KELLERBERRIN farmer Gordon Curtis and his kelpie Binnaburra Tuff were part of the two-man (and dog) team representing WA at the working sheepdog Interstate Championships.
The event was held in Port Fairy, Victoria on October 5-10, in conjunction with the Supreme Championships and also the Trans-Tasman Challenge between Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Curtis is president of the Australian Working Sheepdog Association and was kept very busy in this capacity at the event.
The WA team did extremely well, coming second to Tasmania out of the six state teams.
The state representatives for the team were chosen by the total points accrued throughout the year by each dog and handler and Mr Curtis and Tuff have had a very successful year.
They are currently the second placed three-sheep dog of the year, as well as coming second in the utility dog of the year, a rare achievement showing Tuff’s versatility.
Tuff was the only kelpie in the interstate challenge, which is a three-sheep event, the first kelpie to represent WA in many years and the first kelpie to win an open three-sheep event in WA in 10 years.
Mr Curtis, Tuff and Binnaburra Jess also travelled to Cowra in New South Wales in early September to compete in the National Kelpie Field Championships, where Tuff won the most effective yard performance in the open event.
