Lucindale-based yard dog trialer Travis Ware, and his dog Lace, have broken an 18-year drought for SA, taking out the Australian Yard Dog Association Championship in WA, at the weekend.
The Nepowie Station manager and his 3.5-year-old kelpie hardly put a foot wrong across the three days at Dinninup, WA, ensuring the trophy came to SA for just the third time in its 38-year history.
In the finals they scored 173 out of a possible 200 for their two runs, including 88.5 points for their first run.
“She had good strength and cover and she broke her stock better than the other dogs through the yards,” Mr Ware said.
He said the win was “still sinking in” but seeing tears of joy from SA yard dog stalwarts Kay Hocking and Bev Kellock had been special.
Lace, who was given to Mr Ware as a pup by local woolclasser Alan McGurk, has won several open titles before taking on 70 of the best dogs from five states.
She also showed she is a great all-rounder in the yards and paddock, winning the novice section of the National Kelpie Field Trial Championship, a week earlier in Arthur River, WA.
Mr Ware, who is one of the youngest competitors to win the title, said he had been “serious” about trialling for 18 months, wanting to show his dogs abilities.
“They (dogs) are massive time savers and just make a farm a lot more efficient, and sheep and cattle quieter and easier to handle,” he said.
SA veteran Rex Hocking, Avenue Range, who was the last SA trialler to win the national title in 2000, was eighth this year in the nationals with his dog Washpool Turbo.
