simon Leaning	Marionvale Lad	89	BC
9	Jason Crockford	Wyandora Dusty	84	Kelpie
10	Jim Harradine	Dryandra Cooch	83	BC

Open Utility judged by Nan Lloyd. Nan was judged by Nigel Armstrong and Simon Leaning.

1	Simon Leaning	Marionvale Lad	83	BC
2	Nan Lloyd	Kumbark Ace	80	Kelpie
=3	Nigel Armstrong	Yarralonga Scope	72	Kelpie
=3	Dave Lacey	Akoonah Holly	72	BC
5	Rick Janitz	Badgingarra Izzy	69	BC
6	Blake Robinson	Nap	67	Kelpie
7	Nigel Armstrong	Tumutvalley Jude	66	Kelpie
8	Jason Crockfrod	Wyandora Pippa	64	Kelpie
9	Nan Lloyd	Barkervale Oswin	63.5	Kelpie
10	Jane Dorrell	Perengary Buster	63	BC
11	Simon Leaning	Marionvale Chip	62	Kelpie
12	Jason Crockfrod	Wyandora Strife	59	Kelpie

Open Yard, judged By Ken Atherton.

1	Nigel Armstrong	Tumutvalley Jude	92	95	187	Kelpie
2	Blake Robinson	Nap	93	93	186	Kelpie
3	Allan Dunn	Gogetta Thor	91	92	183	Kelpie
4	Nan Lloyd	Kumbark Rocket	92	88	180	Kelpie
5	Nigel Armstrong	Tumutvalley Roy	91	88	179	Kelpie
=6	Jim Harradine	Dryandra Bridie	89	87	176	Kelpie
=6	Nan Lloyd	Kumbark Ace	85	91	176	Kelpie
8	Jason Crockford	Wyandora Strife	90	85	175	Kelpie
9	Jason Crockford	Wyandora Pippa	85	88	173	Kelpie
10	Nigel Armstrong	Yarralonga Scope	91	Rtd	91	Kelpie