Buster rounds up title

“Man’s best friend” – a dog, or sometimes three dogs as in the case of Adam James – are indispensable on rural properties.

Mr Brand’s three kelpies showed just why they are earlier this month when they made up almost half of the dogs that won through to the final of the National Kelpie Field Trials at Alexandra.

And one of them, Tundabardi Buster, came away as the Australian champion.

Formerly of Jindivick and now managing a property as Coolac, in New South Wales, Mr Brand returns to Victoria each year to compete with his dogs including at the State Utility Championship that are on the agenda this month at Bairnsdale.

Buster has won the State Utility title for the past three years.

A member of the Warragul Dog Club before moving to New South Wales, Mr Brand has had and trained kelpies for more than 10 years.

At Alexandra Mr Brand’s Myamba Moss came in third and Yarrabee Scout placed seventh behind Tundabardi Buster.

The competition involved the dogs guiding three sheep through a course with obstacles then drafting them into yards, a drench race and pens.

At the state championships Buster came second in the open section and second in the championship while Moss came first in the open and first in the championship.

Scout finished fourth in the utility championship.