Larne native Dean McAuley has cause for celebration after a memorable weekend ended with his dog, Joe, being crowned Irish National Sheepdog Champion.
Joe, a son of Dean’s own Yellowhill Pete and DJ Irvine's Dell, has been a faithful team mate to Dean. Joe was Reserve National Champion in 2021 and has represented Ireland five times prior to adding this year’s national title to his catalogue of open trial wins. He has also bred numerous successful trial dogs to date.
The sheepdog trial, held at Stuart Hall, Co Tyrone, by kind permission of the Coyle family, proved to be a very successful event for Dean, with his second dog, Jack, son of Joe, also gaining a place on the Irish team that will go on to compete at the International Supreme Championship Sheep Dog Trial later this month.
Dream come true
Dean described the weekend as a “dream come true”, adding that he is “very proud" of his dogs.
Sammy Long from Donegal also has plenty to celebrate following this year’s Irish nationals, placing both second and third with his dogs Coco and Mac respectively. He won both qualifying days with excellent runs but was just pipped to the post on the final day of competition by Dean.
Miriam O’Keeffe and Toryhill Joe took fourth place, and Rosa Gjurkowitsch claimed fifth with Glencregg Meg. Both dogs are sired by Glencregg Silver.
The brace competition was won this year by James McCloskey with Dollar and Oak Bruce. Eamon Connell was crowned reserve champion brace.
Blake Bradley also had reason to enjoy this year’s Irish national, lifting the young handlers title.
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