Through the 1940's and early 50's many Kelpies made their name on the trial field. These included McMasters Ned, Newton Nap, Porters Don but the dog that stood out above the rest was the magnificent trial dog, Butlers Johnny (also known as Walkers Johnny).

Johnny was bred by Pat Walker. Johnny in the true sense was not a pure bred Kelpie as he had a little bit of imported Border Collie in his line. He is listed here because he was always regarded as a Kelpie and promoted as such by Athol Butler, his handler. Johnny was considered by many to be the best trial dog this century. Athol Butler was a superb handler and Johnny was his most successful dog. On the trial field he could do anything with him.

Johnny really made his mark at the Australian National trials in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The Canberra Nationals were biggest Australian trials from the 1940's to the present day. Athol Butler and Johnny won the trial an outstanding five times! Which was every time he competed there and each time he did it with a better score. His last run there in 1952 was 97 and 100 points. A perfect score for his final run ! No other sheepdog has scored a perfect run at the Canberra National Trial before or since Johnny. When he won his fifth Trial there he was 10 years old. He died in 1959 at the good old age of 17 years.

Athol Butler named his Kelpie Stud after his property, Kanimbla. Two of Johnny's best known offspring were Boozer and Crib. Boozer also had a perfect score in a sheepdog trial.

In a special souvenir catalogue put out by the National Sheep Dog Trial Association in 1970, there is a photo of Johnny with the caption "Australia's Greatest Sheep Dog". The catalogue was published for the Centenary Sheepdog Trials at which 1st prize was awarded by her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second of England. (It was kindly given to us by Jack Mills of the Warings Kelpie Stud.)

The catalogue also lists his record of wins in the National Sheepdog Trials. It states he penned the sheep on each occasion and averaged 93.2 points. Johnny lived to 17 years of age and died in 1959.

PORTERS DON

Another Kelpie that proved that Athol could work other dogs to a very high level was Porters Don, bred by Frank Scanlon. Alf Porter, Frank's uncle, worked him in the 1948 Sydney Trial when Don was only a year old. He was good enough to take 3rd place. Soon after he won the North West Championship at Tamworth and Athol Butler then bought him for £70.

Under Athol Butler he was second at the Bathurst, Champion of Champions and won fastest time. He was placed at Sydney in 1951. He won Goulburn with a fantastic double score of 99 points. He was often trialled with Johnny and he was able to beat Johnny on five occasions. Tony Parsons and Ab Martin as a partnership purchased Porters Don for the record price of £300.

Kanimbla Betty was another good Kelpie of Athol's. She was bred from a Cudgee bitch, Cudgee Wilkie. She won the Sydney Novice with a high score of 97 points. Betty then won the big Queensland Championship Trial.

When Athol died he left some of his dogs in his will to Tony Parsons of the Karrawarra Kelpie Stud.

Mary and Stephen Bilson Noonbarra Kelpie Stud