The UK's SheepDog Resource
Caroline Woolley
November 09
South West Report for November 2009
We seem to have several pieces of sad news to report this year and although there is an Obituary elsewhere in this edition I would like to pay my own tribute to a wonderful person – namely
Del. Baker who passed away on the 25th September in Malpas, Newport, South Wales.
Del was one of the team known as All About Sheepdogs and helped train many handlers in the art and skill of sheepdog handling in South Wales and parts of Somerset and Gloucestershire. As he had a sixth sense all dogs responded well to him – he could get into their heads – and the successes that his various breeding lines achieved are well documented. He always wanted his dogs to go to people who would work them to the very best of the dogs’ potential and their own ability. His flair in putting the most nervous new handler at ease was legion. No-one ever felt an idiot when being trained by Del. He was also a very good friend to all who knew him, very kind and generous and a wicked ball room dancer!
He had the capacity to exhilarate - to say “Wow, this is the life!”
South West trialling also lost Mandy Jobling, she died on September 1st. As mentioned in the last South West report, Mandy had been ill for a long time. She was as passionate about her sheepdog trialling as her White Faced Dartmoor flock of sheep. Her many friends fondly remember her as the ‘glue’ to all their relationships – and these ranged across many different walks of life. The dogs, the sheep and the horses – carriage driving was another of Mandy’s many interests.
Trialling has been extremely busy in the south west this year and it seems that few weekends were available to the Dorset Cerne Sheep Group to hold their annual BBQ and Trial! So it was Sunday September 27th for the 20th Anniversary Trial which was won by John Whiteley and Meg in front of Merril Fox and Astley Gem.
Having put so much work into her chosen craft, Merril is moving up in the trialling world and now owns four dogs! And good news! Gem, mentioned above, is in pup to Rob Hawke’s Mac. Merrill is taking orders for the off-spring – let’s hope Gem has a goodly number. As a further measure of her skill, Merril and Meg managed the double gather at Bishopstone as one of the few teams that achieved the correct method of approach.
Another Dorset Trial was the Cheselbourne Trial - more properly known as the Dorchester Agricultural Society Trial (who are the Sponsors) at Tom Besant’s on 16th August. Ray Edwards and Bill won the day with Jed Watson and Jill. second, Ray again with Jess third, Tony Griffiths and Sam fourth, Michael Derrick and Shep fifth with Richard Montgomery and Flo bringing up the rear. Points were very close between 82 and 90 across the six finalists. Tom is thinking about returning to the two day trial of last year for 2010.
While in the middle part of southern England the Bishopstone, Salisbury Trial went well this year due in large part to the weather holding well. The previous three years saw heavy rain and it is all credit to Rob and Anna Hawke for their perseverance! On Saturday, with 55 runners, the length of the outrun caught out a couple of dogs and a few were timed out at the Pen but overall a good standard of dog was entered and all dogs were allowed to complete the course if they wished. Sunday saw the weather do its best and it was a glorious sunny day with the sheep feeling better in themselves. There was not a problem with the lift but not all dogs achieved the turn back and to pen 10 sheep in the trailer was unfortunately not achieved – David Kennard and Mist came among the closest.
Richard Montgomery was the Judge for 3rd October where John Carter and Jen won the day, just half a point ahead of Jane Drinkwater and Tarn with Eamonn Lawless and Maddie half a point behind Jane at third; the Davies-Russels took the remaining positions with Fiona and Fen at fourth and sixth and Philip at fifth with Layla. Points were very close for all six positions.
On the 4th for the double gather, Tony Griffiths saw 43 runners and placed Eamonn Lawless and Bill in front, Paul Johnson and Mist were second; Dick Roper and Scrap third; Eamonn with Maddie fourth; David Kennard the ‘puppy that wanted to be sheepdog’, Mist, were fifth and Jane Harper and Dee, sixth.
Eammon won the overall Championship with Maddie who had the highest points on aggregate over the two days.
At the annual Devon and Cornwall match, Devon won the points championship against Cornwall with 539.5 points to 519. Cornwall had won the Maltese Cross by 20 points but Devon won the day with higher marks in the Driving.
Trevor Hopper does a wonderful job with all the Cornwall results, supplies a running report on the trials and has supplied a complete results list of all Trials. One has to say that although Cornwall has 82 paid up members, the numbers actually competing are yet to reach double figures! So there is a Clarion call for more active members in Cornwall, please. Two regular competitors are Mark Hopper and Matt Carter both of whom are barely into double figures themselves. No wonder the D&E members win these matches – there are more of them!
However a change in fortune was the Champion of Champions! On 11th October this Trial was run in a reedy valley with the dogs having to run blind through the reeds to get to the sheep some 300 yards away. The Welshy ewes worked well when picked up but they took a bit of holding in the middle of the field for the fetch. As the day wore on the sheep got fed up with the weather and kept looking for shelter which gave the handlers and dogs even more challenges. Robert Hawke Judged and placed Roderick Hayes and Sid as winners of the Maltese Cross, with Trevor Hopper and Tweed second, followed by John Carter and Jake, Matt Carter and Blue were behind grand dad with Jim Nicholls and Dan and Jane Harper and Dee bringing up the rear. So Cornwall was 2nd, 3rd and 4th. For the Driving Cornwall all three Devon contestants retired from the driving which gave John Carter the first place with Jill and second with Jen with Norman Delgarno third with Cap. So Cornwall won the Champion of Champions!
We are still trying to get to a Cornwall Trial and the nearest managed was at Brentor for the West Country Driving competition on 5th September – it was a tough day. Course was long and challenging and a stiff wind from the letting out pen at the far end of the filed made it difficult for dogs to hear commands. It also rained – Brentor Mist style, a bit like that drenching Irish Mist, you don’t realise ‘til you get home that you are drenched! Sheep not happy until it rained properly, which was when they settled. Which brings me around to observing the two visitors happily viewing proceedings while quaffing glasses of something suspiciously alcoholic – they denied it of course!
The annual Tom Cox Trial went ahead at Whitchurch at the end of August as a Memorial to him and was well attended. Norman Delgarno and Mirk won the Novice Maltese Cross while Tony Griffiths took the Open with Kerry. John Carter and Jen won the Open Driving. And the Madeleine Waycott cup for the best OLF was won by Kim Scott with Jill.
We would like to say big congratulation to Belle Netherway who has been one of those people beavering away for years and suddenly, a breakthrough! Well done Belle and Ruff on your recent success on Dartmoor – winning the Devon and Exmoor Sheepdog Society Novice Championship Maltese Cross.
Somerset held the John Whiteley Open Trial in August as reported in the September Magazine and the £100 profit from the trial went to a Charity of Del Baker’s choice. It should be pointed out that this was a separate Trial from the Somerset Club and the monies raised were independent of the Club
With probably many potential competitors attending the Champion of Champions on 11th October attendance was low for Somerset’s Autumn Trial. The weather was drizzly, the sheep challenging – they did not want to flock or pen, thank you – and people were still coming to terms with the death of our dearly loved friend Del Baker. Cups were awarded to Graham Glanville for both the Driving and the Maltese Cross and Henry Groves won the Cradle Cup with Midge.
Points had been accumulated for the awards of Club shields as follows: Tom Besant won the Points Shield with Mollie, the Nursery Shield went to Kyle Cox – irrespective of dog run and he also won the most improved handler award with Glen.
Since Ron Fouracres gave up the Chair last year he now has time to take part in Trials and we are all glad to see this. He has been so enthusiastic in keeping everything running for so long that we must remember that he probably finds it a bit strange not to have to be responsible for everything. Keep up the trialling, Ron, it is your turn to shine!
There will be the chance to shine at the Nurseries this year – Julie Tucker and Lesley Lock have again produced a comprehensive package to last until 18th April 2010 having kicked off on October 25th at Kenny Watson’s on Dartmoor. This year things have moved on a tad and there is a website for you to check dates near you – www.bearwoodfarm.co.uk This is a nice looking site and has the potential to convey much more info. than the Trials themselves. Besides the dates of the Nurseries there is information about the two classes that can be entered, the Point system and the Rules that are to be followed. Julie has magically persuaded Richard Montgomery to Chair a discussion meeting about Trials Judging following the Ian Bickle Nursery on 22nd November. This will be held at
Eq-West Equine Veterinary Clinic, Lamerton, PL19 8QA - not far from Ian’s trial field near Tavistock.
Returning, for the last time to the English National Trial, some of you may have seen in the South West Trials Society part of the ISDS Marquee some beautiful paintings. These were the works of Sally Jones of Bodmin in Cornwall. Some years ago the Working Sheepdog News ran an article about her in relation to her sheepdog trialling when she first started working her dogs.
But moving to Cornwall some 6 years ago, and having had a break from her arty stuff, Sally paid a visit to an art shop in Liskeard where her interest was rekindled. Gradually the owner of the shop became Sally’s mentor for her water colour work and she has also studied portraiture and oil painting.
Now she specialises in landscape and animal portraits and since the owners of the Liskeard Gallery found an early painting of Golitha Falls during a class and offered to market it, she hasn’t looked back. Sally was delighted that on her return from the National there was a request for a commission already in her email tray! She also sold all her sheep portraits and a portrait at the Trial. And there is an exhibition in the Liskeard Gallery timed for late November in which she is planning to exhibit.
Sally thoroughly enjoyed the English National and was proud to be asked to paint something for the team. She chose a picture of sheep in rocky landscape with attendant Border collie. Each team member was then presented with a limited edition print of this painting.
Being in the same tent as the south West Societies she was within a stones throw of the trialling field and so could watch proceedings as well as see her paintings being admired by so many people. This is only her second year selling commercially and it was the first time she had exhibited her work personally. To contact Sally: www.bodminfineart.co.uk or Telephone 01208 264821.
We should mention here that there are reports in the south west press that the Chartered Surveyors ‘Savills’ sponsored the English National Trial! The offending Editors have been corrected! Of course Gilpa is always the main Sponsor of all ISDS Trials and Mole Valley Famers were the local Sponsors! Hope these words clear that up!
Pleased to say we have very good response to the Handler Training operated by All About Sheepdogs this year. With the help of Duchy College Funding there have about 50 people taking up the challenge of learning how to handle their sheepdog to its best ability.
As usual there is always so much more to say in these Reports than there is space. For example,
someone wrote to tell us that her dog was diagnosed with a Vitamin B12 deficiency – unusual but may be the cause of listlessness in your dog. Snippets such as these we always like to include.
People continue to display the most wonderful skill and courage – on and off the field – and their successes all deserve a mention. If, for some reason, you have not been included, please be aware that this is not deliberate! We get things wrong sometimes but we do our best!