As the early morning fog lifted at Hall Showgrounds, I sat down with two of my friends to immerse myself in an activity far removed from my usual routine.
The National Sheepdog Trials have been running for 155 years, yet I’d somehow never heard of it. But this year, I found myself there, watching trainers and their dogs navigating a demanding course with only trust and coordination on their sides.
My friends and I spoke with one of the competitors of the day, Ken Atherton of Western Australia, and he taught us the layout of the course which was far more complex than we imagined.
With temperatures barely above 0°C, it was no surprise that the beginning of the day was quiet. Only a handful of Canberrans chose to brave the elements and watch the first runs of the day at 7:30am, but those who did were treated to a truly fascinating scene.
We were fortunate that the first competitor we watched was nine time Handler of the Year, Mick Hudson, a renowned figure in the sheepdog community who featured on the ABC’s ‘Muster Dogs’ program.
He and his dog, MGH Gypsy, were truly a sight to behold.
On their very first run, they cleared the course with remarkable control and precision, herding three sheep into a small pen in a fifteen minute window and leaving us captivated.
We had never seen a dog focus and execute each command with such precision.
Despite the cold, dreary start to the morning, when the sun emerged, so did the spectators. More and more people arrived and the event became a sort of community gathering, all the while the dogs continued to compete.
Stalls began opening up, serving breakfast wraps and coffees, creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere for all.
Looking for a quieter area to observe the trial more closely, we walked to another area, when we began speaking with a volunteer at the event.
As Wesley snapped photographs for the event he explained the history of Canberra’s involvement in the sheepdog trials.
“There are sheepdog trials around the country, and these guys travel around and go from event to event. But this one in particular has been run for over eighty years here in Hall,” he said.
Despite this only being Wesley’s first time volunteering, he had developed an appreciation for those who kept this historical event ticking.
“I’m just here as a photographer, but there are people here that do the cooking, the catering, they manage the sheep and the gate,” he said. “There’s also, in addition to the volunteers, the sponsors, the ice cream lady and the coffee vans.”
His only connection to the sport, he told us with a chuckle, was his cattle dog Daisy, who sat beside him during our whole conversation.
In speaking with him and watching the dogs running the course, it became clear to us that it wasn’t just an annual competition, it was a testament to the trust, patience and the bond the exists between a dog and their owner.
What began as an uncomfortably cold, quiet morning transformed into a community gathering celebrating eighty years of Canberran history in a unique, fascinating way.
My friends and I walked out that day with a brand new appreciation for working dogs and the sport as a whole, and we’ve already planned on attending again next year.
If you want to witness this great event first hand, be sure to grab tickets next year, from the link below, and experience it for yourself!