IT IS the state of origin for farm working dogs as twelve competitors selected from six states compete in the 2018 Cobber Challenge.
Each will don GPS trackers with the distance, speed and duration travelled during their working day compared over three weeks in August.
Two kelpies from large scale sheep properties in the midst of their busiest time of year will represent South Australia.
Greenways’ Luke Farrell and Barbie and Matthew Scharkie and Mitch, a four-year-old dog from Terowie in the state’s mid North, will put up stiff competition.
Home of last year’s winner, the 2018 Tasmanian representatives – Bridport’s Molly Cornish and two-year-old Hooch and Bree-Elle How’s Clyde from Tunbridge – have a lot to live up to.
Both will be counting on the need to regularly move large numbers of sheep through a rotational grazing system to rack up the kilometres.
New South Wales has put forward the largest number of nominations, making the selection process tough.
This year the state will be represented by Copmanhurst’s Glenda Rogan and her Kelpie Jess and Boorowa’s Oliver Adlington and Fly, who both appreciate just how hard their dogs work.
Two competitors from Western Australia are also keen to see how the distances in the largest state stack up against their eastern counterparts.
The size of the properties will also mean tough competition from the north, with those hailing from Queensland regularly travelling long distances each day.
Victoria will also have representation in the competition – Fly Harrison and his owner Ben, from Molka in the state’s central north, will join Winchelsea’s Henry Lawrence and six-year-old Boof, in an attempt to bring the title back to its inaugural home of Victoria.
Cobber brand manager Marika O’Leary said the number of nominations demonstrates how keen Australian farmers are to see their dogs recognised for the work they do.
“Each weekend we see our favourite footballers don GPS trackers and it is fascinating to see just how that compares with the working dogs that are such an important part of the farm team,” she said.
“We had nominations from across the country and you could clearly see how everyone values their dogs, the part they play in the farm business and their mateship.”
The competition will run from August 13 to September 2.
The competitors will be scored based on distance, speed and duration of work per day with points accumulated based on daily activity to determine the winner of the Cobber Challenge trophy.
