Dog Trials return to the Dungog Showground

SUSPENSE was in the air at the Dungog Dog Trials on Saturday, 18 October.

Along with growled instructions and barked enthusiasm.

And that wasn’t just the working dogs and their owners.

Spectators perched in the trays of utes or even on the roofs of vehicles to get the best views of the competition.

Families and friends of competitors seated ringside at the Dungog Showground held their collective breath as canny kelpies and border collies inched towards the cattle.

Then released sighs of relief and loud applause as the dogs zoomed the beasts through the course of three gates.

A missed gate brought exclamations of sympathy and commiserations from the audience.

Over 20 competitors and between 40 and 50 dogs took part in the program of events, travelling from far and wide to attend.

It was a family friendly spectacle, with lots of children enjoying the action.

Norma Pearce, a long term supporter and official of the Dungog Dog Trials was, as always, looking after competition entries in the office.

She remarked on “what a lovely bunch of people” the competitors are, adding that they “really love their dogs”.

While the “old stalwarts” were once again in evidence, there were also a number of new competitors at this year’s trials.

The Dungog Dog Trials started out in 1988 with sheep, but nowadays the dogs work cattle around the course.

Around 140 head of cattle had been donated for the dog trials to use this time.

So many cattle are necessary partly for the welfare of the beasts and for competition purposes, so they are always “fresh”.

Saturday’s slightly cooler weather was deemed ideal for the cattle, working dogs and people alike.

Like many other community organisations and events, the dog trials rely on volunteers.

Two of the inaugural volunteers and members, Col Stuckings and Percy Joliffe, are memorialised with events in their name.

By Lisa WISEMAN