LANCE Clifford, of Pyengana, will be flat out at October's Australian Supreme Sheepdog Championships, at the Campbell Town War Memorial ground.
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The Tasmanian Working Sheepdog Association vice-president will work dogs in all three categories - open, improver and novice - in the three-sheep competition.
"There will be representatives from every state and the trans-Tasman team to compete in next year's competition against New Zealand will be selected at the championships," Mr Clifford said.
"The trans-Tasman test is held just after the Australian Supreme and team members for that are selected at the previous year's competition.
"Each state sends its top two dogs to the Supreme and out of those 12 dogs, four are selected for the trans-Tasman."
Mr Clifford said that he expected up to 180 dogs in the open class alone at the Supreme, with 50 improvers and 60 novice dogs.
"The competition will run for a week from Sunday, October 11, and we're already getting bookings from all over for accommodation," he said.
"We've held the past three state championships at Campbell Town and it's the ideal location.
"It's alongside the main highway and sufficient sheep - upwards of 900 - are available nearby and Campbell Town Football Club is giving us use of the venue and catering facilities."
Mr Clifford said that the likes of Bernard McGlashan and Malcolm Taylor had represented Australia many times and current Tasmanian president Michael Grant made the Australian team last year.
- PETER SANDERS