The 2023 Cobber Challenge acknowledges the unrecognized heroes of the farming sector – working dogs. Photo / Tessa Prentice
The phase is set for the 2023 Cobber Challenge, with 12 finalists selected to fight it out for the title of Australasia’s hardest-working dog.
Now in its 8th year, organisers are forecasting the 2023 Cobber Challenge will be the very best yet, with a new format set to produce record-breaking ratings for each candidate.
The 12 canine rivals will use a GPS tracker to tape-record their range, speed and duration each work day, with points built up based upon efficiency.
However, for the very first time in the difficulty’s history, this year the information will be gathered over 3 months, with the 3 busiest weeks on-farm counting towards each dog’s last rating.
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Come October, the dog that clocks up the most points will take home honour, splendor and a prize money, while each individual will receive a year’s supply of Cobber Working Dog pet food.
Cobber’s marketing supervisor Kellie Savage said the brand-new difficulty format “levelled the playing field” for all Kelpies, Collies, crosses and heading dogs.
“We know that a cattle station in the Northern Territory operates very differently to a sheep farm in Queenstown, so we’ve taken feedback on board from past competitors and extended the competition to ensure we capture every farm’s busiest period.”
Selecting this year’s finalists was an exceptionally uphill struggle, Savage said.
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“We had the most farmers ever across Australia and New Zealand nominate their best mates and most valuable employees.”
She said the last 12 represented a range of types and experiences.
“There’s Garry the Kelpie from Esperance, who herds cattle and sheep, Dot the heading dog from Canterbury in New Zealand, who isn’t afraid to put in the hard yards, and Earl, the partially-blind but tenacious Kelpie from Tassie who’s been working on-farm since he was a pup.”
Savage said Cobber was delighted to see what the finalists might do this year.
“We’re confident that multiple records will be smashed by the 2023 cohort.”
The 12 Cobber Challenge finalists for 2023
New Zealand
- Ashton Clements of Te Wharau with heading dog Fern.
- Dean Gardiner of Amberley with heading dog Dot.
- Kelsie Meads of Lake Coleridge with heading dog Sass.
Australia
- Alex Johns of Fingal, Tasmania with Kelpie Earl.
- Cloe Latty of Willaura, Victoria with Kelpie Jazz.
- Dan McInnes of Acheron, Victoria with Kelpie Jack.
- Declan Martin of Conmurra, South Australia with Koolie Pip.
- Demi Riordan of Esperance, Western Australia with Kelpie Garry.
- Holly Jessen of Woodhill, Queensland with German Short-haired Pointer-Kelpie cross Dallas.
- Renee Hayter of Bombala, New South Wales with Kelpie Bat.
- Katie Williams of Uralla, New South Wales with Border Collie Scooter.
- Jackson Clifford of Mataranka, Northern Territory with Kelpie Rose.
Find out more about the finalists on the Cobber Challenge website.
