Jack (left) and Jill are leading the Cobber Challenge at the halfway mark. Photo / Supplied
Jack (left) and Jill are leading the Cobber Challenge at the halfway mark. Photo / Supplied
The 12 dogs vying for the title of the hardest working farm dog in Australia and New Zealand have put in a tremendous effort in the first half of the 2021 Cobber Challenge, organiser say.
Victorian dog Skyblue Jack has clocked up 513.5 kilometres to put him in the overallleader position by day 10 of the three-week competition.
The six-year-old Kelpie has worked 45 hours recording an average speed of 11.41 km/ hour.
Jack's strong performance came as a pleasant surprise for owner Ben Jeffery.
"Jack's happiest when he's working, but he's stepped it up. I've never seen him so happy and fit. He's wagging his tail and running all day. He's just working so well for me."
Jeffery and Jack work at Mepungah Pastoral in Wannon in Victoria's Western District. Split over a few properties, the operation spans 3200 hectares and they run 28,000 sheep and about 1000 head of cattle.
They have been working dawn to dusk most days – drenching sheep and checking on other mobs that are lambing.
They've also been rounding up a few cheeky cattle that have ended up in the wrong paddocks.
In second place, midway through the Cobber Challenge, is fellow Victorian Kelpie, Glenlyon Jill.
She has recorded 347.82 km over a total time of 37 hours, to achieve an average speed of 9.31 km/h.
Jill's owner James Leahy said he was enjoying seeing the data at the end of each day: "It's a good representation of my working dog."
The Cobber Challenge is in its sixth year.
Organiser Kellie Savage, Cobber's Marketing Manager, said these dogs were on track to beat the record of 835 km, set by Glenda Rogan and her dog Buddy last year.
"The amount of work these dogs have done is incredible. And while these two Victorian dogs are in the lead, there is still plenty of time for other competitors to make a late run."
Jack and Jill shouldn't rest on their laurels just yet, as Koby from NSW and Pine from New Zealand, were "nipping at their heels," Savage said.
Koby is nipping at Jack and Jill's heels. Photo / Supplied
It is the first time New Zealand dogs have competed, and the country is represented by three Heading Dogs.
Pine from Ashburton on the South Island is currently ranked the highest, after helping owner Cam Clayton move sheep for pre-lamb shearing.
Clayton said the Cobber Challenge helped him realise how much Pine actually worked.
"I fully appreciate the dogs for their hard running efforts and ability to do the job but the sheer distance they cover is just astonishing."
In the second half of the competition, Clayton and Pine will be sorting cattle for pre-calving and getting the ewes set for lambing.
Kiwi dog Pine is not far behind Jack and Jill. Photo / Supplied
In true sporting behaviour, an injured ankle is holding back fellow Kiwi competitor, Josh Tosh from working his normal hours with dog Trix. But he's doing all he can to get Trix out in the paddocks and submitting her GPS data.
• Antony Mulder and Narroonda Ritz, from Prairie, Queensland • James Knight and Krui Snowy, from Devon Park, Queensland • Daniel Pumpa and Turbo, from Koorawatha, NSW • Emma Stocks and Koby, from Coolac, NSW • Bradley Dunlop and Roxy, from Wanganella, NSW • Rob Sibley and Boof, from Kojonup, WA • Ben Jeffery and Skyblue Jack, from Wannon, Victoria • James Leahy and Glenlyon Jill, from Highlands, Victoria • Bree How and Kit, from Oatlands, Tasmania
