The 12 working dog teams representing New Zealand and Australia that will compete in the inaugural Cobber Challenge Relay have been announced.
The new relay format recognises that farmers often work dogs in teams, or pick certain dogs to do different tasks, like mustering mobs of cattle or pushing sheep through yards.
Now in its seventh year, the 2022 Cobber Challenge Relay will run from Monday, August 22 to Sunday, September 11.
Farmers have nominated teams of two, three or four dogs.
Each day of the three-week competition, the farmer will select one of their nominated dogs to wear a GPS collar, to track how far, fast and for how long they work. The results will be combined to crown the winning team of the Cobber Challenge Relay trophy.
The data is uploaded daily to the Cobber Challenge website so fans can follow their favourite working dog teams at cobberchallenge.com.au and on the Cobber Dog Facebook page. Representing New Zealand this year is 19-year-old shepherd Taylor Bird. His Team Hakatere Station is made up of four dogs – two huntaways and two heading dogs.
Cobber’s marketing manager Kellie Savage said: “We had so many amazing nominations this year, and the 12 we’ve selected span from Bodallin in Western Australia, across to Mount Somers in New Zealand, almost 5000km.”
Competitors for the 2022 Cobber Challenge Relay are:
– Nick Foster of Boorowa, NSW
Team Koonama Working Kelpies including dogs Cracka, Drake, Scorcha and Bundy
– Olly Hanson of Corinella, NSW
Team Lost River Kelpies including dogs Jake, Bowie and Hex
– Sarah Richards of Coolah, NSW
Team Nerremen Kelpies including dogs Kora, Spud, Cash and Tank
– Georgie Constance of Binalong, NSW
Team The Young Guns including dogs Belle, Beau, Murray and Jess
– Darius Cosgrave of Tintinara, South Australia
Team Superior Wool Merino including dogs Jip and Boots
– Ali Hodgson of Greenways, South Australia
Team Circus including dogs Opie, Becham Floyd and Midi.
– Jordan Flemming of Fingal, Tasmania
Team Redhead Kelpies including dogs Nuts, Claire and Nip
– Ryan Eade of Bodallin, Western Australia
Team Hill View Kelpies including dogs Flick, Millie, Tezz and Suzie
– Taylor Bird of Mount Somers, New Zealand
Team Hakatere Station including dogs Bruno, Kate, Tom and Moss.
– Melissa Smith and Dan McKinnon of Skipton, Victoria
Team Anywhere Crutching including dogs Caviar Keith, Roy, Pip and Jude
– Dane Simmonds of Myrniong, Victoria
Team Parwan Prime including dogs Ruby and Tully
– Genine Jackson of Charters Towers, Queensland
Team Turbo including dogs Whiskey, Buck and Nick
