The annual festival celebrates the town’s kelpie heritage with a two-day festival featuring novelty competitions, a poets’ breakfast, street parade and kelpie auction. 

More than 3000 people lined the streets to get a glimpse of the iconic Australian dogs.

Mr Ridgway’s three-year-old dog Hilton Park Eddie won the 2014 Casterton Kelpie Association Working Dog Auction Futurity.

Eddie took home $4000 in prizemoney and Mr Ridgway also placed second, winning $2000 with Karana Tack.

Eddie was purchased at the 2012 kelpie auction and Mr Ridgway said winning the money was better than a bag of dog food.

The King of the Kelpies Triathlon champion was Matt Haines’ dog Finn. Chairman of the dog auction Pat Gill said the streets were packed. “It’s been a very good crowd,” he said. “The highlight was the kelpie triathlon.”

The popular kelpie high jump was won by Jarrod Quick’s dog Moe with a jump of 2.49 metres. Finn was the quickest up the hill climb in 30.15 seconds.

The quickest dog over the kelpie dash course was awarded to Sally Henderson’s Jett in 4.97 seconds and the winner of the kelpie country street parade was the Strathdownie Red Cross. 

Julie Hovey’s dog Flash won the Kelpie Idol competition with an amusing meerkat impression.

rhoulihan@fairfaxmedia.com.au