Dean and Marcelle Incher’s Jaunt to the
2024 Australian Yard Dog Championships W.A.
The 29th March came around too quickly. There’d been so much to do on the farm before we could start our camping, come dog trialling adventure to the West.
Finally, we had everything ready, the dog box was on, the campervan was hooked up and we’d packed almost everything we could think of for the next month.
Leaving our very capable daughter in charge, we headed off.
First stop Hay Yard Dog Trial, a bit of a warm up to the Australian Championships.
Leaving Hay, we felt like the trip had truly begun. We made our way to South Australia and down into the Eyre Peninsula, where we met up with some fellow trial buddies. Fishing was the name of the game there, but the Nullarbor was beckoning, so after a couple of days R&R we headed off with plenty of fuel and a keen sense of adventure. It didn’t disappoint. We loved experiencing the ever changing landscape, the vast distances and stunning scenery of the Nullarbor. The camping was great too, with dog friendly stops dotted all the way across.
About 10 days into the trip, we rolled into a tiny place called Mobrup W.A., population 40 and home to the 2024 Australian Yard Dog Championships! The Mobrup Polocrosse Club was to be our camp for the next 5 days, where the Committee and their awesome crew fed and watered us and took great care of all our needs. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to come together and hang out. It was great to relax and unwind but the competition was heating up. It was down to the top 10 and with a tough course to navigate, it could’ve been anyone’s game. After some cracking runs under difficult conditions, Aoidh Doyle and Snip took out the top prize and Dean came in with a very tidy second and fifth place. A huge achievement by both to have travelled, with their dogs, across Australia and still managing to perform at a very high level. It was also a very proud moment when Dean and Justin Tombs representing NSW, took out the Interstate Challenge.
From the undulating country around Mobrup we travelled to the southern W.A. coastline for some more fishing (unsuccessfully) while the dogs enjoyed big runs along the beach, before heading north again to the more outback region of Kellerberrin, home to the National Kelpie Trial. Although in drought, this area was beautiful, and the sunsets were spectacular. Once again, we were treated with great hospitality and although our time there was short, we enjoyed our visit very much. Congratulations went to Aoidh Doyle who in true style, took out the trophy there too.
Now 3 weeks into our trip, our thoughts turned towards the farm and as we started to point our noses east, we prepared ourselves for the long journey back. Our daughter had been managing calving heifers and bad weather and it was time for us to get back into the real world.
We’d had so many great adventures and had seen so much, all with 4 dogs in tow, all of whom had been absolute legends. However, after travelling 9000kms we were looking forward to getting home and I’m sure the dogs were too.
Our 2024 Australian Yard Dog Championship trip to W.A. was all about competing of course, but it was also about friends, good times and seeing some of this great country.
Bring on the 2025 Australian Champs in Goondiwindi QLD I say!!
Marcelle Incher
