Octogenarian Laurie Slater overcame a serious injury to take the prestigious Henty Three Sheep Trial Championship for the fifth time.
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Laurie, 85, of Murrumbateman, and his Border Collie, Wondara Jules, outclassed a strong line-up of handlers and their dogs in the Pedigree and Nature’s Table Three Sheep Trial.
The trial drew over 100 entries and was run over the three days of the Henty Farm Machinery Field Days.
Laurie was fresh from winning the improver class at the 2018 NSW State Championships, along with the Henty titles in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
He finished on a total score of 256 – one point ahead of John Perry, Bredbo, in second place with his dog Jazz.
Julie Burkitt, Young, NSW, was third on 253 points, while fourth was John Perry and his dog Rapper on 243 points.
Geoff Gibson, Warwick, Qld, filled fifth place and Paul O’Kane, Cobram, was placed sixth and seventh.
Co-ordinator Paul Darmody said the event was a great way to bring kelpies and collies together to expose the sports to mainstream spectators.
With 110 dogs entered by 42 handlers, there was plenty of strong competition during the three days.
“The 20 best scoring dogs go through to Thursday with the top seven going into the final,” he said.
“This is a very prestigious event and one of the major trials on the NSW calendar.”
Mr Darmody said judge Peter Oxley, of Bathurst, was tested over the three days, not only by a close field of entrants but also by a swooping magpie.
“Jules did Laurie Slater proud and worked exceptionally well,’’ he said.
Laurie bred the eight-year-old bitch himself and believed she could be in pup for the first time.
She had been crowned Port Fairy Working Sheep Dog Trials Dog of the Year before coming into Henty.
“She did well although she was out of condition as I had a car accident in April, breaking two vertebrae in my back,’’ Mr Slater said.
“Jules worked no differently than any other day but you always hope for the best.
“It is important not to frighten the stock, the less talk the better and give not too many commands to the dog.
“I don’t whistle as my teeth were knocked out as a young fellow.’’
Laurie started trialling his dogs in 1983 and competed with four dogs at Henty and is now off to the Supreme Championships at Hawkesbury.
