Dog handling skills shine at CBCA championships near Shaunavon

Posted on August 27, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

Shaunavon Standard

The best Border Collie handlers from across Canada and the United States gathered at Sheep Creek Farms near Shaunavon from Aug. 15 to 19 for the Canadian Border Collie Association (CBCA) Championships .

The five-day event drew a great turnout of crowds and competitors, helping make the event a resounding success.

“It was unbelievable,” organizer Jamie Gardner said of the turnout.

“These were the best finals I’ve ever put on.” Gardner previously hosted the national event in 2013 and 2014.

The championship event attracted 75 open dogs and 35 nursery dogs, with an estimated 80 to 100 handlers taking part.

Competitors travelled from across Canada as well as Utah, Michigan and Illinois, with participants coming from British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.

Gardner said the Saskatchewan contingent was relatively small compared with Alberta and other provinces, reflecting the specialized level of competition.

The championship’s Open title went to Amanda Milliken of Kingston, Ont., and her dog Tui. Milliken earned $2,000 for the victory and will now represent Canada at the World Trial in Scotland in September.

The Open reserve championship went to Saskatchewan competitor Peter Gonnet and his dog June.

In the Nursery division, Steve Davie of Grande Prairie, Alta., won the finals with his dog Walker. Fiona Robertson of Ontario and her dog Kale finished as the Nursery reserve.

The event handed out approximately $17,000 in prize money, along with a number of donated prizes. A stockmanship award donated by Darcy Turner went to George Sambulik, while Lousanne Twa of Alberta received another stockmanship award.

Gardner said the quality of the event extended beyond the competition itself.

She credited the community of Shaunavon for welcoming competitors and visitors, and praised local businesses, vendors and volunteers for helping make the championships a success.

“The town of Shaunavon was wonderful to everybody that was here,”

Gardner said.

Gardner also gave special praise to trial secretary Donna Claude for managing the complex paperwork, and to her husband, Harvey Gardner, for helping make sure everything ran smoothly.

The championships featured judges Kenny Price of Dawson Creek, B.C., and Gordon Watt of Illinois.

With many competitors travelling long distances to attend, a significant number stayed in the area for additional trialing events after the championships.

Gardner was already working at the new trialing event when The Standard reached her.

Overall, Gardner said the response from competitors was overwhelmingly positive, with strong participation, a substantial prize purse, good food and a full slate of vendors adding to the experience.

“I’m just thankful to the community for all their hospitality to our people,” Gardner said, also expressing appreciation to the many volunteers and donors who contributed to the championships.