Despite other competitions across the state feeling the affects of the drought, the annual Morongla Sheep Dog Trial have been hailed a success by organisers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Now in its 20th year, the competition sees handlers from across Australia converge on Morongla to find out who will take out top dog.
This year, Leigh Foster alongside Me Mate Shirley took out the Open Competition.
Bill Davidson with 202 Roger won the Improver section, while Laurie Slater with Annaway Digger took out the Novice Section.
Jayson Montanari with Brinaway Scuddley placed first in the Encourage section.
Morongla Sheep Dog Trial committee member Brett Smith said more than 200 dogs competed at this year's event.
READ MORE: Cowra Nationals branch hears from Pavey
"People as far from Queensland, Victoria... one from the Northern Territory," he said.
"Just a real good turnout for this sort of year, we've lost probably three or four trials this year because of the drought but our numbers are up, pretty well same as last year."
Mr Smith said one of the encouraging signs was the amount of new competitors who entered this year's trials.
"We've got 40 encourage workers, which is the bottom of the rank, where you start encouraging to go to a novice, then to an improver and then the open," he said.
"So we've got 40 and most of those are from Sydney this year... there's a fair few lady handlers here this year which is good.
"So that's probably one of our biggest turnouts for encourage, that's pushed our numbers right up."
Mr Smith however noted there were only two local competitors - himself and Tegan Kershaw.
Mr Smith said the first day of competition saw some high scores recorded, before the sheep decided they had other ideas on the second day of the trials.
"There was a 95... then a couple of late 80s but the sheep have turned nasty on us, there's only been three or four pens this morning [Friday]," he said.
"Just a bit of heavier frost... the sheep turned on us."
Mr Smith thanked Graham Wallace for once again lending sheep.
"The sheep are excellent. 20 years this year we've been going for, so 20 years Graham has been supplying the sheep for," he said.
"It's a pretty big milestone this year and it fits in this year with the 100th year for the Morongla Show."
