Alison Burrell from Hypro, Brad Watts, Shane Maurer, Catherine Raines, Fred Raines, Dean Incher, Dan Camilliri and judge Michael Johnson with winner Dale Thompson and Clay in the Murray Valley Yard Dog Championships.
Benalla yard dog competitor Dale Thompson notched up his fourth win in the prestigious Hypro Murray Valley Yard Dog Championships at the 2025 Henty Machinery Field Days.
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The championships were held over September 23 to 25 and drew a record 180 entries from throughout NSW and Victoria in the maiden, novice, improver and open events.
Mr Thompson top-scored in the open event on 187 points with his black-and-tan kelpie, Giles Creek Clay.
From Broken River Kelpies, Mr Thompson paid tribute to the stockmanship and sportsmanship of the competitors.
Four-year-old Giles Creek Clay was bred by Holbrook trialler Neale Taylor and goes back on the maternal side to Broken River Alley. He has won several NSW Championships and open trials.
“As a stock manager, I use him as one of my everyday dogs and has a few pups on the ground,” Mr Thompson said.
“This is a major win here as it’s a big one. To win Henty is always big.
“The sheep were very good over the three days — it wasn’t testy in the final but testy enough and the dog had to be on song to get the high scores.
“He is a very good dog with an unbelievable nature. At work he doesn’t need to be tied up, he just goes to sleep on the buggy.”
Dale Thompson, Benalla, with Giles Creek Clay after winning the Murray Valley Yard Dog Championships at the Henty Machinery Field Days. Photo: Andy Rogers.
As an organising committee member, Mr Thompson said the response this year had been overwhelming, and the field had to be reduced on the opening day for the judge to cope.
Michael Johnson, Bathurst, judged the open trial, while Neale Taylor, Holbrook, judged the improver, Aoidh Doiyle, Benalla, the novice and Dayne West, Dubbo, the maiden trial.
Brad Watts received the stockmanship award in the open, while in seventh was Catherine Raines, Cootamundra, with Asher, on 155 points. Then followed Shane Maurer and Keeper, in sixth on 176 points; Fred Raines, Cootamundra, and Nina, fifth on 181 points; Dean Incher, Rafa, 182 points, fourth; Daniel Camillieri and Jade, third on 184 points; and Brad Watts with Chilly, second on 186 points.
Trial co-ordinator Barrick Parker, Cootamundra, said the prize money and in-kind prizes had been doubled to $10,000 with many new sponsors coming on board for the event run under the auspices of the NSW Yard Dog Association.
Mr Parker thanked Joe Kingston, Bullenbung Merino Stud, French Park, for supplying the sheep for the event.
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