Photos and report by Karyn Buller
This year’s Dogpro plus State Yard and Utility champion-ships were held at Sunnyside, Tarwonga over the weekend of 7th and 8th May, 2022.
The sheep were the same as those used at the previous trial at Tarwonga but were a little woollier and a bit heavier. The sheep brought the challenge to the dogs, particularly in the arena where the utility dogs battled to hold them. The dogs that were able to give the stock some space had better results.
Nigel Armstrong with Dog of the Year (Utility & Yard) Yarralonga Scope, put on a fine performance at the Dogpro Plus State Yard and Utility trial to win the Open Utility event with a first-round top score of 89.5 following up with 76.5 in the Final for a total score of 166 points.
Simon Leaning with Marionvale Chip won the Dogpro plus State Yard event. Chip scored a first-round top score of 92 and followed up with 91 points in the Final for a total score of 183 points.
Both dogs are contenders for the 2022 Dog of the year.
Other winners were Rod Forsyth with Kumbark Todd in the Novice Utility, Nigel Armstrong with Yarralonga Opal in the Novice Yard and Simon Leaning with Marionvale Di in the Improver Yard.
Tara Herbert was awarded the Patron’s Trophy which was presented by Tony Boyle.
Joan Armstrong was a presented with a Life membership badge from the Mayanup Club in appreciation of all the work she does in the club.
The weather during the event was fine and pleasant, typical for this time of year. Saturday morning was a bit frosty causing some water pipes to freeze with campers thinking they had run out of water.
Late nights and tall stories around the campfire in the evening restored the vigour for the next day’s battles.
Congratulations to all competitors.
Novice Utility
Judged by Allan Dunn. Final judged by Karyn Buller
| 1 | Rod Forsyth | Kumbark Todd (K) | 59 | 73 | 132 |
| =2 | Blake Robinson | Ramulam Kick (K) | 73 | 45 | 118 |
| =2 | Simon Leaning | Marionvale Di (BC) | 64 | 54 | 118 |
| 4 | Rod Forsyth | Grassvalley Hazel (BC) | 68 | 43 | 111 |
| 5 | Tara Herbert | Marionvale Tess (K) | 66 | 44 | 110 |
| 6 | Tony Boyle | Boylee Gus (BC) | 57 | 43 | 100 |
| 7 | Simon Leaning | Marionvale Andy (BC) | 54 | 54 | |
| =8 | Phil Barker | Barkervale Ringo (K) | 50 | 50 | |
| =8 | Tony Boyle | Boylee Pickles (BC) | 50 | 50 | |
| 10 | Ken Atherton | Ruamulam Charlie (K) | 49 | 49 |
Novice Yard
Judged by Richard McGuire
| 1 | Nigel Armstrong | Yarralonga Opal (K) | 97 | 98 | 195 |
| 2 | Simon Leaning | Marionvale Di (BC) | 95 | 96 | 191 |
| 3 | Blake Robinson | Ed (K) | 94 | 95 | 189 |
| 4 | Allan Dunn | Dunns Smallchange (K) | 91 | 96 | 187 |
| 5 | Blake Robinson | Ramulam Kick (K) | 92 | 85 | 177 |
| 6 | Phil Barker | Barkervale Ringo (K) | 92 | 79 | 171 |
| 7 | Allan Dunn | Dunns Smallchange (K) | 91 | 91 | |
| 8 | Karyn Buller | Dunns Chopper (K) | 89 | 89 | |
| 9 | Rod Forsyth | Barkervale Clark (K) | 88 | 88 | |
| 10 | Tony Boyle | Boylee Squirt (BC) | 87 | 87 |
Improver Yard
Judged by Hayden Harries
| 1 | Simon Leaning | Marionvale Di (BC) | 93 | 90 | 183 |
| =2 | Ken Atherton | Ramulam Charlie (K) | 90 | 90 | 180 |
| =2 | Blake Robinson | Ramulam Kick (K) | 88 | 92 | 180 |
| 4 | Tanya deBijl | Ramulam Secret (K) | 78 | 78 | 156 |
| 5 | Hayden Harries | Olboa Dude (K) | 83 | 72 | 155 |
| 6 | Blake Robinson | Ed (K) | 80 | RTD | 80 |
| =7 | Karyn Buller | Dunns Chopper (K) | 73 | – | 73 |
| =7 | Simon Leaning | Marionvale Lad (BC) | 73 | – | 73 |
| 9 | Jason Crockford | Wyndora Dusty (K) | 63 | – | 63 |
| 10 | Tara Herbert | Marionvale Tess (K) | 53 | – | 53 |
Open Yard
Judged by Hayden Harries
| 1 | Simon Leaning | Marionvale Chip (K) | 92 | 91 | 183 |
| =2 | Blake Robinson | Nap | 89 | 90 | 179 |
| =2 | Nigel Armstrong | Yarralonga Scope (K) | 89 | 90 | 179 |
| 4 | Nigel Armstrong | Tumuyvalley Roy(K) | 80 | 92 | 172 |
| 5 | Simon Leaning | Marionvale Lad (BC) | 73 | 90 | 163 |
| 6 | Jim Harradine | Dryandra Bridie (BC) | 80 | 80 | 160 |
| 7 | Allan Dunn | Gogetta Thor (K) | 81 | 78 | 159 |
| 8 | Shelby Harries | Waterlea Tas (BC) | 87 | 69 | 156 |
| 9 | Hayden Harries | Olboa Dude(K) | 83 | 72 | 155 |
| 10 | Tanya deBijl | Daleview Wally (BC) | 76 | 78 | 154 |
| 11 | Rod Forsyth | Kumbark Todd(K) | 73 | 77 | 150 |
| 12 | Tony Boyle | Boylee Sugar (BC) | 79 | 55 | 134 |
Open Utility
Judged by Nigel Armstrong
| 1 | Nigel Armstrong | Yarralonga Scope (K) | 89.5 | 76.5 | 166 |
| 2 | Ken Atherton | Ramulam Punch (K) | 83 | 58 | 141 |
| =3 | Ken Atherton | Ramulam Charlie (K) | 57 | 77 | 134 |
| =3 | Blake Edwards | Ramulam Kick (K) | 68 | 66 | 134 |
| 5 | Rod Forsyth | Kumbark Todd (K) | 58 | 63 | 121 |
| 6 | Karyn Buller | Boco Louie (K) | 51 | 65 | 116 |
| 7 | Simon Leaning | Marionvale Di (BC) | 55 | 60 | 115 |
| 8 | Tara Herbert | Marionvale Tess (K) | 48 | 57 | 105 |
| 9 | Ken Atherton | Ramulam Fella (K) | 49 | 54 | 103 |
| 10 | Simon Leaning | Marionvale Lad (BC) | 58 | 40 | 98 |
| 11 | Tanya deBijl | Daleview Wally (BC) | 48 | 43 | 91 |
| 12 | Simon Leaning | Marionvale Andy (BC) | 53 | 36 | 89 |
