The 2025 National Championships got under way on Thursday the 18th with the Novice Championships judged by local handler Jurie vd Vyver. Farm owner Johan Swart hosted a trial earlier in the season and also hosted the nationals in 2022. This year we had a new field, rectangular in shape and fairly flat for the first 250m then sloping up to the back boundary at about 500m. Johan also provided a flock of freshly shorn Merino ewes for the event.

Fortunately, the weather played along for the afternoon with ideal trialling conditions which saw a number of good steady runs. This championship comprises a 200m outrun, full drive where the handler may leave the post, but is penalised the more they walk and then a pen. The pen has an extra wing and the handler does not need to hold the rope, total score 90pts. Johan Nel from the Eastern Cape, with his Australian Kelpie, Cheese, was crowned as Novice Champion closely followed by Ragni Pretorius from Coligny with Lea as reserve Novice Champion. Top five placings as follows:

1. J Nel Cheese 83

2. R Pretorius Lea 82

3. WA Hugo Kaptein 72

4. J Nel Patch 68

5. J Nel Fly 60

On Friday morning the main event got under way and we were fortunate to have Andrew Dickman from Scotland to judge. Andrew was accompanied by wife Frances who took care of the scribing. The course for this round has a 300m outrun, full drive, shed any two sheep and then a pen with a total score of 100pts and a time limit of 12 minutes. The Junior Championship is included in this round and is awarded to the highest place dog that started the season in the junior class.

Conditions for the first few runs were calm but then the wind came up and was blowing from the east directly into the handler’s face. The ewes were twitchy with some packets running more than others. Also, as the sheep were turned at the post they took off up the field at speed resulting in most handlers having very wide turns at the away-drive gates. There also appeared to be some dead-spots for the outwork which added to the challenge. WA Hugo from Lamberts Bay, with his dog Kaptein placed 4th in the round and were also the highest place junior dog and were therefore crowned as the National Junior Champions. Ragni Pretorius and Lea were Reserve Junior Champions. Results for the round as follows:

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1. P Strydom Roy 89

2. WA Hugo Mac 83

3. Y Fourie Kwagga 83

4. WA Hugo Kaptein 82

5. A Gunter Connie 77
    

Junior Champs

1. WA Hugo Kaptein 82

2. R Pretroius Lea 77

The top 30 dogs then progressed to the semi-finals on Saturday on a full qualifying course with a total of 110pts. The wind had turned west and was blowing up the course in gusts. There were some dead spots as well especially when the wind was up in the morning session with some packets being really difficult. The afternoon saw good trialling conditions resulting in good runs with high scores:

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1. A Philip Mirk 101

2. Y Fourie Wimpie 101

3. Y Fourie Kwagga 100

4. A Philip Zap 95

5. A Gunter Faffa 88

As is customary we had our annual gala dinner and prize-giving on the Saturday evening. Prizes for the various classes and achievements throughout the year are handed out here. We also announced the team of five to represent South Africa at the World Trial in Scotland next year. The team selection is based on a similar method to the Dog of the Year award where points are awarded to top dogs at dog of the year trials throughout the year and are based on the number of entries. Major awards as follows:

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Best Beginner Doug Coleman and Max (Zimbabwe)

Junior Dog of the Year Ragni Pretorius and Lea

S A Dog of the Year Mark Trollip and Diesel

Most Consistent Dog Mark Trollip and Diesel

South African World Trial Team

Mark Trollip and Diesel

Andrew Philip and Mirk

Pierre Strydom and Mac

Yvan Fourie and Kwagga

Andrew Philip and Zap

Reserves: Attie Gunter and Jurie vd Vyver

The finals day started off with perfect conditions, not a breath of wind and cool. The course was a full international double lift with two packets of ten sheep and five being collared and a time limit of 25minutes. Henry vd Merwe and Lisa were up first and managed to complete the course, but missed an obstacle and had a couple of breaks while drafting, posting a score of 127. Ragni Pretorius and Tess followed second and also completed the course, but missed two obstacles. The wind then came up making conditions testing and ewes got more and more twitchy. It wasn’t till the last four runs of the day when there were more completed runs. Yvan Fourie and Wimpie running second last completed the course with a good run and even though they missed an obstacle the run was still good enough to be crowned SA Champion for 2025. Andrew Philip and Mirk were the last run of the day and also managed to complete the course after a difficult pen, narrowly missing out on the championship by 1 point. Top five scores as follows:
 

1. Y Fourie Wimpie 133

2. A Philip Mirk 132

3. H vd Merwe Lisa 127

4. R Pretorius Tess 115

5. WA Hugo Adam 113
    

Thank you to Johan and Ingrid Swart for a tremendous effort in hosting a very successful national championship. Also, to all our sponsors thank you for your support and Jurie vd Vyver and Andrew and Frances Dickman for judging.