Bow River Classic Day One

The EID Classic in Alberta has moved locations and therefore changed names. It shall heretofore be known as the Bow River Classic. Still put on by Ian and Joanne Zoerb, it is now located on the land of Grant Armstrong, a hard working host if I ever met one. The new location is as challenging as the last one with the lift being at the top of a bowl. Both outruns have their pitfalls and dogs got lost on both sides. The honorable judge is Warren Mick, who, although staying just down the road, will be flown in to the trial tomorrow in a little passenger plane (Grant is a pilot). I'm not sure Warren is looking forward to this but as we told him, it will make a good story.
The sheep are Suffolk-y crosses and are quite nice until the end of the day when they get pretty punchy. They somehow know where the exhaust is and you have to guard against it.
Maid was a brat today, or so Scott says. She ended up with a score of 86 which wasn't all that bad but it was challenging to make her stop and that is what he was referring to.
Laddie got lost on his outrun (surprise) and needed alot of recalls to get him to the sheep. After that he was really very good. He paced nicely and handled well. Scott is trying to have me settle the dogs down more and I did what he had asked me to today. The sheep fooled me on the shed by squirting past me when I called Laddie in but we got it on the next try and couldn't get a pen because I had one girl going one way around and another going the other way. He ended up with a 72.
Donnie laid one down to win and got a 94, tying with Lee Lumb and Nan but beating her on the outwork. It wasn't easy but he just keeps it moving and brooks no opposition from the sheep.
Hemp didn't feel good to me today. Even though he was pacing nicely, he wouldn't stop or steady. Still, he nailed the outrun, made all his panels and penned (although I could have used a little more room from him at the pen). I was surprised when people told me it was a good run and he ended up with an 88 which was good enough for 6th place. Could have knocked me over with a feather.
The double lift on monday will come from the 4 top scores today, 4 tomorrow and 4 combined scores.
The nursery ran at a difficult time of day. The sun was in our face and the sheep were sure it was quittin' time. Tam almost found his sheep but got lost at the end and had to retire. Nan did ok for her lack of training time but struggled with confidence and walking directly into these belligerent sheep. June did a good job. Like her dad she walked right into them and ended up with an 82 - which gave her 2nd place. Reba was a star once again! The sheep were the worst they had been all day and she didn't care. She didn't rush them but they didn't get any ideas about trying to run her over. She won the class with an 86!

Wendy Schmaltz (Shmaltzy) shows off the latest in equestrian fashion - shorts and spurs.

Scott and June save the pen

Nan

Scott and Reba spot sheep

Reba

Set out master Chris Schmaltz trails sheep to the top

Open 1 (54 dogs)
1. Scott Glen and Don 94
2. Lee Lumb and Nan 94
3. Thad Buckler and Nic 92
4. Joanne Zoerb and Brynn 90
5. Penny Ohanjanian and Qill 89
6. Jennifer Glen and Hemp 88
7. Chris Jobe and Fly 87
8. Ian Zoerb and Freckles 87
9.Lisa Wright and Kate 86
10. Scott Glen and Maid 86

Nursery 1 (15 dogs)
1. Scott Glen and Reba 86
2. Scott Glen and June 82
3. Lee Lumb and Cass 70