Geoff and Ace take Victorian Championships

Geoff McDougall and four-year-old Kelpie ‘Ace’ are the newly crowned Victorian Yard Dog Champions, following a solid performance at Heathcote on Sunday.

Geoff McDougall and four-year-old Kelpie ‘Ace’ are the newly crowned Victorian Yard Dog Champions, following a solid performance at Heathcote on Sunday.

Ace performed well in his first run of the Opens Competition, then bought it home with a near perfect second run of 95 points to take the Opens ribbon.

Ace and McDougall then posted a score of 280, to take the Victorian title, ahead of the nearest competitor on 275.5.

“I was ecstatic to win,” McDougall told The Grazier. “You work with these dogs from pups to competition, so it’s great to get a win.”

The duo will next contest the Australian Titles, to be held in Tasmania in Cressy, in April 2022.

The win caps off a solid year for McDougall, following his South Australian title win in April, with ‘Goldie’.

In 2020 both Ace and Goldie took out Australian Novice titles, and within twelve months both have now claimed open state titles.

A yard dog trial is a competitive sport starting with 100 points. The focus is on yard work similar to working in the sheep yards drafting, filling and unloading a drench race, loading and unloading a truck, with 12 to 20 sheep used in the competition.

Geoff and wife Kylie have established their own breeding program “McDougall Kelpie Stud” at Hay and are rapidly gaining notoriety amongst breeders.

Last week “McDougall’s Mint” a two-year-old Kelpie bred in Hay bought the third highest price of $15,000 at the inaugural Working Dog Challenge Trial and Auction at Carcaor. Top price paid was $24,000 for a 12-month-old female Kelpie from Forbes.