The event was taken out by Rosie, owned by Ray Adams of Llandilo. Rosie won the event on a countback from Zorro, one of the dogs trained by youth involved in the Paws Up programme from Armidale.

Paws Up is a youth programme helping mostly boys, aged between 12 and 18 from disadvantaged homes. Many of the boys are from single parent families, often without a male role model. Part of the program is a companion animals scheme whereby the boys train and care for working dogs. Some of the dogs live at home with the boys, where it is possible.

Spokesman Trevor Fenn said the boys are responsible for the training and care of the dogs and they then tour to events like the Masters to take part in dog jumps and on Saturday they also had two dogs listed for sale as part of the working dog auction, the proceeds from the sale went back into the Paws Up program.

The Paws Up team has even taken part in the Casterton dog auction in Victoria, an event that is largely made up of kelpies.

Trevor said the boys were fairly obvious at the event with their collies but earned the respect of the crowd as they took out the dog jump title and pitched in and helped organisers with setting up for the events.