JUST four points separated Tasmanian dog handler Bernard McGlashan from the Supreme Australian Sheepdog Championship.
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The annual championship was part of a week-long series of events at Strathalbyn, South Australia, that included the Australia versus New Zealand Trans-Tasman Test.
Mr McGlashan, of Hamilton, and Mocanna Ice were leading the competition until the second-last competitor, Victoria's Jim Dodge working Paton's Cooper, managed a better score.
Riverside's Lee Jamieson, working Mocanna Ed, finished fourth.
Mr Jamieson also won the improver competition with Jamieson's Kimi, a young bitch that he bred and trained himself.
Hillwood handler Harry Allen was fifth in the improver competition with One and Only Cash, and New Norfolk's Bruce Dolliver was fifth in the novice competition with Shannandoah Tiny.
New Zealand beat Australia 550.75 points to 518.75 and Tasmania finished fourth in the interstate challenge behind New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland, but ahead of Western Australia and Victoria.
The 2015 Supreme Championship will be held at Campbell Town from October 12 to 18.
At the post-supreme Maitland trial, Westbury's Carol Walduck won the novice competition and the best novice cast, lift and draw, with Shannandoah Beccy.
Westbury's Michael Grant finished fourth at Maitland with Fleetwood Queen in the open competition.