Dog trial goes down a treat

Barb Lightburn, Darcy, Bec Jones, Malika, Helen Cottier, Doug, Ace  TBW Newsgroup
HOMEGROWN: Barb Lightburn with Darcy, Bec Jones with Malka and Helen Cottier with Doug and Ace during the Easter trials. Ms Cottier and her pair of pups were the highest scoring local competitors.

Judy Bolton, Bodie, Diane Thompson, Willow TBW Newsgroup
BUSY WEEKEND: Judie Bolton and Diane Thompson competed during the Easter trials with Bodie and Willow.

OVER 100 “good boys and girls” raced around Hastings Cunningham Reserve over the weekend as part of the Blue Lake

Barb Lightburn, Darcy, Bec Jones, Malika, Helen Cottier, Doug, Ace TBW Newsgroup
HOMEGROWN: Barb Lightburn with Darcy, Bec Jones with Malka and Helen Cottier with Doug and Ace during the Easter trials. Ms Cottier and her pair of pups were the highest scoring local competitors.

Obedience Dog Club’s Easter trials.

The annual event attracts dogs and their owners from across South Australia and Victoria to the Limestone Coast to compete against some of the most well-trained canines in the country.

Participants took part in obedience, agility and jumping trials with over 850 entries across all categories.
With perfect weather on Saturday, trial manager Karen Brooksby hailed the event a success.

Although thunderstorms passed through the Blue Lake city on Sunday morning, Ms Brooksby said it did not impact the event.

“We are happy with the turnout we received this year,” she said.

“There is another dog show on during Easter as well, so a lot of our competitors compete in both, but I do not think it impacts our numbers too heavily.

Matilda TBW Newsgroup
LIKE A FLASH: Viv O’Grady’s Matilda races around the course.

“We had great entrance numbers and the weekend went well overall.

“Many local and visiting handlers had great results in all disciplines in the rings, not only with passes but gaining titles, enabling them to compete in a higher level at their next trial.”

Limestone Coast trainers Helen Cottier with Ace, Dianne Ward with Shariya Finale and Sharon Mulshine with Meg won the best performing local obedience, best performing local rally and most successful local agility and jumping awards respectively.

The club’s next trial will be held on October 26 and 27.