Armidale’s Paws Up dog jumping champions will be taking a tilt at setting an official Guinness world record at this week’s Royal Melbourne Show. But first they will be taking on the Victorians as the NSW team in a State of Origin match.
Paws Up contested a Victorian team at Casterton in 2009 when their border collies won against a team of kelpies.
The stakes are high again, with Bindy, Girl and Radar the stars of the team of 10 dogs heading for Melbourne, with 10 trainers and three supervisors.
BackTrack Manager Bernie Shakeshaft, who will head the charge, says the stakes are high.
“We’ve jumped for the Prime Minister in Canberra this year, we’ve blitzed it at the local shows, but this is the big one,” he said.
“There is no entry yet for dog jumping in the Guinness Book of Records.
“We’ve got to knock over the Victorians first and then set a world benchmark.”
Two years ago the Paws Up team performed at the Royal Easter Show.
As well as competing regularly in shows and events in NSW and Queensland, they also perform at local events, including a recent indoor jump at the Armidale Bowling Club for members of the NSW Clubs Association.
“Dogs and boys are a pretty powerful combination when they get their act together,” Mr Shakeshaft says. “We have been in training for Melbourne and will give it our best shot.”
