Moyston Sheep Dog Trials

ORIGIN OF THE MOYSTON SHEEP DOG TRIALS

Moyston Sheep Dog Trials are possibly the longest continuously running trials in Victoria and possibly Australia.

With the early establishment by the Wills family of “Lexington” Station, the district surrounding Moyston soon became established as a major wool producing area. Lexington was quickly followed by other major sheep runs including Barton, Crochan, Burrumbeep and many more.

As the country became more closely settled wool production increased and pastures became more intensively grazed with increased flock numbers and while the area was predominantly a wool growing area it quickly became a very traditional area for good working sheep dogs.

This deep rooted affection for working sheep dogs inevitably led to claims and counter claims among breeders and workers as to who had the best dog!!

It all came to a head in the late 20’s (1927) in the bar of the “Local”  when Billy Mason of Tommy Maidement’s property “Barton” bet Jim Murphy of Alex McDonald’s property “Crochan” that he had a better trial dog – any day.

So the day was named and the two rivals lined up their dogs one Saturday afternoon on the flat near the creek to work their sheep over a course in the presence of an interested throng. Murphy’s dog “Toby” proved the winner over the challenger “Rowdy” , the bet was settled and the two parted good friends and there the matter might have rested. However, the idea of the dog trials had taken on and the following year (1928) a meeting was called and this time a number of workers and their dogs came forward.

An association was formed with the late Charlie Mason as secretary and Alan Vanstan as his assistance. From then on the local trials were held in March/April and a wider OPEN Trial during October or November each year. The one day event became two, then a three day fixture as more and more dogs were entered each year. 

In the 1930 Trial which was won by William Burke working his dog “TOSS”, Jim Murphy who won the original bet with his dog “ROWDY” came second.

In the 1936 and 1958 there were joint winners of the Open Trial and in 1942 the club ran the “Captain Payne” Trial and due to the 400mtr Cast this trial was conducted on the Moyston Racecourse.

In 1949 the committee made a decision to bring the 2 trials together so in 1950 the Local, Novice, Improvers and Open trials were all held in March

Over the 90 years of the trials there have been many multiple winners with Geoff Jolly from Derrinalum winning the Open trial 7 times during the sixties.

At one stage it became necessary to commence the trials on the Wednesday afternoon when entries were allowed to take their full time with the run.

Rules were gradually tightened and the “creeping, over timid or stealthy” type of dog was discouraged in favour of the active alert worker.

The date of the trials was altered quite early to conclude on the nearest Saturday to St. Patrick's day, March 17th and has continued on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this weekend.

Currently the trials are held at the Moyston Recreation Reserve oval and are attended by competitors from around Australia.