Family Triumphs at the 2024 Tasmanian Yard Dog Championships

The legacy of Fingal Valley sheep farmer and long-time Tasmanian Yard Dog Association member Keith Johnson was evident at the 2024 Tasmanian Yard Dog Championship held in the grounds of the Blessington Hall on the weekend.

Three of his family protégés all but made a clean sweep of the Championships, with his grandson Matthew Johnson, of Exeter, and Pandara Raffa taking out the Novice Championship and another of his dogs, Quamby Vee, runner up. Daniel Scott and Bamma Neville were in third place.

Another grandson, Michael Hall of Perth, won the Improver Championship with Findale Jock with Matthew second with Pandara Roy and grandson number three Tim Hall of Connorville, Cressy, in third place with Valley T.J.

Tim also took out the prestigious Open Championship with Hilton Park Dusty and came second with

Jinki Space, while Denis Kline and Dusty and Adrian Carpenter and Bamma Alf rounded out the top four placings.

Judge Craig Ogier from Victoria was not only impressed with the strong turnout, with 40 dogs in the novice section alone, but also the way competitors handled the tough conditions, with full wool sheep that kept the dogs on their toes.

For Matthew it was a strong return to trialling this season after a break of several years.

Well known on the agriculture show circuit doing demonstrations with his Pandara kelpies, he said it was good to be putting all the training to the test.

“My pop basically raised me, starting me out trialling dogs when I was about 14 and he did the same with my cousins - Tim when he was about 11 and Michael when he was 13, and they both started working with my dog Dusty,” Matthew said.

“Supported by my grandmother Yvonne, they took us all over the state and gave us all their time and knowledge and love.

“I’ve won 13 State Championships and Tim and Michael have won another 13 between them, so they taught us well.

“They may not be here now but it was really special for the three of us to take home trophies on the weekend and acknowledge them at the event.”

Matthew and Margie Johnson donate the Pandara Keith Johnson Memorial Trophy each year for the best up and coming dog decided by the judge on the day.

This year it went to Daniel Scott and Bamma Neville.

They also award the Yvonne Johnson Memorial Trophy for the highest scoring bitch in the elimination rounds. 

This year it stayed in the family, going to Tim Hall and Hilton Park Dusty with a first-round score of 89.

More photos of the day in the gallery below.