Working dogs and their handlers from around NSW and Victoria will be travelling to town this weekend for the Canowindra Yard Dog Championships - with State titles on offer at this event for the first time.
As of Thursday, 10 July, there were 70 dogs entered across the four classes, but event organisers were expecting more by the close of nominations.
Event organiser Josh Messina looks forward to seeing some of the best dogs in the state compete as Canowindra hosts a NSW State Championship trial this year.
Mr Messina said every year the NSW Yard Dog Association decide on where they will host their Championship events, and it's fantastic to have it here.
"Canowindra has just had the numbers over the years and we run a good event, so we got voted to run it," he said.
Latest Stories
Mr Messina said with this being a State Championship event they are seeing a lot more dogs and better quality being entered from NSW and from northern Victoria.
There are four classes the dogs will compete in including Maiden and Novice competing on Saturday and the Encourage and Open classes taking place on Sunday.
Both days will begin at 7am, with competitions wrapping up by 4pm.
Much of the highly competitive action will be in the Encourage and Open classes, with between 50 and 60 dogs in the Open section.
In the Open section, entrants will compete across several heats, with the top five contesting the final.
While the pinnacle of the dogs will compete in the Open category, Mr Messina said spectators will still see very good quality competitors in the Maiden and Novice categories.
"They're very good handlers that operate these dogs. You'll see a very, very good dog in the Maiden and Novice, it's just the pinnacle of the dog will be in the Open," he said.
Mr Messina said the dogs who have qualified for the Open category have won at least three times in the Novice category previously.
This year, the Open category will be judged by Kevin Howell from Karana Kelpies.
Mr Messina said it is really good to get someone like Kevin to judge at the Yard Dog Trials due to his history working with and competing in yard dog trials.
