WALLACEDALE’S Trevor Chown and partner Rose Facchino had a ‘Kraken’ start at Sheepvention’s dog trials, taking out first and third place in the Encourage event and earning a place in Monday’s Novice final.

At just 18 months old, the star of Sunday’s Encourage, Kraken Shine, took the title by just two points over Brad Watt’s Beltana Bunny, but finished her run almost a full minute ahead.

Started in New South Wales, Trevor and Rose’s Kraken Kelpies moved to the south-west in November 2019, just in time for the pandemic to restrict trialling activity for their brood.

Fortunately, on-farm work and good blood lines allowed the pair to continue training their dogs and a work accident several months ago put Shine front and centre for trialling competition, winning the Encourage at Ballarat, three weeks ago.

“She’s come through a bit of adversity … her mother passed away in an accident a few months ago,” Trevor said.

“She’d done a little bit of work before that, but with her mother out she had to step up and within probably two weeks, had become part of the main work team at the farm.

“She’s been switched on from the start … she’d not done any trialling before Ballarat … she’s very smart.

“She was a little bit overexcited as young dog on Sunday, but had a great run and had a run in the Novice as well.”

Also up there in the results, Kraken Weapon found his stride in the yards, taking out third place in the Encourage and after placing fourth in the prelims of the Novice, and was heading back to Sheepvention for Monday’s Finals.

And while Shine’s litter mate, Kraken Sonny, made it a double for the kennel with second place at Ballarat, he couldn’t quite get the hang of Sunday’s course.

“They can’t all have good days, but we’re really happy with how the dogs went and looking forward to taking Weapon back for the Novice final.”

The dog trials continue today, with the Victorian Working Dog Championship and presentations for all events, this afternoon.