The Dean Recreation Reserve Committee, which hosts the trials, supports local charities through funds raised at local events, and president Brian Maher was on hand to present the Ballarat Soup Bus with $300 raised through the efforts of the volunteers from the committee.

Mr Maher said the money was raised through a novel event held at the Yard Dogs State Championships in September.

“Basically it was a time trial with Joe Spicer’s champion dog yarding three sheep versus me trying to yard three blokes. We put the dog around the course and I had to try and beat his time. All the while the volunteers rattled the tins.

“We beat the dog by a point. There was a lot of controversy.”

The winner of the trials was John Tuddenham from Ross Creek with Warramanna Paddy. John’s score of 174 was 25 points clear of second place Jimmy Dodge.