A passion for dog trials and wanting to give back to the sport found Eugowra couple Kevin and Kay Howell organising utility and yard dog trials locally and around the state for more than 20 years.
This month they've hosted their last State Utility Dog Championship in Eugowra but don't worry, they aren't going anywhere.
"We have been running the Utility Trial in Eugowra for about 19 years but before that we ran a Yard Dog Trial at the Eugowra Show in September every year and we've been doing that for about 25 years," Kevin said.
"This was our last one that Kay and I organised but I will still be involved with the committee."
Yes, Kevin will still continue to compete in trials and Karana Kelpie Stud will continue to breed kelpies.
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At the recent utility trial in Eugowra 86 dogs from around the state including Penrith, Hawkesbury, Central Coast, Gundagai, Hay, Nyngan, Montana and locally came to Eugowra competing over three classes.
"It went on very well. The sheep were fairly testy but that's how you like them in the competition, you don't want them too easy because it's not a real test."
In the nursery class Phil Spackman with his dog Pedro placed first followed by Ellen Vaughan with her dog Copper in second, Billie Bourke with her dog Dusty in third and Sharon Steer with her dog George.
In the novice class Nigel Brazier with his dog Sterlo took top honours.
Behind Nigel in second was Daniel Pumpa with his dog Ripper, in third was Garry White with his dog Whites Chrissy and in fourth was Nigel Brazier in fourth.
Open class saw Garry White with Whites Broke claim the win with Kevin Howell and his dog Roy IV in second, Greg Walton with his dog Harvey in third and Garry White with his dog Whites Bindy in fourth.
"Competitors come a long way and they like our trial because we have a permanent set up and we look after the course well."
Taking over Kevin and Kay's role with dog trials in Eugowra will be a committee of eight people.
"They said that it has taken eight people to take our place, I thought that was a pretty good comment."
Kevin has been running dog trials now for around 40 years.
"Kay and I both ran a utility trial at the Orange Field Days for about 20 years and we ran a yard dog trial at the Canberra Royal Show for about the same amount of time.
"We have been doing the yard trial in Eugowra for 25 years and because I was a competitor I wanted to put a bit back into the sport and put on a trial for other competitors," Kevin said.
Kevin has always preferred utility trials to yard trials due to the dogs he likes to breed at Karana Kelpie Stud.
"A utility trial involves working in a big area, out in the arena. We have three sheep up the other end of the arena and the dog has to run out and pick those three sheep up without crossing the centre line. The dog brings the sheep down to the handler then puts them in the yard with the other sheep. We do a yard trial and draft those sheep back out into the open again. You work those sheep through different obstacles and you finish up putting them in a free standing pen and that's the end of the trial."
Kevin says it's a very testing trial because the dog has to keep control of the sheep as the handler is only allowed to give the dog directions.
Kevin expressed a big thank you to all of the sponsors of the recent Eugowra utility trial.
"We can't run trials without sponsors and a big thank you to the Eugowra Show Society," he said.
"Our Show Society are behind us all the way which makes it work.
"I'll still be there keeping an eye on the new committee and if they've done something wrong they'll know about it," Kevin added.
