The UK's SheepDog Resource
January 10
South West Bulletin January 2010
A happy New Year to everyone!
It seems an age since the English National was held in August but at last we can report on the amount of money raised for the North Devon Hospice which was the beneficiary from the Trial and the adjacent Country Fair that was organised by them.
£82000 was the final amount raised for the Hospice and if ISDS members and children are included in the final figures then between 15,000 and 20,000 people attended. What a wonderful result!
Congratulations again to all who made this Trial the success it was and this includes the many people who worked on behalf of the Hospice.
Completion of 2009 Season
Cornwall Sheepdog Society held their Lanhadron Hill Trial over the two days Fri/Sat 16/17 October. This is held on a steep valley with the handlers on one side and the sheep on the other with one gateway between the two fields making a blind spot behind a steep bank in front of this gateway. Some lateral thinking went into the arrangements for both trials so that on Friday there was a 600 yard outrun and after the fetch the sheep were penned. The drive began with the handler standing at the pen with the sheep then being driven through the hurdles to the exhaust field.
On Saturday the let out point was changed to the left of the field making a 1000 yard outrun with the sheep being brought to the turnout point of the Friday trial so that there was more of a cross drive than a fetch before following the course of the previous day. The Texel X store lambs worked well over both days although a bit sticky on the first day.
Points for both days were out of 90. Lesley Lock took the honours on Friday with Moss and Richard Montgomery and Roy on Saturday.
On the 18th October Simon Ashton held his Woodhuish Trial at Kingswear, Dartmouth, South Devon. Enjoying a lovely sunny day, the hill trial was hosted by Peter and Pam Howlett, who also provided hot food and refreshments and was organised by Simon Ashton. Philip and Fiona Davis-Russel judged and timed.
Sheep had to be fetched back through a gateway before reaching the first set of driving gates. One or two of the ewes in not wanting to climb the hill stood the dogs on the driving section, which caused a few of the competitors some challenges but in all it was a successful and enjoyable trial. John Carter and Jen won the day, Simon and Sam (despite all their organisational duties) came in at a commendable fourth.
Nursery Trials
The Season got off to a start at Kenny Watson’s Postbridge venue on the 25th October.
Julie Tucker judged Jed Watson and Tim to be the winners of the Maltese Cross (marks out of 70) and Trevor Hopper judged Merrill Fox and Gem to be the best in the Driving. Messrs Hopper and Carter shone in the Young Handler section.
No Nursery Trials ran in November – appalling weather. So the 6th December saw the next trial. This was held at a new venue – Mill Hill near Tavistock courtesy of A & B Cole having had to relocate from Ian Bickle’s where the ground was too wet.
Jenny Holdsworth put Jed Watson and Jake in first place and Jed then judged the Driving placing Jane Harper and Scruff as winners.
Following the Trial and hosted by EqWest (Veterinary practice) of Lamerton, Richard Montgomery explained his method of penalising faults during all elements of a trial and led a well supported discussion. Feedback has been very positive and has given less experienced judges great help and guidance as his system can form a firm base for consistent judging. A further meeting has been proposed viewing a DVD of several runs with the opportunity then to discuss the penalties applied.
If you are interested in joining this group please contact:
Julie Tucker on 01822 810276 / 07970 033813 or
Lesley Lock on 01752 269620 / 07799 491279
For more details of the Nursery’s please log on to www.bearwoodfarm.co.uk
The Somerset Club have had several events since we last wrote. On 25th October they held a Training Day with John Whiteley in charge. This was a Duchy College Funded event organised through the Club and attracted some 15 participants. It is anticipated that two more days of this nature will be held in early 2010.
A trial was held at John and Bill Small’s Mendip farm on 15th November. The sheep were a big challenge! But everyone enjoyed the improved weather- must have been the only fine day in the month – and the friendly atmosphere. This is a new venue and such was at the success of the day that the Club have been invited to return. Many new members attended this trial where Tony Griffiths and Sam won the Driving and Graham and Jill the Maltese cross.
The Club also held a Social evening on the 5th December attended by about 30 people, people played skittles and he absence of a musical background, enjoyed long conversations.
The final Trial of the year – 28th December – will be reported in the next magazine.
Devon & Exmoor Sheep Dog Society held their Annual Dinner and Awards evening on
30th October at Zeal Monachorum in Devon.
Jane Harper, Vice Chair, looked after the evening, Chair Hilary Jones was in attendance as her intended hospitalization had not proceeded.
Awards were distributed as follows:
Maltese Cross – Novice– Ian Bickle and Paddy; with Jim Nicholls and Kim as Runners up.
Open – Jane Harper and Dee with Roderick Hayes and Sid.
Driving – Novice – Mavis Backhouse and Polly with Lesley and Moss.
Open – Mavis Backhouse and Polly with Bill Evans and Fay.
Cornwall Sheepdog Society Points Championship John Carter and Jen with Norman Delgarno and Cap were awarded first and second places in the Open Driving; Trevor Hopper and Tweed with Matt Carter and Blue were first and second in the Open Maltese Cross; Norman Dlegarno and Mirk with Bill Muggeridge and Maggot were placed first and second in the Maltese Cross Novice section. Congratulations to all these competitors. As mentioned last time, there are very few Cornwall competitors among the 82 members – more needed, please!
Had a chat with someone in the York area recently about breeds of dog other than Border collies, for working with sheep. She has a lady with two genuinely sheep minded Boxer dogs. Jackie Goulder owns a good KC Registered Beardie and suggests that International Sheepdog Society means Sheepdog and not exclusively Border collie! www.spanglefish.com/BeardedColliesforShepherding
Still have difficulty in persuading farmers that a well trained sheepdog is the best tool for working sheep. I am reminded of the words that the late Eric Halsall wrote over 30 years ago – “one of the staggering facts to come from the One Man and His Dog programmes was the number of farmers who had their eyes opened to the true potential of a well-bred collie. They did not realise the capabilities of the collie dog in its basic role of shepherding. That is – until they saw on television what other could do with the working dog. They had not realised what a great help-mate a well trained dog could be in their day to day farming activities. Some things never change!
Did you catch the Advent Calendar posted on the ISDS website by our esteemed Editor? If you can get on-line do have a look beneath each date. There are some archive pictures – Old Hemp ISDS 9 and Old Maid ISDS1, some thoughts on how Lady Luck plays a large part in successful trialling and even a poem about the sheepdog who ‘was at the birth of Jesus’on Day 6! And did you catch One Man and His Dog from Ireland on the 15th/16th and 18th December?
Some years ago, in the South West, we ran a one afternoon course for young people at David Kennard’s place near Mortehoe in North Devon. It was a Mortehoe ‘mist’ day and seeing the sheep was a challenge but nine young people turned up - gleaned from all over the south west. We were able to give these folk books given on long loan from the ISDS and hoped to repeat the exercise. We have not! Shame! However the other week I bumped into one of that group and he said how much he had enjoyed the course and was now the proud owner of a huntaway cross collie (?) and using the skills he picked up from David and the book - the former Julie Simpson’s ‘The Natural Way’. The issuing of the book has been helpful to many young people in the West Country.
On the subject of Young Handlers, shine is something that young Milly Johnson from Scunthorpe would like to do. She wrote to us about her desire to be a sheepdog trainer and as she is at College at Askham Bryan near York, we have put her in touch with as many people as possible. We really must encourage these young folk who do not necessarily have umpteen trialling family members to encourage them. Millie’s partner farms in Derbyshire and she is able to work sheep when she is there at weekends.
Milly, unfortunately, so far, has been unsuccessful in getting practical help with her quest to learn about sheepdogs and working them. This is despite getting in touch with many of the trainers that we suggested. She is hoping to follow a Degree course in Canine Behaviour and Training but her chances of entry are getting smaller and smaller because of her lack of practical experience. She tells us that people have been kind and helpful in giving her DVD’s, booklets etc but it is ‘hands-on’ that she needs. Is there anyone in the Askham Bryan area that could help?
Sometimes we bang on about towns’ folk having Collie’s as pets and we were reminded of these thoughts the other day when a chap in Plymouth contacted us about his much loved dog Hogan and the new girlfriend to whom Hogan had clearly taken a dislike. It seems that she frightened the dog and it bit her – interpreted by us and a well known south west trainer, as a Collie warning nip – so the dog had to go. Having the dog put down was the clear choice by the girlfriend! How upsetting is this? It seemed obvious in the discussions that took place that the girlfriend was at fault but no matter, the dog has ended up on a farm in Herefordshire. Esteemed south west trainer muttered that this should have been the girlfriend!
Good Trialling for 2010!