Over the last few years I have collected quite a large number of images from various trials in SA and Victoria.  These are a selection of those that I really like.  These images were made over a 3 day period , and were selected from nearly 300 that I have kept from this trial. Those included cover competitors, family and spectators and those images that I feel show some of the communications between the dog and the sheep. Action Dogs All of these images were made during the last two days of the 2009 Supreme Champions trial held in Strathalbyn SA. They show dogs moving rapidly to head off sheep moving out of control. Overview The images in this sub-gallery are all of either working sheep dogs, or yard dogs. Working sheep dogs are normally (but not necessarily) Border Collies.  These dogs are asked to shepherd a group of sheep (normally 3) around a marked field on either an “arena” course (usually an football oval, or ground of this approximate size), or a “field” course where an initial “cast” might be in excess of 300 metres. Obstacles are set out around the course, normally consisting of a “Gap” - basically a short length of fence with a gap in the middle, a “Race” which is a short passage between fences with a slight funnelled opening at one end, a “Bridge” - which approximates a low loading ramp, and a “Pen” or small enclosed yard with a gate on one side.  Each competitor has 15 minutes in which to complete the course, points being subtracted from 100 for errors. Yard dogs are normally Kelpies, and their task also involves some field work, but mainly concentrates on the dog’s ability to work 20 or so sheep through a series of pens and gates, including running the mob up into a truck, then out again and into a holding pen. Further information on working sheep dogs may be obtained here. 2009 Supreme Champs The Supreme Championships are open only to those who have won major Championships in Australia, so they are the best of the best. These images show just a few dogs working in difficult conditions. The weather continued to be windy and wet for most of the competition. Selected Dog Images Bordertown Trial