The 2023 National Sheepdog Trial Championships
13-19 March 2023
The 2023 Championships were held on 13-19 March at the Hall showgrounds. Thank you to all our triallers and spectators for making it such a great success. We look forward to doing it all again next year.
If you didn’t make it to the Open Final, or you want to watch it again, you can see it all on our YouTube channel!
Open Final
Top 20
The National Sheepdog Trial Championships serve as an enduring link between the Bush Capital and rural Australia. Competitors come from all over the country to support this sport, rich in Australian rural heritage.
Sheepdog Trials are a unique, inclusive, heritage sport where three species—sheep, dog and person—endeavour to work together to complete a course of three obstacles in fifteen minutes.
It is the ultimate level playing field – it doesn’t matter if you are male, female, young, old or in a mobility scooter. Every competitor starts with 100 points – after that anything can happen!
On finals day the top 20 scoring dogs run and then the highest scoring compete for the prestigious Duke of Gloucester Sash.
“Thanks Mate, we shut the gate”
For 150 years or so stockmen and women have been lining up to prove that their dog is the best in the district. These impromptu local events have become the sheepdog trials of today. Part of our rich pastoral heritage of competition at Agricultural shows and field days. Showcasing the very best of rural Australia and helping keep the genetic base of stock dogs strong.
In 2023 we celebrate 80 years of sheepdog trialling in Canberra.
Portrait of MGH Jana, Open Winner 2015, owned by Mick Hudson
“Thanks Mate, we shut the gate”
For 150 years or so stockmen and women have been lining up to prove that their dog is the best in the district. These impromptu local events have become the sheepdog trials of today. Part of our rich pastoral heritage of competition at Agricultural shows and field days. Showcasing the very best of rural Australia and helping keep the genetic base of stock dogs strong.
In 2023 we celebrate 80 years of sheepdog trialling in Canberra.
Portrait of MGH Jana, Open Winner 2015, owned by Mick Hudson
The Duke of Gloucester Sash
The Sash is significant in Sheepdog Trialling history – a unique, historic, velvet, hand embroidered piece, 25cm wide and 115cm long. The embroidered coat of arms is from the Royal House of Windsor. Over the years, the velvet has faded to a beautiful antique brown but the original colour was the colour of Kings, royal purple.
The Duke of Gloucester Sash was presented to the National Sheepdog Trial Association in 1945 by His Royal Highness, Prince Henry Duke of Gloucester during his tenure as Governor General of Australia from 1944 to 1947. The Duke was the younger brother of King George VI and Uncle of Queen Elizabeth II.
Photo Credit: Visit Canberra
Plan your autumn getaway to Canberra and be among the first to discover the latest and greatest things to see, do and experience in the capital.
Delight in breathtaking natural beauty and family fun all within easy reach. Take a heart-pumping hike or cycle the trails through one of the world’s most sustainable cities. Top it off with a taste of the thriving cool-climate wine region. It’s more than you expect and it’s waiting for you.
Hall Village is proud to be the home of the National Sheepdog Trial Championships in Canberra.
We hope you find some time to have a wander around this special part of Canberra that provides a link between the capital and it’s rural setting. Enjoy the quality offerings of the fine merchants of Hall – enjoy the cafes, peruse the gift shops, buy some farm supplies, sample craft beers and local wines, have a meal or pamper yourself at the beauty salons and hairdressers.
PROUDLY SPONSORED BY
