Watch what it takes to be the country’s top dog
Craig Ervine from Narrabri with his dog Shady Acres. Photo: Gareth Gardner
Paul Wroe from Central QLD with his dog Brutonvale Jatz. Photo: Gareth Gardner
Winning dog Shady Acres Zac. Photo: Tianna Barratt | Hickorwee Equine Photography
WATCHING ON: Lewis Wall, Thabo Alberts, Wade Miles and Ben O'Reilly. Photo: Gareth Gardner
OUT AND ABOUT: Gavin Sewell and his son Max Sadler-Sewell, 8, Clayton Avery and Jacob Avery 11. Photo: Gareth Gardner
WINNER: Robert Johnston and dog Shady Acres Zac accept $10,000 for taking out the $18,000 Cobber Open Trial. Photo: Tianna Barratt | Hickorwee Equine Photography
SAY CHEESE: Mac Crowe, 10. Photo: Gareth Gardner
IN THE STANDS: Mike Landgon from Woolomin and Jillian Sullivan from Mulla Creek. Photo: Gareth Gardner
TOP DOG: Paul Wroe from Central Queensland with his dog Brutonvale Jatz. Photo: Gareth Gardner
Cow dog in action. Photo: Gareth Gardner
Robert Johnston takes out the top prize. Photo: Tianna Barratt | Hickorwee Equine Photography
The 2017 Australian Cow Dog Challenge. Photo: Gareth Gardner
Sue and Chriss Crowell from Daruka. Photo: Gareth Gardner
Blue Robson, from Taroom, Brian Farell from Mclean, and Ray Smith from Myrtle Creek. Photo: Gareth Gardner
Henry Maslen, 6, from Gunnedah. Photo: Gareth Gardner
Cow dog. Photo: Gareth Gardner
Competition heats up. Photo: Gareth Gardner
Blake Galvin, of Kootingal, with Olivier Taaffe, of Tamworth. Photo: Gareth Gardner
Cow dog in action. Photo: Gareth Gardner
Spectators watch on. Photo: Gareth Gardner
Cow dog in action. Photo: Gareth Gardner
Cow dog in action. Photo: Gareth Gardner
Tim Mackie, Neville Dart, with Sally and Dick Perram. Photo: Gareth Gardner
Mac Crowe, 10, with his dad Peter Crowe, who came second overall with the only kelpie to make the final. Photo: Gareth Gardner
Judge Warren Jenkins came all the way from north Queensland.
AELEC played host to more than 160 dogs over the weekend as competitors from as far as Darwin to Tasmania battled it out at the 2017 Australian Cow Dog Challenge (ACDC).
The ACDC open trial event boasted $18,000 in prize money, making it the richest dog trial in the southern hemisphere.
Robert Johnston was declared the Cobber Open Trial winner with his dog Shady Acres Zac, taking home $10,000.
The challenge also featured the Australian Cow Dog Sale, for pups born October 1, 2016, or later, and the Australian Cow Dog Working Dog Sale.
The inaugural event, established to promote the breeding, training and welfare of Australian working cow dogs, is the brainchild of Attunga dog breeder Ian Cox, Texoma Working Dogs, Tamworth vet Tim McVey, and former Tamworth woman Maree Balmain, now based at Julia Creek, Queensland.
Mr McVey said the inaugural event boasted 163 trial dogs and 111 dogs up for sale.
“We have people here from Darwin to Tasmania,” he said.
Among them was 80-year-old judge Warren Jenkins from Julatten in North Queensland, who spends his time judging similar competitions across the sunshine state.
“It’s been good here,” Mr Jenkins said of the calibre of competition in Tamworth.
“Good handlers and good dogs.”
Mr Jenkins has no plans to hang up his judging hat any time soon.
“I’m too young to retire,” he said. “I’ve got too much to do still.”
Cobber Open Trial Results:
- 1st Robert Johnston with Shady Acres Zac
- 2nd Peter Crowe with Capree Blue
- 3rd Dave Bennett with Benrose Spring
- 4th Paul Wroe with Brutonvale Jatz
- 5th Craig Ervine with Shady Acres Tab