2026 Event Schedule

Please note the sheepdog trial will continue in all weathers and everyday is exciting!

Your dogs are most welcome to come along on a lead.

Remember – ONLY clap, jump up and down, cheer when the gate to the pen is SHUT.

Trialling starts at 8.45am each day however spectators will get the best of the trials from 9am – 4pm.

Below is a tentative schedule. Details will be confrmed closer to the event.

Monday 9 March

• 8.45am – Gates open
• Open/Improver National Championships begin
• 12:00pm – Children and adults run the course
• 12:30pm – The Maiden National Championships begin

Tuesday 10 March – ALL SPECTATORS FREE ENTRY TODAY

• 8:45am – Open/Improver continues, followed by the Maiden competition
• 12:00pm – Spectators can walk the course with an experienced trialler
• 12:30pm – Maiden competition continues

Wednesday 11 March

• 8:45am – Gates open. Open/Improver competition continues
• 12:00pm – Spectators can walk the course or watch a sheep demonstration
• 12:30pm – Maiden competition continues

Thursday 12 March

• 8:45am – Gates open, Open/Improver competition continues
• 12:00pm – Spectators can walk the course or watch a sheep demonstration
• 12:30pm – Maiden competition continues

Friday 13 March

• 8:45am – Gates open, Open/Improver competition continues
• Completion of the Maiden runs
• 12:30pm – Spectators can walk the course
• 1:00pm – Maiden Top 15 followed by the Maiden Final

Saturday 14 March

• 8:30am – Completion of the Open/Improver runs
• 2:00pm – State Champion of Champions
• 3.30pm – The National Championship Improver Final

Sunday  15 March

• 8:30am – CopRice National Top 20
• 1:30pm – The National Championship Open Final
• 3:00pm -Award Ceremony. Awards presented by General David Hurley and Dr Susan Boden. All welcome.

Judges

• Open Championship — Jenny Atherton, WA
  ‘Ken and I farm at Tarwonga in the South west of WA where we run Dohne and composite sheep and grow enough crop for the farm. I have been dog trialing for about 20 years but recently I have just been trialing 
  Kens retired open dogs or I will work Charlie when Ken has to Judge. I have been an open judge for 10 years and extremely honoured to be able to judge at the Nationals this year.’
• Maiden Championship — Simon Leaning, WA
  Simon had been sheepdog trialling since 2000. Successful in both Arena three sheep and Yard and Utility Trials he has judged nationally and internationally. Simon Judged the Supreme Novice at Northam WA and Hawkesbury NSW, Australian Yard Championships as well as numerous open championships. Simon’s home bred dog Marionvale Di is the current Western Australian Arena Dog of the Year and Simon represented WA in the Interstate Challenge in Geelong and Northam Supreme sheepdog championships. Simon runs a team of both Kelpies and border collies. Simon trains others in the art of sheepdogs running sheepdog training and schools and has travelled to the US and Europe annually to conduct sheepdog training clinics. This is Simon’s first visit to the Canberra Nationals to compete in the Champion of Champions with Marionvale Di and to Judge the Maiden.