THE voices of handlers and the shuffle of sheep were on full display at the Korumburra Showgrounds over the weekend, as the Southeastern Victorian Sheep Dog Trials returned for their 70th year.
Secretary Louise Rielly said the event had drawn its biggest crowd and field to date.
“The turnout has been great. This is the biggest trial we’ve ever had,” she said.
“This is our 70th birthday, we lost one due to COVID, but we’re continuously growing and next year we’re looking at moving to four days, because it’s huge. It’s currently three days.”
The trials have long been part of Korumburra’s history, and Louise said their success comes down to a combination of strong local backing and community spirit.
“The sponsorship from the town and businesses is huge, and they come back year after year. We’re so appreciative of them. If we don’t have them, we don’t have this,” she said.
She also thanked Max Morrison from Thorpdale, who sources the sheep for the event.
“Max buys the sheep especially for us. He comes in to check on us and the sheep, to see if everything is okay. It’s fantastic.”
Louise said it was a weekend full of friendly competition and a few standout moments.
“There has been a standout performance from Grace Garner,” she said.
"We have the open trial, which is the top dogs. It’s not about the worker, it’s about the dogs. And then we go down to the improver, which they’re improving to get into open. The novice dogs are starting off, then we have our encourage section, which Grace won.”
Reflecting on 70 years of competition, Louise said the sense of family is what keeps people coming back.
“I think we run a very friendly open trial. Lots of banter and friendly chit chat. Everybody is included. I don’t know that they only come for that, but they feel included and they feel wanted,” she said.
“I get all teary talking about it. These people here are my family. I’m like their mum. If there’s a problem, I want them to tell me.”
Among the handlers was Grace Garner, a 31-year-old nurse from Camperdown, who won both first and second place in the encourage division with her dogs Billy and Lucy.
“It’s a very special bond,” Grace said.
“They’re like my family or my best friends. You get to spend time with them and work with them out on the field, and they really build trust with you, with what you’re saying, what you’re asking them to do. It’s a little bit of give and take, whereas I have to trust that they know what they’re doing. It’s a real team dynamic of working together. A lot of trust, a lot of treating your animal well and giving them a good life as well. You look after them and they’ll look after you. It’s just being fair with them.”
Grace said she enjoys coming to the Korumburra trials for the people as much as the competition.
“I really like coming to this trial. I like the setting, the people are really friendly, it’s just a really lovely trial,” she said.
Having only started trialling four years ago, she explained how the divisions work and how her weekend results mean she’ll move up to the next level.
“Me and my dogs are all beginners, so I came first and second in the encourage sections. As soon as the worker wins so many encourage farmer trials they get kicked out of that division and go to novice, open and improver, which are the higher levels, and that’s based on the dog. As soon as the dog wins that they get kicked out of those levels. Both my dogs got first and second in the encourage division, so we’ll be moving up now.”
For Grace, it’s all about connection and challenge.
“I think it’s really that teamwork with your dog, as well as the challenge. You never know what’s going to happen out there. You’re never going to be perfect and you’re always going to learn something.”
Louise summed the day up simply.
“We’re just very grateful for the support, we really are.”
