The UK's SheepDog Resource
Caroline Woolley
July 11
South West Report July 2011
The Trialling season is underway with enthusiasm and flair in the South West with almost 50 Trials scheduled across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire.
Devon and Exmoor always have Society Trials but there is a raft of independent trials too. All Trials appear on the ISDS website but for those who do not have t’internet here are a few.
Saturday 23 July – Ashwater Trial held at Sanduck Cross Farm, Lustleigh Newton Abbot
Sec. Bill Evans 01409 211486 Entry on field
Sunday 24 July – Brompton Regis Trial, Dulverton. Sec Nigel Cowling 01398 371146 Entry on field
Sunday 31st July – Dorset County Show Sheepdog Trial – Cheselbourne. Entries close 16th July
Sec Tom Besant: 01258 837918/07766 733515
Saturday 6th August Lydford Trial – Babcary venue– phone John Whiteley on 01963 240618 or 07802 749925. No double gather at this trial. Entries on the field.
Due to illness, from which he is recovering well, Cliff and Anne Williams have decided that the annual Wonham Barton trials (Devon & Exmoor SDS and Somerset TTC) timed for August, have been cancelled this year.
Mrs. Carpenter
We would like to send congratulations to the doyenne of Trialling in Wales and the West, Mrs. Barbara Carpenter, of Bream, Lydney, Glos. celebrated her ninetieth Birthday in early June. Many congratulations Barbara.
Mrs. Julie Tucker
Julie has pointed out that the photographs of the Final Nursery Trial that appeared in the May Edition of ISN under ‘News from the South West, are from her library. Many thanks, Julie.
Cornwall Sheepdog Society
Cornwall Sheepdog Society held its first weekend of Trialling at Trethern, Delabole on 14th and 15th May – courtesy of John Carter. The Open Driving was very well attended, attracting visitors from Cumbria, Wales and the South East of England. Three young handlers put in some good runs – Mark Hopper, Matt Carter and Alex Briggs from Wenninton, Lancs. whose father Richard Briggs who had a particularly good weekend!
Traditionally a good weekend, there are eight Trials to be competed over two fields with separate morning and afternoon trials in each field. The top field has a 600 yard outrun where the dogs have to negotiate two broken down hedges (dry stone walls) to find sheep. Younger dogs found this a challenge on the first day but were coping well by the second. The Mule X ewe lambs worked in packets of five on the first day and four on the second and as the wind got up, got flightier as the day proceeded.
The bottom field has a 400 yard outrun with a right hand drive on the first day and a left had drive on the Sunday. Cheviots were light to start with but steadied by Sunday – a shedding ring was added to this trial as there was more space.
A large entry of dogs was judged by Tony Rofe, Carol Worgan, Tony Griffiths, Gordon Martin, Norman Delgarno and R. Evans of Northampton.
The second weekend of Trialling in Cornwall was at the same venue 21st and 22nd May. The Mules from the first weekend were used for the Maltese Cross and the Cheviots for the Driving. They all knew their way round pretty well by this time! Tony Griffiths and Norman Delgarno Judged on Saturday with 79 dogs running while Jed Watson Judged Driving on Sunday and R Vallence the Maltese Cross with 70 dogs running.
Bank Holiday Monday 31st May saw the Roseland Trial at Trevisky Farm, Recently shorn 4 tooths worked well for most of the day but they became heavy and started to draw towards the exhaust pen when they were used for the third time. Just a 200 yard outrun with most people sending their dog right handed as on the left the sheep disappeared from view of sheep and handler.
Norman Delgarno judged 17 dogs with some of the younger ones struggling to lift sheep at the start.
John Carter judged 28 dogs in the Driving on a right hand drive.
Tuesday 14th June The National Sheep Association Trial was held on Tuesday at Stanton Barton, Marldon, Paignton, South Devon, courtesy of Frank and Andrew Palk with Norman Delgarno as secretary to the Trial. It was held on a slightly uphill course with Dorset ewes fresh from their lambs – so the going was a tad heavy as the sheep were difficult to keep in line. The field of over forty dogs had an early start in order to complete before the Dog Sale scheduled to begin at 2.30pm. This Driving trial was Judged by Walt Passmore and won by Bob Watson, with Jed Watson 2nd and 4th , Dick Montgomery, 3rd , Jim Nichols, 5th and Merril Fox from Dorset, 6th.
The Results of all these above Trials appear in the Farmers Guardian and are sent to the local Press on a regular basis.
Devon & Exmoor Sheepdog Society
Training Days
Altogether there were three Training Days held for the D & E Sheepdog Society in conjunction with Duchy College, Cornwall. Venues were provided by Julie Tucker and Hilary Jones – many thanks, ladies.
However, there was a fourth Training run by Hilary Jones at her Uppacott venue in aid of Help for Heroes and it raised at least £200.
It was a cold day but well supported with all 12 places taken. The young hogs were well presented and flocked well. When rain joined a strong wind, retreating to Hilary’s caravan for tea, soup and cake was most welcome.
Bob Watson, Walt Passmore and Bill Evans took it in turns for the training which meant that participants could have sessions with at least two trainers.
Chairman Bob Watson commented that he was particularly pleased with the good standard of the young dogs attending the day and very much in line with one of the main aims of the D&ESS. Participants were both competing triallists and those who wanted to work their farm dog with better precision.
Everyone was pleased with their day and they all took away something new. With several trainers it is inevitable that differing points of view will be put forward and Bob suggests that participants heed what they hear but adapt it to suit. Everyone went home happy and as a bonus, the day was a most enjoyable social occasion as well.
Trials
Sanduck Cross Trials – 4th and 5th June
Ian MacKay’s trials are always very comfortable in atmosphere. They are well organised with Julie Tucker secretary to the additional Saturday trial. The number of entrants – 90 for each day is a good indication that there will be a fair and consistent draw of sheep and they will be well put up. This is a trial where a promising young dog can work well.
The sheep this year - and Ian travels north to buy the North Country mule hogs especially for his trials - might have been a tad edgier than in previous years, but this all made for good competition.
The course slopes away giving spectators a good view and although not an enormous outrun, it is testing in that the dog loses sight of sheep for a short while – from whichever side - and is built deceptively to engage good handling.
Competitors travelled from Cumbria, Surrey, Wales and East Anglia – to name but a few far away places. The facilities are good too, so it makes for a popular weekend of trialling.
The first day – Saturday – was very hot – too hot, really but on Sunday it was completely different, dry but windy and cooler. Running alongside the Sunday Trial, but in a different field, was a Dog Show and demonstrations by the local Labrador Rescue association.
The Sunday Trial (Sanduck Cross Charity Trial) is always well patronised and this was shown in the £755.50 raised for the Paediatric Oncology Fund (Child Cancer) of Exeter hospital – Wonford. Ian runs another Trial later in the year and proceeds from that trial will be added.
One lady had travelled from East Anglia and took in the Trial as part of her holiday in Cornwall. She ran a five year old bitch having been taking training lessons for some time. This was her first trial and she thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere and friendliness of the competitors.
Lisa Robertson and Sanduck Liz (bred by Ian MacKay) came in a respectable 6th in the Novice Driving on Saturday, having returned to Trialling after Lisa’s long absence through illness. Helen Simpson is another returning triallist and David Cole from Bittaford is a new handler worth looking out for. The Slattery sisters – Rabbit and Penny, were also taking part.
The Brace competition held on Sunday was won by Andrew Hendy with Ian MacKay second and Trevor Hopper third. Lesley Lock won the OLF overall for the day and John Whiteley won the ‘Well Person Class’ for anyone who had survived surgery in the past twelve months.
Judges were Walter Passmore and Jane Harper on Day One with Dick Montgomery and Angie Blackmore on Day two.
The weekend of 11th and 12th June saw two trials. Sixty one dogs competed in Driving at a new Venue at Long Plantation, near Princetown overseen by Glyn Coombes. Forty dogs ran at Morthoe on the following day Judged by Philip Davis-Russell but sadly the Trial had to be abandoned eight runs from the end due to incoming sea fog. Sheep and dogs vanished!
All results of are available in the Farmers Guardian and are sent to the local Press.
Somerset Training and Trialling Club
The Spring Trial was held 1st May at Steart House Farm, thanks to David and Wendy Dixon, with twenty three entries. Ron Fouracres Judged, the sheep were good to handle and Jed Watson took the Driving while Rob Watson won the Maltese Cross. Ron was very pleased with the running of the sheep.
Sunday 12th June, a Club Trial was held in streaming rain. Much to everyone’s surprise forty dogs entered and ran. Despite the weather the sheep were well behaved and flocked well. Ron Fouracres Judged and placed Tony Griffiths and Sam at the top of the Driving results with Jed Watson and Gael taking the Maltese Cross.
A full programme of Trialling is now in progress.
Somerset’s Special Day
On the 14th May a group of enthusiastic fund raisers from the North Country took part in a ‘cross country’ ‘Challenge’ in order to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis during the Society’s National Awareness Week.
Starting in Chorley, Lancs. and following a trip through Wales where they took part in a variety of ‘Challenges’, the ‘piece de resistance’ was the sheepdog and duck handling session held at Steart Farm, Babcary, Somerset – courtesy of the Dixon family.
Claire Whitley set up four competitions in which everyone could take part and her father, sheepdog trainer John, issued everyone with sheep dog whistles for the whistle competition. Aided by Sheepdogs Ruby and Lyn, the two teams proved to be highly motivated and everyone did well and enjoyed the experience. John Whiteley then did a demonstration of Sheepdog Trialling with his dog Jock and the group were issued with explanatory leaflets how a Sheep Dog Trial operates. The Somerset Training and Trialling Club, of which John Whiteley is Chair, donated £100 to the Fund raising.
The day completed with a Sweepstake Trial for the Club members who came to support the Chorley group.
It has to be said that Somerset Secretary Alex Whitley provides a sterling communication service with her quarterly Newsletters. All members receive one of these chatty missives which give news of Trials held and those anticipated. Any other news important to members is also included. In order to save on postage members are encourage to send Alex their email addresses. whiteley@yahoo.co.uk
Wool Week – Notice of Trial
This year has seen a dramatic rise in the price of wool to the producer and to assist and continue this trend ‘Campaign for Wool’ (www.campaignforwool.org ) is holding a National Wool Week beginning on Monday 5th September.
On the Monday of that week, West Country Wool production company – Ackroyd and Dawson (www.ackroydanddawson.com ) will again sponsor a ‘muster’ through Glastonbury. Local sheep farmer George Faulkener will squire his flock from the top of the High Street to a holding area at the bottom while negotiating a multitude of challenging obstacles – including Glastonbury residents.
To compliment this, during the day, local Shepherd Ron Fouracres is hosting a Shepherds and Farmers Sheepdog Trial in one of his fields at the base of Glastonbury Tor. Participants might be encouraged to don traditional clothing – or maybe they will get away with just a brightly coloured neckerchief!
And it is anticipated that the media will be in attendance. Please contact Ron on 01458 832053 FFI.
Pups for Sale
Andy Melrose has one well marked b/w dog pup available, born on 1st May out of his Jan and by Gordon Martin’s ‘Bob’. Contact Andy on 07941 398432 or andymelrose@live.co.uk All registered dogs.
David Grant’s bitch Sky (Scrimgeour’s Ben and Jill) by Rob Watson’s Lad (a grandson of Aled Owen’s Roy) There are 3 bitches and 1 dog remaining. Contact David on 01363 877400
Shrek - A New Zealand Icon. RIP
Back in 2004, Shrek, the Merino whether shot to International fame when he was found hiding in a cave on John Perriam’s Bendigo station in the high country of the South Island. He had not been shorn for an estimated six years. Shrek’s first shearing was televised throughout the World with top Blade shearer Peter Casserly doing the honours with World Champion machine shearer Dave Fagan giving the commentary. Because of welfare concerns about shearing a sheep for the first time and with such a density of fleece it was decided to Blade shear as this is not as noisy as machine shearing and a small length of fleece could be left for warmth.
The operation took nine minutes – about three times as long as normal. The fleece was over a yard wide, over four yards long and almost 60lbs in weight, about six times the average for Merino Fleece. Shrek took all this glory in his stride and enjoyed being slimmer.
The remainder of his life was devoted to raising money for a children’s charity in New Zealand. He was still posing for cameras last year but just recently his circulation was failing and the 16 year old was put down.
The complete rock star! He loved all people and the pleasure received was immeasurable. As the face of ‘Cure for Kids’ he raised more than $NZ150,000 for medical research and was also the subject of various books published with all funds going to the Charity. His memorial service was held at Tekapo in Otago.
And …..
Mavis Backhouse and Polly will be going to Boxhill for the English National and not Lowther where we had sent them in the last edition of ISN. Sorry!
There are bound to be occasions when omissions and oversights happen. This is never deliberate and an apology is given if upset has been incurred. One endeavours to give news of our three clubs in the south west to the best of one’s ability and hope that the odd slip-up does not deter from the overall presentation.
Also …..
In the last edition of ISN we had a photo of Steffi Quick and her young dog Ty. We would add that Ty is by Hilary Jones’ Tweed, out of Lisa Robertson’s Dell.
But Finally
During a recent Brace competition, a group of sheep, left in the open pen, looked out somewhat puzzled as their gate keeper wandered off to assist his new Brace partner with her task of penning the remainder of the flock. Sheep moved not a muscle nor did an eye flicker as they stood gazing at the receding tail of their supposed guardian who wandered away to assist his handler. This display gave much amusement to the spectators but was to the dismay of the Handler.
Dog said that he was only helping the charming young bitch who is his new partner.