Mark Mangold - NSW Yard Dog Ass. Rookie of the Year

I’m Mark Mangold and I have been training and trialling working dogs for close to four years now. I first started with a pup I bought from Victoria, however, soon bought a trained dog from Petersons Kelpies, Dice. I saw Dice on a video on Facebook as a teaser for their upcoming on stud auction before covid hit and purchased her after the sale was canceled.

Dice has been my main competition dog over the last couple of years although I now have a young dog, Wandabar Monkey who is quickly becoming my second dog.

I have had many people help me however, it is really the dog community as a whole. The conversations and training days, working dogs have really helped me to learn. Recently, I have been doing some contract work with a variety of people and have found that it has really made a huge improvement with my dogs.

Liam Coster - NSW Yard Dog Ass. Junior Handler of the Year

I am Liam Coster and I have been competing dogs since 2021. Rhettlenash Jock and I have been competing together since 2022 and have competed in lots of trials, we also competed in the Junior Cattle trial at Geurie and we won.

I have also won Junior Handler of the Year for 2022 with Jock. Jock was purchased by my Dad as a pup and was bred by Craig McPherson from Rhettlenash Kelpies.

My Dad helps me at home in the yards to work Jock and he helps me open the hard gates. Jock is a good dog because I like him and he pushes sheep around for me. Sometimes, he also comes to me.

Emelia Stokehill - NSW Yard Dog Ass. Female Handler of the Year

I’m Emelia Stokehill and I’ve been competing in trials for about 10yrs now. Watching how people work there dogs and through trial and error myself, has really helped how I’ve shaped and worked my own dogs to this day.

Eveready Roy II has been my most influenced dog through mainly work and trialling. Was given him as an 8 week old pup from Nathan Cayfe. Together Roy and I have grown a very special bond as, he has been and still is my go to dog day-in-day-out my whole career. Eveready Roy II has proven himself time and time again at work whether it’s paddock or yard.

He has won multiple open trials but the biggest achievement to date is winning the NSW Yard Dog Championship in 2020.

Roy Potticary and Delrae EddieQLD Working Sheep Dog Ass. Don Smith Memorial Open Dog of the Year

Delrae Eddie was bred by Roy Potticary (Oakey) and won the 2022 Don Smith Memorial Open Dog of the Year for the Queensland Working Sheep Dog Association. Roy has been trialling dogs for 15 years. He has represented Queensland with Delrae Eddie’s sire Brenkris Stumpy. Delrae Eddie has been trialling for 9 ½ years. In 2022 Delrae Eddie also came third in the Champion of Champions in Canberra. Roy and Delrae Eddie have represented Australia once and Queensland twice.

Roy has been influenced by watching the late Greg Prince and Geoff Gibson by the way that they handle their dogs.

Delrae Eddie has natural ability and has always been biddable and easy to train. He is a dog that always aims to please.

Bob Hamilton - QLD Working Sheep Dog Ass. Ian Skea Encourage Handler of the Year

I grew up on large sheep and cattle properties in New Zealand and on leaving school started shepherding and managing properties there until coming to Australia. Started trialling heading and huntaway dogs through my teens and early twenties before moving on to horse events.

On coming to Australia with two dogs brought over with me I managed a couple of properties before shifting to Warwick to operate a removal business and it was always in my mind to start dog trialling again

I saw a post on Facebook from Lee Jamieson selling The Doctor so I purchased him and started attending a few trials when I could, and we just sort of jelled, and we had lots of success over the five years I had him. I have since retired him and have two younger dogs who I will be trialling this year.

I am now semi-retired and hope to attend more trials now and move up the ranks.

There are lots of knowledgeable trialist in Queensland all who are willing to pass on their knowledge to anyone that asks.

Roy Potticary and Percival’s Stick - QLD Working Sheep Dog Ass. Colykade Improver Dog of the Year

Percival’s Stick owned by Roy Potticary won the 2022 Colykade Improver Dog of the Year for the Queensland Working Sheep Dog Association.

Roy bought Percival’s Stick as a 6-month-old pup from his breeder Trevor Percival, Charleville. He is now a 4-year-old male dog.

Percival’s Stick is a particularly good stock dog, working either sheep or cattle. He gives 100% at whatever he is asked to do.

Percival’s Stick became an open dog as a 3-year-old at Roma Show Trial in 2022.

Geoff Gibson & Gibson’s KellyQLD Working Sheep Dog Ass. Friskies Pet Care Novice Dog of the Year

Gibson’s Kelly was bred by Geoff Gibson (Warwick) and won the 2022 Friskies Pet Care Novice Dog of the Year for the Queensland Working Sheep Dog Association.

Gibson’s Kelly has been competing in the sheep dog trialling for the past two years.

Geoff Gibson - QLD Working Sheep Dog Ass. Parr Family Handler of the Year

Geoff Gibson won the 2022 Parr Family Handler of the Year for Queensland Working Sheep Dog Association. Geoff has been competing with dogs for 40 years.

Geoff has bred nearly all their own dogs from the same lines. He has made the Australian Team representing sheep dog trialling.

Geoff believes Les Armstrong had the most influence on his training and breeding.

Gina Milburn - QLD Working Sheep Dog Ass. Ken & Natalie White Novice Handler of the Year

I have been competing with dogs for 6 years now so still reasonably new to the game with plenty to learn. Up until late last year 2022, I was full time in the Military so not easy having dogs, let alone working dogs, when you move around a lot.

I purchased Spice (Andersons Spice) in 2019 from Mr Dale Formosa and our first trial together was 3 days after I got her (which is not ideal) and we placed 5th in the novice final at Allora. Obviously being the recipient of this award takes the cake and is hard to beat but for me trying to get consistency with my dogs is my main aim and I think we pulled that off last year. All of my dogs have been purchased through my trainer, Dale Formosa. We do hope to breed our own line in the future but that is a little while away yet.

I train with an amazing bunch of people, and we train at Shaundar Herding run by Dale and Sue Formosa. I’m always looking to learn new things, and do daily, both from Dale and the other guys we train with. Also, my partner in crime, Matthew Parsons teaches me a different perspective on training all the time and I couldn’t do it without any of them. Dale and Sue have been so gracious (and patient) with their guidance and teaching, I’m so very grateful to them both.

I think Spice is exceptional because she is willing to listen and learn with me. Obviously, she knows more about it that I ever will and although she is considered a weak dog, we have worked really hard on getting her confidence up. She’s pliable and just wants to please. I love working with her.