English handler brings Aussie experience to sheep dog trials

GALLERY: See photo gallery of handlers and their dogs at the sheep dog trials at Karara

OUT AND ABOUT: Barry Knight (Toowoomba) and Pip Flower (Winton) at Karara. Picture: Gerard Walsh

AFTER working sheep for the past three years at Winton, Pip Flower was at Karara late last week for the Queensland Supreme Sheep Dog Trials.

Six years ago, she left home at Bath in England to get out of the rat race.

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For three years, she has worked sheep on the property of the O'Connell family at Winton.

She was at Karara to compete in the sheep dog trials with six dogs.

Ms Flower said the trials in Australia were totally different to back home in England.

"There are six sheep in the mob and the dog has to split the sheep in half for the handler and walk them over hills in England,” she said.

She takes one or two dogs when mustering 1500 sheep at Winton.

"The sheep are well educated, the hardest one to shift is the first and the rest follow,” Ms Flower said.

Toowoomba sheep dog handler Barry Knight was at Karara with five dogs.

"I first went in the supreme class a couple of years ago,” she said.

J and J event

THE Warwick Dog Trials Committee will hold a three-day trial on the last weekend of Jumpers and Jazz at the Warwick Showgrounds.

There will be an open event on the Trans Tasman course and a novice competition on the regular course on July 26-28.

Australian team member Bill Davidson, of Tamworth, will judge the open competition.

Anyone eager to be a volunteer or try trialling can get more information from Rosemary Gibson on 46673219.