The History of the Australian Sheep Dog Workers Association.
The Australian Sheepdog Workers' Association was formed in Canberra at the 1988 National Sheep Dog trials.
It was the brainchild of Mr. Ted Gaby from Binalong in New South Wales. who remains the Patron of the Association.
Foundation steering committee members were Nick Webb, [WA] Sen Vice President, Heather Woodhouse, Secretary & Treasurer, [NSW]
and Pip Hudson, Jnr Vice President. [NSW], and The Foundation President was Mr. Gordon Young [Qld].
Since then there have been 5 presidents:
Doug Connop from W.A. (1989-1991), Byn Dinning from S.A. (1992 - 1993), Pip Hudson from N.S.W. (1993-1995)
and Paul Darmody from N.S.W (1996- 2005). Lance Clifford from Tasmania (2005 -2007) David Lacey from Queensland (2007) Gordon Curtis from W.A. [2009 current]
together with 2 other secretaries, Di Galea (1994-1997),
and Lyn Topp (1998) and Denise Doherty (to 2005), Jean Eccleston (2005) and Jean Wright (2005 - Present).
The first Supreme Championship was held in Deloraine in Tasmania in the early years each trial was conducted by the host States's
own rules. This auspicious event was sponsored by Uncle Bens. There was much discussion over the naming of these Championships.
It was not possible to call it the Australian Championship as this name was registered for use by a trial at Mudgee. In 1992 it became
known as the Supreme Australian Championship, sponsored by Friskies.
The formation of the first and current ASDWA constitution was under the guidance of by Mr Nick Webb.
The Association is incorporated in the ACT.
In 1990 Friskies Skippa Working Dog [ Nestle Australia ] became the official sponsor for the W.A.W.S.D.A.
[West Australian Working Sheep Dog Association ] and as such sponsored the second Supreme [1991 ] in Perth.
At the A.S.D.W. A [Australian Sheep Dog Workers Association] AGM held in conjunction with the trial the
A.S.D.W.A committee moved to accept Friskie's offer of official sponsorship for all Supreme trials and for the newly
intoduced Trans Tasman competition between Australia and New Zealand. Skippa Working Dog
became Lucky Working Dog, and in 2001 Nestle purchased Eastern States based Ralston Purina Company
and adopted that name and logo for the future Supreme/Trans Tasman trials.
The first Trans Tasman Test under the banner of the Australian Association was conducted at the first
Supreme in Tasmania in 1990. Lew Noble, Henry Homan, Allan Smith and Nick Webb had the honour of being the first Australian Team.
This Test resulted in a draw. The years have seen the development of a Trans Tasman Test course and rules, combining both Australian and NZ components,
with adoption in 1999. Slight changes have since been made. The method of selecting the Australian Test side has undergone some refinement, from drawing
4 names from a hat containing the names of the 6 state top dogs, to that of choosing the top 4 dogs after combining the 3 runs of the Supreme Ted Gaby
interstate challenge, two of which are run over the Trans Tasman course. In 1997 the Association decided to supply each member of a test team with an Australian blazer and tie,
and in 2005 it was decided to also supply a hat.
One of the objectives of the Association was to conduct
its own annual championship trial.
In the early years there was considerable discussion as
to whether the Supremes should be held in the same location and at the
same time each year, culminating in the
decision to rotate the event
amongst the states and to endeavour to hold it at a similar time each
year. A set of rules and guidelines for the conduct of Supremes
was
adopted in 1996. These rules have been added to and amended over the
years to the point where they are now quite extensive.
There has also
been discussion re a Supreme course, culminating in the decision in 1998
that the Supreme course will be that of the host state.
This decision was changed in 2004 when a Supreme course was
adopted.
Whether novice dogs should compete in the Supreme has
been debated over the years. In March 1999 it was decided to allow a
worker to enter a maximum of 2 novice dogs in the Supreme,
however, in
October 1999 this decision was rescinded so that novice dogs cannot
enter the
Supreme, excepting for Tasmania and W.A. In 2001 it was
determined that, where there is a novice trial held at the
same venue or
at the same time as the Supreme, if a dog entered in that Novice breaks
its status after closing date, it be allowed to compete in the Supreme
upon payment of the
additional entry fee, and that appropriate spaces
will be allocated in the Supreme draw to accommodate these dogs.
major sponsor of sheep dog trialling in Autralia until 2005.
Sadly a parting of the ways came about and the sheep dog world moved on to pastures new [so to speak]
under the current President the A.S.D.W.A consitution is being reviewed, and the Association is seeking to be a
self supporting non profit organisation continuing the tradition the founders began
with such foresight 17 years ago.
Previous Winners Western Australian Supreme trials
The Australian Supreme Championships are held annually and it rotates between the six States
All Supreme Championship Winners 1990 to 2010
1991 LEW NOBLE & SORREGO JOE 2002 GREG PRINCE & PRINCES ZOE
1992 BILL PARR & WINDEYER GOVENOR 2003 LEW NOBLE & TALLAWONGA BOLD
1993 BILL PARR & KURRANGI BLAZE 2004 GREG PRINCE & PRINCES ZOE
1994 ROSS DODGE & VIEWFIELD LAD 2005 GREG PRINCE & PRINCES ZOE
1995 DOUG CONNOP & GLENVEIW FEESHA 2006 KEITH REID & REIDSVILLE ALICE
1997 ANTHONY IRELAND & CLEMENTSVILLE KARA 2008 PIP HUDSON & KIWI GOLDA
1998 RON SEABROOK & TINAGEL LADDIE 2009 MALCOLM TAYLOR & SOMERVILLE FLOSS
1999 GREG PRINCE & CHRISTIES CHAMP 2010 Greg Prince & Lyster Scratch
2000 GREG PRINCE & PRINCES FLAME 2011
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