East Gippsland Farm Dog Group (EGFDG) will host the Victorian Yard Dog Championships at Omeo later this month.

On September 27, 28 and 29, Omeo will be awash with yard dogs, competitors and spectators from South Australia, New South Wales, Tasmania and all over Victoria with an estimated 170 competitive runs by 70 handlers, spread across two trial arenas culminating in the championships being won in front of the historic grandstand at the Omeo Recreation Reserve on the Sunday.

The EGFDG is run by a small but dedicated group of volunteers that has successfully been running trials throughout East Gippsland for more than 20 years.

The group typically runs five trials a year in the region, but some years it is asked to coordinate more by the Victorian Yard, Utility & Farm Dog Association, who is the sport’s governing body in the state.

The classes on offer at the championships will be: Encourage Class; Novice Class; Maiden Class; Improver Class; and Open Class; all of which culminate in the awarding of the 2019 Victorian Yard Dog Championships and the eventual winner.

East Gippsland Shire Council mayor, Cr Natalie O’Connell, said the local community was looking forward to welcoming competitors for this year’s Victorian Yard Dog Championships.

“It will be a great weekend for visitors to our region, but also residents interested in watching the spectacle of high-quality stockmanship and working dog handling,” Cr O’ Connell said.

“I am pleased council has been able to support the East Gippsland Farm Dog Group to host this event and I look forward to it showcasing the Omeo region.”

EGFDG also plans to involve a number of the local community groups so it can have the financial benefit of running the event spread throughout the area, which is currently drought affected.