He’s just got married, his family is over from Ireland, he’s enjoying holidays in Port Fairy and he’s competing in the sheepdog trials at Port Fairy Showgrounds this weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ray Farley Memorial sheepdog trial competitor Conor McConnell has it all happening at the moment.
Mr McConnell hails from Donegal in Ireland and is studying in Wagga Wagga to be a vet.
He has competed in sheepdog trials in Ireland and said he had noticed a difference in Australia.
“The sheep are a lot more flighty here. The merinos,” he said.
“It’s taken a while to adapt to it.”
He said he thought the sheep were not handled as much in Australia as they were in Ireland.
More than 60 sheepdogs are competing at the trial this weekend.
The five best performing dogs will compete in a final on Sunday with prizes up for grabs including $200 for the winning handler.
Dogs have 15 minutes to complete a trial that involves three sheep and four obstacles.
Tony Whitehead is a dog handler from Urana in New South Wales and has four in dogs in this weekend’s competition.
Mr Whitehead said he enjoyed being part of the sheepdog community.
“They are the most wonderful group of people I’ve ever come across,” he said.
“They must be good to put up with me.
“I’m a champion stirrer.”
This weekend's event marks the beginning of a series of dog trials which lead up to the Commonwealth Championship trials in Port Fairy in early February.
