By Stephen & Mary Bilson

John White started running Kelpies in Sheepdog Trials in the 1960's. Since that time he has always been up there with the best handlers. He is one of the very few Kelpie men today that still tries his hand at Arena (3-Sheep) Trials and is capable of winning the big events. These days the Arena Trials are completely dominated by the Border Collie. The fact that he has often beaten them in major trials says a lot about his handling skills and his dogs.

One of John's biggest wins in these trials was in the 1991 Henty Gold Trial. This was one of the biggest trials in Australia with enormous prizemoney and attracted 122 handlers from all over Australia and even New Zealand. Some of the biggest names were there including Greg Prince. John White beat them all with his wonderful Kelpie, Whites Nap III. He was one of the few Kelpies in the event. All the other sheepdogs in the final were Border Collies. He won by a good margin of 6 points. This great Kelpie was a good trial dog for John White and was placed three times in the National Kelpie Trials. He was 2nd in the 1989 National Kelpie Trial. He was also 2nd in the 1991 National and 5th in the 1988 Trial. He won the Open Utility Trial at Young in 1990.

During his career he won Arena, Yard and Utility Trials. In the 1989 National Kelpie Trial, he was placed 2nd against some of the best competition in the country. He was only beaten by Chris Stapleton's top Kelpie, Glenlogie Lucky.

National Kelpie Championship Trial Placings

1969 2nd Whites Joker

1970 5th Kyneton Lady

1971 6th Whites Satchmo

1972 1st Whites Dawn

1973 2nd Whites Dawn

1973 3rd Whites Teena

1973 6th Whites Tex

1975 6th Whites Candy

1986 5th Whites Tally

1988 5th Whites Nap III

1989 2nd Whites Nap III

1991 2nd Whites Nap III

In 1969 he also won the award for 'Best Type' working Kelpie (Female) with Whites Lady

1988 National Kelpie Trial: John white went into the final on the 2nd highest score, 74, behind Chris Stapleton with Capree Action on 77 points. John was a massive 11 points ahead of any of the others. He was working Whites Nap III, one of his best trial winners. However as he put the sheep into the drenching race one jumped the rails and he was disqualified for 'lost sheep'. He still took 5th place with his single score.

John White's skill in trials doesn't end there. He has won dozens of major Arena and Yard Dog Trials and also Utility Trials. He has had more than 10 placings in the National Kelpie Trials since 1969. He is often regarded as one of the best Kelpie handlers in this country and has given a number of training schools. He has even run teaching clinics in the USA. He has bred and sold Kelpies all over Australia and around the world. In the 1980's Tim Austin of the Elfinvale Kelpie Stud, paid a record price for Whites Rowdy.

Other well known Whites Kelpies include:

Whites Dawn - (Scanlons Butch X Whites Teena). Winner oof the Balranald Novice and the Wentworth Open among other sheepdog trials.

Kirribilli Banjo - (Liscannor Marco X Quarrells Biddy) He was one of the better known sires owned and used in the Whites Stud. John White wrote: "A very keen, active worker with a good eye and excellent temperament. ... An excellent young paddock dog with natural cast and good eye. Useful in yard and shed" .

Whites Dan - (Wyreema Satchmo X Whites Candy) Colour: Black & Tan. John White wrote: " A top allround worker with medium eye. A natural in shed, yards and truck. .."Pleny of natural back and bark and force when required."

Whites Tally - (Wyreema Satchmo X Whites Candy). Colour:: Black & Tan. John White wrote in 1985: "Stylish, active worker, Proven allrounder and Open trial winner. ..."an exceptional allrounder. Very hardy, keen and active. Uses eye when necessary. Backs sheep naturally and barks on command."

Whites Katie- ( Capree Watch X Whites Wren) Born: 1989

1991	1st	Whites Katie	John White	Novice	Nat. Kelpie Trial Tas.
1991	2nd	Whites Katie	John White	Local	Nyngan Arena	84
1991	5th	Whites Katie	John White	Open	Country Kennel Utility	143
1991	1st	Whites Katie	John White	Novice	Nyngan Arena	84/64
1992	2nd	Whites Katie	John White	Local	Skippa Classic Utility	138
1992	4th	Whites Katie	John White	Improver	Bendigo Championships	109 . 5
1992	2nd	Whites Katie	John White	Improver	Cunnamulla Trials	77/64
1992	2nd	Whites Katie	John White	Local	Nyngan Arena	76
1992	4th	Whites Katie	John White	Improver	Bendigo Championships	109 . 5
1992	6th	Whites Katie	John White	Open	Henty Gold	92/75/48
1993	Finalist	Whites Katie	John White	Improver	Dubbo Yard Trial	77/59
1995	4th	Whites Katie	John White	Novice	Dubbo Show Arena	67/57
1995	3rd	Whites Katie	John White	Novice	Bourke Show Trial	74/99
1997	5th	Whites Katie	John White	Open	Upper Horton	84/68

Whites Jodie - (Kirribilli Banjo X Whites Tally). Colour: Black & Tan. Described in 1985 by John White as having a lot of potential and a good temperament.

Whites Candy - (Glenville Tex X Whites Dawn). John whitee wrote: "A proven brrod bitch and breeder of pups with allround ability. Very good in trials and paddock."

SOME WHITES KELPIES USED BY OTHER STUDS

Whites Tracey was another good Kelpie and used in the Barambogie Stud. Owner, Malcolm Peake wrote in his Stud listings : "Works both paddock and yards. Barks anywhere on command. Exceptionally good mustering dog. Won and placed in trials. Good nature and easy to handle. Proven breeder."

Whites Glen - (Glenlogie Rex X Whites Teena). Colour: BBlack & Tan. This dog was used as a sire in the Scoriochre Stud run by John Gedye in Victoria. Mr. Gedye wrote: " Medium sized black and tan. Energetic, stylish mustering dog. Sheep or cattle, backs freely and barks when necessary. Proven top sire of stylish station workers."

Whites Rowdy was owned by Steve Weyman of Wundurra Kelpie Stud and later sold to Tim Austin of the Elfinvale Stud for a then record price of $2500. Whites Rowdy and then worked him in the 1984 National Kelpie Trial. Tim with Whites Rowdy was placed second, which was a fantastic achievment.

Whites Choko (Liscannor Marco X Whites Tally) was exported overseas to the USA as a Stud breeder for Vern & Susan Thorp at their Windrush Working Kelpie Stud in Iowa.

Johns dogs are bred for the rugged conditions where he lives at Nyngan in the far western region of NSW. This is what most people refer to as the Outback. He has bred quite a number of Kelpies over the years and they now feature in the breeding programs of many other Kelpie Studs. Many pedigrees today will feature some Whites Kelpies somewhere.

Mary and Stephen Bilson Noonbarra Kelpie Stud