NYNGAN'S Gary White has taken out the National Kelpie Trial Championship title with his trusty dog, White's Fella.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In a strong line-up of dogs from across the country, Mr White was awarded the championship title for the third time at the trials in April at Tailem Bend, South Australia, last month.
Mr White's team of Kelpies were also awarded 7th and 10th placings in the same event, and a first and third place in the novice championships.
It is the second national title for five-year-old red and tan Kelpie White's Fella, having previously won it in Western Australia in 2012.
White's Fella has also won the Australasian Utility Championship, Victorian Utility Championships, NSW Novice Three Sheep Championship, NSW Three Sheep Improver Championships and had a run off for the coveted NSW Championship Three Sheep Trial, Mr White said.
"This was a rare feat for a Kelpie in a Border Collie dominated sport."
Mr White and his wife Angela run a stock contracting business at Nyngan in western NSW where the dogs are trained.
"My dogs have to do all facets of stock work from mustering, drafting, drenching, penning up or loading trucks in a diverse range of country and all different mob sizes- up to 5000 head," Mr White said.
After giving up showjumping, Mr White turned to training dogs.
"It's a lot safer and a lot less expensive."
Mr White's developed a love for dogs from his father, John, who trialled dogs for 40 years.
Together Mr White's parents, John and Joy White, used to run the Australian Championship Three Sheep trial at Nyngan in the late 60’s and 70’s which exposed him to the sport from a young age.
Dogs already played a huge part in his life with his work and trialling them was a good way to test them out as there is a need for good working dogs in Mr White's job.
Mr White has also judged trials around Australia and said he has been asked to hold working dog clinics in the USA and Canada, planning to travel there next year for the third time to impart his knowledge.