DogPro Plus State Yard and Utility. Binnaburra. July 4th to 7th. 




This years State Yard and Utility Championship trial was held at Binnaburra, 25km out of the Wheatbelt town of Kellerberrin.

Two weeks prior, Binnaburra had also hosted their annual yard and utility trial, a big effort for the Northern District Sheepdog Club, and Gordon and Sara Curtis, who farm at Binnaburra.

The weather was fine and mild, until late Thursday afternoon, when the rain began. The novice yard final was run during the rain and created some discomfit for man and beast. The rain continued well into the night, and local farmers were happy. Friday morning dawned clear though and fine weather continued for the rest of the weekend, creating near perfect trialling weather.

The sheep, provided by Alec and Sue Stevens, were the same as were used at the previous trial with a fair number of fresh ones thrown into the mix. They were excellent trial sheep, quite good at the obstacles, but with enough in them to keep handlers and dogs on their toes. In the final of the Open Utility though, the wind picked up and the sheep became quite a bit lighter so some scores suffered as a result.

For the yard trial, they flowed fairly well generally. The first gather as always, was the most difficult section, and there were a fair few jam ups on the truck, mainly coming off.

In the Open Yard final there were only nine points separating the top 12 finalists. 

Yard and utility trialling is always fairly labour intensive but everyone pitched in and did their bit.

All events were hotly contested and there was a great spirit of competition throughout the trial.





Novice Yard, judged by Nigel Armstrong.

Scores out of 65.


1st. Allan Dunn. Dash. 62+47=109. Kelpie.

2nd. Allan Dunn. Yarralonga Ethol. 54+52=106. Kelpie.

3rd. Ken Atherton. Badgingarra Champ. 51+54=105.

4th. Grant Cooke. Grassvalley Bluey. 55+46=101. BC.

5th. Tony Boyle. Chillie 51+41=92. Kelpie X.  

6th. Nan Lloyd. Barkervale Oswin. 47. Kelpie

7th. Tony Boyle. Boylee Major.44. BC.

8th. Marianne Rogers. Ok Anwenelle. 39. BC

9th. Rick Janitz. Ramulam Gizmo. 36. Kelpie

10th. Doreen Hansen. Jandoree Valerie. 33. BC.



Novice Utility, judged by Marianne Rogers.

Scores out of 115.


1st. Grant Cooke. Badgingarra Fly. 89+103=192. BC.

2nd. Rick Janitz. Badgingarra Izzy. 81+102=183. BC.

3rd. Ken Atherton. Badgingarra Champ. 89+83=172. Kelpie.

4th. Nan Lloyd. Whites Ree. 93+76=169. Kelpie.

5th. Allan Dunn. Dunn’s Harley. 81+76=157. Kelpie.  

6th. Tony Boyle. Boylee Gus. 79. Kelpie

7th. Ivan Solomon. Perengary Trish. 73 BC.

8th. Allan Dunn. Gogetta Thor. 69. Kelpie.

9th. Tony Boyle Boylee Pickles. 67. BC.

10th. Tony Boyle Boylee. Chillie. 62. Kelpie X.



Open Utility, judged by Ken Atherton, final judged by Nigel Armstrong.


1st. Grant Cooke. Grassvalley Sky. 105+105=210. BC.

2nd. Gordon Curtis Whites Joe. 103+101=204. Kelpie.

=3rd. Gordon Curtis. Kumbark Tina. 99+103=202. Kelpie.

=3rd. Gordon Curtis. Kumbark Indi. 97+105=202. Kelpie.

5th. Tony Boyle. Boylee Sugar. 94+100=194. BC.

6th. Grant Cooke. Grassvalley Bluey. 100+91=191. BC.

7th. Ken Atherton. Ramulam Punch. 107.5+82=189.5 Kelpie

8th. Nan Lloyd. Barkervale Oswin. 91+95=186. Kelpie.

9th. Jenny Palm. Brindabella Domini. 91+82=173. BC

10th. Gordon Curtis. Binnaburra Ben. 97+74=171. Kelpie.

11th. Nan Lloyd. Kumbark Ace. 93+74=167. Kelpie.

12th. Nan Lloyd. Whites Ree. 92+64=156. Kelpie.



Open Yard Judged by Rick Janitz.

Scores out of 65.


1st. Nan Lloyd. Kumbark Ace. 61+61=122. Kelpie.

2nd. Allan Dunn. Gogetta Thor. 58+59=117. Kelpie.

=3rd. Grant Cooke. Grassvalley Sky. 55+59=114. BC.

=3rd. Ken Atherton. Ramulam Punch. 56+58=114. Kelpie

5th. Nigel Armstrong. Yarralonga Scope. 60+53=113 Kelpie.

6th. Nigel Armstrong. Tumutvalley Roy. 54+58=112. Kelpie.

7th. Tanys DeBijl. Tilly. 55+56=111. Kelpie

8th. Nigel Armstrong. 53+57=110. Kelpie.

9th. Tony Boyle Boylee Midget. 55+54=109. BC.

10th. Gordon Curtis. Binnaburra Ben. 52+54=106. Kelpie.

11th. Tony Boyle. Boylee Sugar. 53+50=103. BC.

12th. Tanya DeBijl. Missy. 55+46=101. Kelpie.



Tony Boyles Boylee Sugar.


Ken Athertons Badgingarra Champ.


Nigel Armstrong and Yarralonga Scope.


Karyn Bullers Boco Louie.


Grant Cooke and Grassvalley Sky.


Rick Janitz and Badgingarra Izzy.


Jim Harradine and Jo.



Open Yard placegetters. Ken Atherton equal 3rd, Nigel Armstrong 5th, Allan Dunn 2nd,

Nan Lloyd 1st, Grant Cooke equal 3rd.

Thanks Sabine Heiden for this photo.


Article and Photos by Nan LLoyd.

No other presentation photos due to camera malfunction.




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