Sheepdog competition sparks some family rivalry with father and son both eyeing top spot

At home on their farm, it’s about working together to herd the stock. But at this competition, this family will go head-to-head as they chase glory in the Queensland sheepdog team.

Barry Knight with his son Bailey Knight and their dogs Bart and Ron (Photo: Zilla Gordon).

Despite working together in their everyday lives on their farm outside Toowoomba, this father-son duo will battle it out for glory at Warwick’s sheepdog trials this weekend.

One-hundred-and-sixty working dogs are currently putting sheep through their paces as part of the Warwick Dog Pro Queensland Supreme Sheep Dog Trial competition, with competitors eyeing up a spot in national finals to be held in Tasmanian later this year.

Queensland Working Sheepdogs Association president and competitor Barry Knight said while he loved putting his working dogs through their paces at these events, the biggest thrill of the sport was competing with his son, Bailey.

Bart in action at the Warwick Sheepdog Trials (Photo: Zilla Gordon).

“We get to work over three rounds here and against five other competitors to get into the Queensland team,” he said.

Aside from some family rivalry, Barry said the sport was also about the bond between man and his dog.

“There are three sheep (in the ring), and you have to have the ability to train the dog to work with you, to take commands, and to work stock,” he said.

Barry also said it was about finding a dog that the sheep would accept, saying sometimes the herd would push back.

But for Barry and his dog Princes Bart, that was not a concern, with the pair scoring 90 points out of a possible 100 for this morning’s run.

Barry Knight said he had raised his dogs from pups, and had a great bond with his animals (Photo: Zilla Gordon).

Bailey yesterday pulled ahead by two points, securing 92 points for his attempt

Having competed alongside his father for five years, Bailey said he was hoping to come away with a win from this event.

“I compete with my brother as well, and I like to beat him, have a little bit of rivalry,” he said.

Bailey said while he tired to claim top spot, he was not always successful with the close-knit family team looking to come away with some of the highest scores of the day.

Barry Knight and son Bailey Knight were neck-and-neck ahead of Sunday's finals (Photo: Zilla Gordon).

The father-and-son rivalry is set to continue with the pair each hoping to grab a place in the national finals and the trans-Tasman competition.

The competition continues on Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 5pm at the Warwick Showgrounds.