VICTORIA THEN THE WORLD: Armidale’s Paws Up team are heading to Victoria to represent a the NSW state team, pictured in their State of Origin jerseys are back, from left, Brian Schalk and Garry Laurie; middle, Dusty Fenn, Stephanous Olsen, Dan Perkins, Michael Moran, Matt Pilkington and Peter Brennan and front, Nathan Bliss and Isaac McIlveen.
ARMIDALE’S Paws Up dog jumping champions will be taking a tilt at setting an official Guinness World Record at next week’s Royal Melbourne Show.
Before they can try and break the record though, they will tackle the Victorians as the NSW team in a State of Origin match on Monday morning.
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 Guinness World 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 said.
“We have been in training for Melbourne and will give it our best shot.”
