BEING the champ is great. Being the first champion, well that's even more special.
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The Dean and District Old Sniff Classic Sheepdog Trials have the backing of Victoria Working Sheepdog Association president John Tuddenham.
So much so that he is very, very keen to be the fledgeling event's first victor."I reckon it (the Old Sniff Classic) is great," John says.
"The committee approached me nine months ago about running a sheepdog trial and I was happy to give them the support I could behind the scenes.
"The facilities at the Dean Recreation Reserve are great and it is a terrific country setting for an event.
"Plus it will be really nice to be the first-ever winner of the event. I'll be going hard to win it, my bloody word."
Apart from his role at the Victoria Working Sheepdog Association, John is also an experienced sheepdog trial handler.
He intends to enter a couple of dogs at Dean on October 13 but his top dog is likely to be Ted. John bought Ted as a purebred border collie pup in Adelaide. Now three-years-old, Ted is just entering his prime having competed in seven or eight sheepdog trials, and winning his novice event in Ballarat in January.
"He would be my best chance to win at this stage," John says."Apart from the novice, he also won an improver in Ballarat, which is in between novice and open, and has since won an open trial at Cressy."
