The UK's SheepDog Resource
Caroline Woolley
January 11
South West Report January/February 2011
Back in the winter of 1962/63 the snow lay round about until March – hope this does not turn out to be the case this time. I was milking cows back then and grateful that I was indoors for much of the time. Could not understand why some farmers went to the Alps for ski-ing that year, they might as well have stayed at home.
One Man and His Dog
Was not able to include the result last time – BBC embargo. And you must have guessed that the piece was heavily censored as too much information might have detracted from the programme.
But at last the programme has been shown – Saturday 18th December and Sunday 19th December – and we can now reveal the points awarded to the individuals and the overall result. In alphabetical order:
England
Eamonn Lawless Single out of 150 122.5
Richard Hutchinson Brace out of 140 110.5
Amy Rouse Young Handler out of 100 88.0
Ireland
Alistair Lyttle Single as above 134.0
Sammy Long Brace 92.0
Cormac Kearns Young Handler 89.5
Scotland
Bobby Dalziel Single as above 125.0
Pater Martin Brace 114.5
Fraser Shennan Young Handler 85.0
Wales
Gwyn Jones (Penmachno) Single as above 132.5
E.Ian Jones Brace 115.5
Elin Pyrs Young Handler 72.0
Totals
England – 321
Ireland - 315.5
Scotland - 324.5
Wales - 320
Therefore a close contest resulted in the Scotland Team being the Winners.
Gwyn Jones had a very long and drawn out shed – his perseverance and patience was rewarded with a special prize.
It was a pity that last time we could not report the very funny escape that one of two dogs made during a particular brace run. Left the field and then jumped in with the sheep, looked totally confused for a second, but then rejoined the course and completed as if nothing had happened. Dog assumed we hadn’t noticed!
When the prizes were being awarded those of us in the ‘audience’ were encouraged to clap madly and loudly orchestrated by a frantic looking guy with flowing hair. Do you know it is very tiring clapping to order? Surreal!
Acknowledgement is given to the BBC for most of the photographs.
Bishopstone Trial
The Bishopstone Charity Sheepdog Trials took place on the weekend 2nd and 3rd October.
This the fifth year of running, this year saw both days being run as a Single Driving Course, though with the renewed offers of help from handlers this will now return next year to one day being a Double Gather Trial.
After an inch and a half of raining falling on the Friday whilst the courses were being set up, Saturday dawned bright and sunny.
A large course with no natural outrun boundary to the right saw most people sending their dogs out to the left. The sheep worked well all day.
Saturday’s judge was Mrs. Carol Worgan , and the early runs proving to be some of the best, consequently by run 12 we had seen 4 of the prize winners run, the bar had been set high! Indeed.
Jim Nicholls with Dan ran on 12 with 83 points and held the lead until pipped by half a point by Dick Roper and Scrap. The remainder of the day saw a good standard of trialling, with lots of runs producing scores in the 70’s.
Sunday saw a return to “normal wet” conditions associated with these trials. Judge for this day was Mr John Stammers.
The field that today’s trial was run in saw an outrun of just over 600 yards, Dick Roper throwing down the gauntlet on run 4 with Scrap again, but the weather certainly upset the sheep and the running only really improved when the weather did late after lunch, when David Kennard put in an excellent run with Mist. Paul Johnson despite modest mutterings before his runs put in 2 brilliant examples of how it should be done culminating with young Beau winning the “Best Shepherding” crook.
Special mention to Merrill Fox with Bob, having a near faultless run but beaten by the clock just prior to getting to the pen.
It was left until the last but one run of the day for Robert Putnam with Fly to take the top spot.
Consistent running by Dick Roper and Scrap saw them walk away with the Accumulative Trophy .
Over £700 was raised for local charities with thanks to our sponsors, Novartis, Wessex Animal Health, Gilbertson & Page, HC Pearce & Sons and SCATS.
Results:
Saturday; Sunday
1st: Dick Roper – Scrap 83.5 1st: Robert Putnam – Fly 89
2nd: Jim Nicholls – Dan 83 2nd; David Kennard – Mist 87
3rd: Jane Drinkwater – Pip 81 3rd: Richard Montgomery – Ollie 84
4th; Eammon Lawless – Maddie 79 4th: Paul Johnson – Mist 84
5th: Adrian Hall – Gwen 78.5 5th; Merrill Fox – Bob 83
6th: John Carter – Jen 78.5 6th: Paul Johnson – Beau 81
Our thanks to Anna Hawke for this Report
Somerset
It seems that the announcement about Funding for Training days with the Somerset Club did not go down very well in some quarters – I am still picking out the flak!
Let it be put this way - where it is stated that a Holding Number is required, the Funding has a built-in flexibility and we area able to use the HN of the Venue. It must also be emphasised that this Funding is available to all three Sheepdog societies in the south-west and to those with addresses within all six counties. As 99% of dogs that Trial are also working then it was not necessary for a distinction to have been made. Apologies. Again – if you have queries about Funding please phone me on 01934 732661.
A Training Day was held at Richard Stock’s place on 31st October and about 15 people took part. Our thanks to the several experienced trainers who helped. People were able to choose what sort of help they needed - be it getting a stop on a dog or fine tuning a shed.
The Club Autumn Trial was held on Sunday 14th November at John Small’s Warren Farm, Charterhouse using the same field but not the same course as the One Man and His Dog Trial.
It was a grey, overcast, misty, seeping sort of day. Very wet and bone cold! The sheep – which had a training day to remind them how to do it – hung together well for all the driving but this made shedding a bit of a challenge. Some dogs found the terrain difficult to negotiate on the left hand out run. Undulation of the terrain – unseen by the spectators – may have created a lack of clear view for the dogs. Not a good idea for the dogs to run right as they would have had the opportunity to leave the county! New member Jamie Garland from ‘over the water’ helped with the letting out of sheep. And his Mum – thank you both. And thank you John for letting the Club use your ground.
Judge for the day was Derek Rashley
Driving –
Graham Glanville with Jill
Richard Montgomery and Meg OLF
Gordon Martin with Bob followed by John Whiteley and Bess.
MX
Kyle Cox with Glen
Ann Cooper and Finn
Richard Stock with Moss and David Cooper with Jan.
It was not possible – due to the gloom – to take photos.
The Christmas Social was held on Saturday 4th December and enjoyed by about twenty five people. Skittles were played and a quiz quizzed – with prizes.
Next May the Club are helping with an Appeal during Cystic Fibrosis Week. This will be the Saturday 14th May at Babcary where several members of the public will compete against each other following instruction for basic sheepdog trialling. It is possible that the club will hold a Trial on the same day. Whatever the outcome it will be great fun.
Training days – 27th February; 27th March; Sunday 17th April (not the 24th as published in last edition) Starting at 0930 hrs. For further information please phone John or Alex on 01963 240618
Devon and Cornwall Match
On Saturday 23rd of October Cornwall Sheepdog Society hosted the 2010 Champion of Champions trial which involved the highest pointed dog from both the Cornwall and Devon Society in the Maltese cross and Driving trials over the year. The Cheviot ewes where hard to hold at the top of the field due mostly to the weather which was a cold wet day but once under control of the dogs worked well but tested some of the weaker dogs.
Mr. A Rofe (Chilla) judge both trials
Maltese x
1st Mrs. J Harper (Jacobstowe) Lily 69 out of 90
2nd Mr. J Carter (Delabole) Jake 62
3rd Mr. M Carter (Delabole) Blue 48
4th Mr. R Watson (Holsworthy) Lad 41
The driving was a double gather which had the right outrun first and then the left with a left hand drive, once the 10 sheep had been shed both packets of sheep had to be penned.
1st Mr. N Dalgarno (Tregony) Mirk 151 out of 160
2nd Mr. N Dalgarno Cap 123
3rd Mr. J Carter Jen 115
4th Mr. M Derrick (Newtown Abbott) Shep 106
Overall the total points were Cornwall 499 and Devon 216
On the Sunday (24th October) an Open trial was held on the same field with the weather nice and dry the sheep worked very well with the two outrun swapped around in order and the drive beginning left handed to stop any advantage that the dogs used the previous day may of had and only one packet of 5 where penned to save some time
Mrs. R Passmore (Okehampton) judged 28 dogs
1st J Carter Jen 125 out of 150
2nd R Montgomery (Bristol) Ollie 123
3rd N Dalgarno Mirk 122
4th A Hendy (Dipford) Lad120
5th R Montgomery Meg 118
6th J Harper (Jacobstowe) Lily 116
Many thanks to Trevor Hopper for the above information.
Devon and Exmoor Sheepdog Society
The AGM was held on Friday 25th November and the following officers elected:
Chair Bob Watson
Vice Chair Jenny Denison-Smith
Sec Wendy Watson
Treasurer Kim Dart
Trials sec Tracey Peat
Publicity Jill Cobbledick
Trophy sec Hilary Jones
Membership sec Aeron Jermyn
Committee members elected this year – to serve two years: Julie Tucker, Penny Roe and Jane Harper.
Committee members remaining for 1 more year: Chris Roe, Roderick Hayes and Peter Symons
Wendy will be issuing a newsletter in due course.
Nurseries
Very pleased to see Rabbitt Slattery taking part in Nurseries this year with her young bitch and new competitor Steffi Quick with Ty a son of Hilary Jones’ Tweed, who swept into first place in the MX at Andrew Hendy’s 14th Nov Nursery. Good to see Vic Pitts competing and doing well with Jim.
Three meetings have been held but one had to be called off due to the weather – and Kim Dart had deliberately hosted early this year because bad weather affects her place on Exmoor. Hopefully the 19th will be OK.
Results will have appeared in the Famer’s Guardian or can be viewed on the West Country Nursery Trials Website – and thanks to Julie Tucker who looks after this site.
www.bearwoodfarm.co.uk
Competitors are asked to view the new rules for entry and to also note that for completely nursery dogs – details on the website, a graduated increase in skill is tested. This means that the early Trials dogs will be judged on outrun lift and fetch, Shute and pen leading to the later trials where the dog will be expected to add two ways through the Maltese cross, shed and pen. Thereby, training through trialling. Check the Classes section of the site.
A word about dog boots –
Now, we appreciate that these here boots have no street cred and that no self respecting Border collie would be seen dead in them BUT they will save the feet of your dog should it have had a bad time over rough ground and you need it to be working as soon as possible. Unless of course you have the luxury of several dogs and having one ‘off duty’ is no problem. On big stations in arid and dry conditions – places like South Africa and the Falklands - shepherds with very large flocks very often carry two sets of dogs so that in heavy working times one set can be on rest while the other set is working.
But back to the practical one man and his dog scenario – using dog boots might be helpful. One such, an Exmoor farmer contacted me to say that these boots have been found to be totally reliable and ensured a quick return to work following injury and saved the dog utter boredom.
Cut and damaged paws are very common and keeping the dressing and wound dry can be a nightmare for the owner. The 'plastic bag' solution is often very impractical and slippery for the dog, and other dog boots available are not waterproof and very few use a breathable material - and so are not suitable for injured paws.
It cannot be easy for dogs working in this ice and snow and maybe – just maybe – wearing ‘Pro-Active Dog Boots’ would be helpful. They protect dog’s feet on harsh ground and provide a secure fit and assist a swift return to work. They are slip resistant, light weight, washable, flexible, re-useable, tough and durable. They are designed to withstand both heat and cold. The material used is ‘breathable’ and the number of seams is reduced to a minimum so as to limit potential stress points in the boot. To prevent wear from the front claws of the dog, a hide toe-cap is provided and this has the additional feature of preventing the boot from twisting around on the dog’s foot. Leather pad cushions are in contact with the ground and there are adjustable straps for various leg lengths and widths.
Dogboots have been extensively tested on many dogs in the past 9 years and have proved to be robust, comfortable and, if needed, waterproof - and all this at a most reasonable price. More details can be found on our web site http://www.dogbootsactive.com, where you will see customer comments.
Well worth a try and these boots are made in Ireland. Google Pro-Active Paws or go to www.dogbootsactive.com
Other Stuff
Do you know not a peep have we heard form anyone to tell us about the Freudian slip made in the last edition of ISN. We know that Jed Watson is a member of the Wales team so could not have run Mirk at the English National recently. Apologies Jed and we can only surmise that no-one reads this column!
Finally – we would like to congratulate Tony Rofe and Jane Harper on the recent election to the higher echelons of the sheep dog trailing world. Together with existing member David Kennard we now have three Council members from the south west.
And finally, finally – someone would like to train their Airedale to work cattle. Does anyone out there have experience of this type of terrier, working cattle?
Also, and this will be of no particular interest to the working collie owner but is a cause for concern - there is a continuing stream of people who acquire their Border Collie pup and the Christmas batch is upon us as we speak. After a few months the ‘fluffy bunny’ aspect has worn off and the resulting teenage rebel has presented itself. And it is ripping up the furniture and nipping the kid’s ankles and so on. What to do? Well some folk are reasonably clued up and start training the little monster.
Oh did I say that all this applies to the fool hardy who think that collies make good pets “Is good with children” makes me cringe. Some people then think that Agility would be good fun. Providing brain work for many collies is Agility but it seems to be very competitive and it seems that a lot of handlers would just like to have fun without the need to compete.
All About Sheepdogs is looking at the continuing challenge of ‘fun time for collies’ and will be taking up the challenge to provide some sort of viable alternative. Cannot say too much about it as it would cause a frisson of dismay among the working Border collie fraternity to whom this magazine is dedicated. Suffice it say that if anyone would like to find out about more then please look at www.allaboutsheepdogs.com – Herding. Information will appear shortly.
Other than the Airedale story – the owner of which says his dog thinks it is a collie – no ‘funnies’ this time!