Dogpro Plus Tarwonga Yard & Utility 2023

Written by Nan Lloyd
Photos Nan Lloyd and Karyn Buller

Tarwonga near Arthur River was the venue for the first utility trial of the year run by the Mayanup club.

The weather was  a little unusual. Friday morning was quite warm, but by the afternoon the clouds had come over and the rain started by evening and continued into the night and the next day.

Fortunately it was not too cold and it was beautiful grass growing weather so the local farmers were happy.

The sheep were large mixed age Dohne ewes and worked quite well mostly but if they decided to make a break, they covered a lot of ground quickly. They weren’t too bad at going into the obstacles, but were cunning and quick to outsmart some dogs. If they got to the fence before the dog reached them they went over, but this did not happen too often.

We worked a different yard course this time and it was challenging but the sheep flowed quite well mostly, apart from being  a little difficult at the first big gather.

The truck was used in the open yard and this proved to be the most difficult obstacle. They generally went into the truck quite well but didn’t want to come out. Many handlers came unstuck when two or three sheep walked down the ramp then turned and bolted back up again, creating a bottle neck.

Also being a new course, a few people got lost and were disqualified after they walked to the wrong gate.

Utility trialling is labour intensive, but everyone pitched in to assist. Either by helping get sheep in and out, working at the two let-outs, judging and helping in the kitchen or the office.

One of the best things at Mayanup club trials is the food. Delicious cakes, slices and toasted sandwiches and a yummy BBQ tea and salad in the evening, which always creates a great atmosphere for a social catchup.

Encourage

	Worker	Dog
1	Lee Crockford	Zarin (US)

Novice Yard
Judged by Rod Forsyth. Rod Judged by Karyn Buller and Nigel Armstrong

	Worker	Dog	1st	2nd	Total
1	Gordon Curtis	Binnaburra Marvin	42	37	79
2	Ken Atherton	Ramulam Charlie	39	39	78
3	Rod Forsyth	Barkervale Clark	43	1	44
4	Phil Barker	Barkervale Ringo	40	SCR	40

Novice Utility

Judged by Nan Lloyd. Nan Judged by Karyn Buller and Rod Forsyth.

	Worker	Dog	1st	2nd	Total
1	Ken Atherton	Ramulam Charlie	80	76	156
2	Ken Atherton	Ramulam Fella	59	68	127
3	Karyn Buller	Boco Louie	59	42	101
4	Karyn Buller	Boonining Turbo	54	40	94

Improver Yard

Judged by Nigel Armstrong. Nigel Judged by Gordon Curtis and Ken Atherton.

Final judged by Nan Lloyd

	Worker	Dog	1st	2nd	Total
1	Nigel Armstrong	Yarralonga Opal	89	86	175
2	Ken Atherton	Ramulam Charlie	75	78	153
3	Gordon Curtis	Kumbark Scotty	73	74	147
4	Karyn Buller	Chopper	64	56	120
5	Gordon Curtis	Binnaburra Buzz	71	46	117

Open Yard
Judged by Nigel Armstrong. Nigel Judged by Gordon Curtis and Ken Atherton. Final judged by Ken Atherton

	Worker	Dog	1st	2nd	Total
1	Nigel Armstrong	Tumutvalley Jude	90	82	172
2	Nan Lloyd	Kumbark Ace	76	86	162
3	Gordon Curtis	Kumbark Tina	73	83	156
4	Nigel Armstrong	Yarralonga Scope	90.5	61	151.5
5	Nigel Armstrong	Tumutvalley Roy	71.5	75	146.5
6	Gordon Curtis	Kumbark Scotty	73	DQ	73

Open Utility
Judged by Ken Atherton. Ken Judged by Gordon Curtis and Nigel Armstrong.

	Worker	Dog	1st	2nd	Total
1	Nan Lloyd	Kumbark Ace	86	85	171
2	Karyn Buller	Boonining Masie	57	66	123
3	Ken Atherton	Ramulam Charlie	60	58	118
4	Ken Atherton	Ramulam Fella	54	59.5	113.5
5	Tanya DeBijl	Boylee Scout (BC)	60	53	113
6	Gordon Curtis	Kumbark Scotty	59	49	108
7	Rod Forsyth	Grassvalley Hazel (BC)	50	49	99
8	Tanya DeBijl	Ramulam Secret	48		48
=9	Nigel Armstrong	Tumutvalley Roy	45		45
=9	Nigel Armstrong	Yarralonga Scope	45		45
=11	Rod Forsyth	Barkervale Clark	44		44
=11	Nan Lloyd	Kumbark Merlin	44		44