Jump for Roy: High praise for sidekick
![Ali Spencer with dog Bits alongside Dean Rintoul and sheep dog Roy.](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/B881315202Z/1568167698933_GAU2D4PVV.1-2.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
Dean Rintoul had low expectations for trusty sidekick Roy before this year’s Newdegate Machinery Field Days Dog Jump Challenge.
However, the two-year-old pure-bred Kelpie proved him wrong, soaring over a 1.74m fence.
On the opening day of Newdegate’s 47th annual agriculture show last Wednesday, Roy leapt from a standing-start to easily clear the hurdle to claim first-place honours.
Onlookers applauded Roy’s feat, while Mr Rintoul was quick to admit it came as a surprise.
“He has always been a jumper, but I never expected him to jump that high,” he said.
“It was an impressive effort.”
Roy is one of three sheepdogs at the Rintouls’ mixed grain-sheep enterprise, near Newdegate, helping oversee a flock of 2000 breeding ewes.
In addition to sheep, Mr Rintoul and his father Murray also crop about 3000ha.
![Roy clears 1.74m at the 2019 Newdegate Machinery Field Days' Dog Jump Challenge.](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/B881315202Z/1568167698933_GBU2D4Q00.1-0.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
The sheep and grain producer said Roy was an adored part of the family farm.
“Roy is one-of-a-kind, he’s a good barker and sometimes I think that’s all he has going for him,” Mr Rintoul joked.
Bits, a 10-year-old kelpie owned by Ali Spencer, also competed in this year’s Dog Jump Challenge.
Ms Spencer said although her loyal companion was getting long in the tooth, he was still a hard-worker.
“Bits used to jump each year at the Wagin Woolorama and would clear 2.3m fairly easily,” she said.
“He’s getting on a bit now and he’s still willing to give it a go, which is great.”
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