Alstonville Show draws newcomers and seasoned pros

EXPERIENCED and novice dog trial competitors gathered at the Alstonville Show last Friday, bringing community spirit to the Working Stock Dog Trial.

Sally Mitchell from Kyogle competed in the Working Stock Dog Trial with her 14-month-old dog Jazzy, their first NSW Working Dogs Association event.

They competed in the maiden novice event and Ms Mitchell was pleased with how it went.

“I’m new to the sport. I’ve only done two trials, so I don’t have a history of it,” Ms Mitchell said.

“I normally compete with horses. I just wanted a challenge. It’s something different from the horses.

“I got this dog as an eight-week-old pup. I trained it myself and went to dog schools.

“Jazzy did good. She handled the cattle OK. It was my error at the very end – I went around behind her, but that’s just part of learning. I won’t do that again.”

Ms Mitchell found other trainers at the show were open to sharing their knowledge and offering encouragement.

“I’m just asking lots of questions and there’s really experienced people here that have been amazing. It’s a nice community,” she said.

She said learning the rules had been challenging, as was bringing the dog to a new environment.

“At home, they’re comfortable and out here things can go wrong. If you get cattle and your dog’s not strong enough, that can be a problem. The dog has to have the confidence to be at it, to go around and bring them to you.”

Rebecca Lock of the Alstonville Show Society organised the dog trials and the bull ride.

Ms Lock said they had good entry numbers in the event, among them some very experienced trainers.

“I’ve been involved with the dog trials for probably 15 years and there’s a lot of the same faces here,” she said.

Ms Lock said they were the best people for Ms Mitchell to learn from.

“They are the most genuine down-to-earth people, the dog trainers. They are just a pleasure,” she said.

The bull ride also attracted a lot of competitors from all over Queensland and NSW, including Clay Hall, who had competed in the United States.

Show secretary Faye Wilson said agricultural shows were good for the community.

She said for many families, entering competitions at the show was a tradition – from exhibits in the pavilion to the horse and cattle exhibits, it was something they shared.