In the history books - John and Nap Success at Henty Dog Trial
From the archives, celebrating the success of John White and Nap's undefeated success in 1991 after winning the Henty Dog Trial, ahead of John's 94th birthday.
By Matthew Crosbie
Nyngan may have had two floods followed by a drought, but at least John White had something to show for the long drive from the west to Henty Sheep Dog Trials.
Mr White his dog Nap up against 122 of the best dogs from across Australia and New Zealand to win one of the richest sheep dog trials yet put on in this country, the Meaty-Bites Gold worth $10,500.
And did it with one of the few Kelpies in the event.
The manager of White Wood at Nyngan has been breeding his White’s strain of Kelpies since 1967, aiming for a tough, robust dog capable of standing the big distances out west.
And the strain has produced a versatile dog capable of handling western station work and lining up on the weekends for Mr White’s favourite sport, sheep dog trialling.
Nap is obviously one of the best he has had, a rare combination dog which can bark, back “and do the lot.”
And do the lot against the best.
So far Nap has won every type of sheepdog trial in Australia, from traditional three sheep trials to yard and utility trials.
He was second in the Australian Kelpie Trials, a utility trial, in Tasmania recently.
So understandably, Mr White scoffs at suggestions that trial dogs are useful only for trials, being too highly strung for general work.
Simply, he says, they are just better dogs than the average worker.
And his dogs certainly got a workout with the Nyngan floods, moving White Wood’s 5000 Merinos and Border Leicesters away from the floodwaters.
“When you’re shifting sheep in flood conditions, that’s where these highly trained dogs prove their value,” Mr White said.
“Less sheep get into trouble. You can control them better and keep them out of the mud.”
Nap won the trial with 255 points, defeating the equal second placegetters Sevill’s Bill worked by Greg Prince of Victoria and Camin’s Queen with Harry Tennant of Dubbo who each scored 249 points.
In fourth place was Laurie Slater of Murrumbateman with Wondara Bill on 239 points, fifth was Jeff Varena of Goulburn with Rosedale Rocky on 236 points and Greg Prince’s second dog Di filled sixth place on 178 points.
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