Australian Working Stock Dog Magazine - June 2018

Jess became a regular Weekend Warrior, getting up in the
early hours to accompany Geof to training, working Sha-
ron Dungey’s Gemma, and under her watchful eye and
tutelage, Jess’s handling improved so it was decided that
Jess needed a dog of her own and in February 2016, Lyga-
jo Ollie was added to their pack, from Matthew Mitchell.

Walking out to the starting peg at a 3 sheep trial can be daunt-
ing for any competitor. One can only imagine what was going
through the mind of a 13year old, tiny slip of a girl with a big
smile who barely 10 months before, had only seen sheep in
passing paddocks, when Jess and Ollie competed in their irst
3 sheep trial at Warwick in July 2016.

One of Geof and Jess’s biggest supporters was wife and moth-

er, Sharon, although battling cancer which was diagnosed in

2013, Sharon attended as many trials that she could but with

her deteriorating health this became more diicult. he last

trial Sharon attended was Allora 2017, even though being ex-

tremely ill; she made a big efort in going as it was Jessica’s

birthday weekend. She had to be driven down to the ring to

watch Jess and Geof in Encourage inal and sadly their world

was turned upside down when Sharon lost her battle with

cancer in November 2017.. Working their dogs, attending the

sheep dog trails and the huge support of the 3 sheep and sheep

dog fraternity has helped ill the huge void of losing a wife and

mother.

Geof now also needed a dog he could trial and Barker’s Rolly

from Gary Barker, joined their pack and so started the quest

for more training, more knowledge, the many,many miles

travelling to train and names synonymous with QLD sheep

trialling, Colin top, Gary Barker, Sharon and Mike Dungey

recognising the passion and dedication, all too happy to share

their knowledge.

From that irst step into the trial ring, Jess and Geof have been

familiar faces at the presentations:

Jess has gone on to achieve:

1st Jim Flynn memorial Trophy – Clion, 2017

4th Novice, Tara, 2017

3rd Encourage, Allora 2017

1st encourage Tenterield 2018

4th Encourage, Stanthorpe 2018

First in the Open Sheepdogs on the Cove Short course 2018

5th encourage, Toowoomba 2018 and

equal 2nd with Geof in Encourage, Dalby 2018

WEEKEND WARRIOR

Tenterield Trial

1st Encourage - Jessica

2nd Encourage -Geof

Photo: Kim Grimely

Geof and Stella

http://www.stockdogs.com.au AWSDM 15