Alta-Pete Trials

Free Preview!

2012-02-01T10:47:00.000-08:00

It's done!
Little Horse Mountain Productions is launching their On Line Sheepdog Training Courses with Scott today. To give you a taste of what they will be presenting, the producers and Scott have put together a free 3 week preview on penning.
Watch the "Meet Scott Glen" introduction video...

and then go to the WEBSITE to sign up for the free preview.
We all hope you enjoy it!

Looking Ahead

2012-01-07T22:27:00.000-08:00

This is the time of year when Scott and I take stock of our previous season of trials, look to make improvements, and plan for the next year:

Scott and Don had a very good year in 2011.

Scott and Don in the National Finals double lift

He won days at Strang Ranch, Dr. Ben's, Wild Rose, and Bow River. He was also the reserve champion at the Bluegrass, won the Western Canadian/Canadian Championships, won the first round of Meeker (before gripping out in the semi finals) and the semi finals at the Nationals. He finished up the Nationals in 4th place with a best shed trophy. His disappointments this year were usually due to a turn back that wasn't quite clean enough so Scott plans to help him along with that this winter. At 5 years old, Donnie is well seasoned and we have high hopes for him this spring and summer.

Scott also had a nice year with Maid.

Maid fetches sheep in the early morning at the 2011 Bluegrass

She won a day at Heppner and won the overall, she also won a day at Wild Rose and the overall. At Bow River, she won a day and won the double lift.
Scott decided to sell Maid at the end of the 2011 season and he is now auditioning two young bitches for the roll of Open Dog #2.

The first dog, June, is one that readers of this blog will be familiar with.

June on the third leg of the drive at the Bow River Classic

June is a daughter of Don's out of his first litter. Last year, Scott ran her in the nursery classes. June won days at Dr. Ben's, Wild Rose, and the overall Nursery at Bow River. At the Canadian Nursery Championships, she had the win within her grasp after placing 2nd on the first day and laying down a good run on the second day but gripped out at the pen. Fortunately, Scott still took home the trophy with Cy Peterson's Reba. June again lost her temper at the USBCHA finals and gripped off on the fetch with the difficult sheep. Needless to say, Scott has been spending the winter smoothing her out and settling her tension before he runs her in open this year. So far, he is happy with the results and, this week anyway, June is forging to the lead.

Scott's second, second dog is Nan.

Nan

Nan is out of Debbie Bailey's Ben and RC Tomlinson's Dat. Nan broke her foot in the spring of last year and didn't get her training finished in time for very many nursery trials. She did win a day at the Fetch Gate Nursery trial but was over her head at Wild Rose and Bow river. Scott has been spending the winter catching up on her training and giving her some experience. She is a smoother dog than June with alot of patience. Add to that the fact that sheep like her and you can see why Scott is having a hard time choosing. June with power and bravery, or Nan with a cool head and a way with sheep? He changes his mind from week to week and I don't think there is any predicting which one he will pick.

I'm excited about Scott's nursery dogs this year. They are still developing and are a long way from trialing at this point in the winter but they are showing alot of promise. I will write more detailed entries on them later but his two main dogs look like they will be Diane Pagel's Imp. Wynn (Bobby Dalziel's Joe x Angie Driscoll's Meg) and Scott's Alta-Pete Tick (Scott's Don x Maid).

Last year I had been hoping that my Hemp dog would be my number one.

Hemp turns the post at the 2011 Canadian Championship double lift -photo by Kristi Oikawa

Although, Hemp is a great work dog, we tend to fight each other on the trial field. It's mostly my fault because of the amount of emotion I throw at him in a trial. We started rough last spring but things started to settle and work out for us as the season went on. He surprised me by placing 6th at Dr. Ben's and missed the finals at the Calgary Stampede by only 0.12 seconds. He again surprised me by placing 6th at Bow River but started his habit of doing well enough the first day to make me think we had a chance at a double lift, but then fighting me on the second day and doing nothing good. He apparently likes that 6th place slot (I'll take it!) because he was again 6th on the first day of the Canadian Championships and although we struggled on the second day, we made the double lift. Even though we didn't finish the shed, our method was losing us no points. We just have to learn how to get those last 3 sheep off! This winter has been more about changing my style of handling with Hemp rather than changing him. We continue to work on his pen flanks and practice the International shed, and I am trying to keep his head cool with my handling. He is still my favorite work dog but has been dropped to second place in line for my trial dogs.

First for me, as always, is Laddie.

Lad's International shed at the Soldier Hollow Classic - photo by Louanne Twa

He was 7th one day at Strang Ranch, 3rd at Dr. Bens, 10th at Wild Rose, 6th at Bow River, and 5th at Shaunavon. He really raised my hopes at the Canadians when he placed 4th on the first day but when he couldn't find the sheep on his second day I was very depressed. Lad is never a sure thing on an outrun even if he's picked them up in the very same place the day before. He redeemed himself at Soldier Hollow, where I had never been able to do anything good before, when he placed second on one of the days and made the double lift. Laddie did qualify for the National finals but didn't do anything when he was there. Fortunately for me, the on line broadcast was sold as a dvd and I was able to go over my run with Scott. Turns out, even though Laddie isn't a world beater, there is still room for improvement if I change some of the way I handle him. It was evident that I was forcing him on and never giving the sheep a chance to line out. Obviously, I have more handling changes to work on this winter.

I'm looking forward to debuting my nursery dog this spring. Ford is a son of Tom Forrester's Pete and Norma Stewart's Lena. This cross has been very successful for Lori Cunningham and her Matt dog and I had hoped to get one just like him. Ford is similar to Matt, and shares his cool head but time will tell if he has anymore of Matt's abilities. So far I am enjoying training him and this year is just a practice year for us. He will only be 17 months old at the Bluegrass so my plans (and I BETTER stick with them) are to be willing to step away from the post when and if he has trouble. It is important not to push such a young dog but to keep his trial experience positive to make a better and seasoned dog for next year's nurseries.

What trials we will start this year with is still up in the air. Other than the Bluegrass, and Dr. Ben's North Carolina trial we are still trying to figure that out. We are hoping there will be one or two more at the beginning of May that we can get to. In the mean time, we continue training and keep our eyes on the prize - The National Finals. (link)

Almost Done

2011-12-09T14:25:00.001-08:00

The sun did shine on our second day of filming and has been shining ever since. I have seen some of the playback, and the quality of Little Horse Mountain's production is top notch. The sound is as if Scott was standing right next to you and the picture is beautiful. It's like going to one of Scott's clinics only, because he's been using mostly his own dogs (with one or two exceptions), you are privy to a little more inner dialog.
Scott and the dogs have only one more day of filming and then Lora will head off into post production. We will miss both Lora and Monique. We have been having a blast with them staying at our house. I have worked with alot of directors when I used to train animals for films and TV and Lora has been one of the most enjoyable- well, I was very impressed with Mr. Henry Winkler, but Lora is a close second.
A few more pictures...

Lora films Scott and Tick doing some arena work

Scott all miked up

Monique and Lora capture Scott giving Lass a round pen lesson

Mikey makes his debut

Filming With Little Horse Mountain Productions

2011-12-07T17:01:00.001-08:00

We introduced Lora Withnell and her pinch hitting second camera woman, Monique Feyrecilde, to Canadian winter weather today. (Geri Byrne is recovering from from hip replacement surgery and couldn't make the trip- GET WELL SOON, GERI!)
Scott just started filming his segments of the On Line Sheepdog Training Courses. They should air sometime around February (I'll be sure to remind everyone when it's time to sign up). Don't forget, you can still catch the Alasdair MacRae segments for a few more weeks.
Here's a some pictures from today...

Director Lora works the left camera and gets support from her stunt coordinator, Alaska.

Bliss works in a lesson from the production

Lora Withnell braves the snow during filming

Nan demonstrates her shedding for the series

Monique checks the shot list during a break

They say tomorrow the sun will come out

On Line Sheepdog Training Lessons

2011-10-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

There is a new concept in sheepdog training coming down the pike. Lora Withnell was sitting around one winter craving more. More dog time, more sheep time, more clinician time. But the rain, snow, lack of daylight, was keeping her from getting it done. She came up with a novel idea. Why not have clinics on line? So she went to her buddy Geri Byrne and the two of them came up with Little Horse Mountain Productions' Sheep Dog Training Courses.
Instructors have been lined up to do weekly lessons and answer questions from the viewers. Starting at the top, Lora and Geri have picked their first instructor to be Alasdair MacRae. Alasdair has pre filmed several courses for you to learn from. After Alasdair, we are honored to say that Little Horse Mountain Productions picked Scott! We are still in the planning stages for Scott's lessons so if you have a burning issue, feel free to send me an email at jennyglen@altapetestockdogs.com and we'll see if it will fit into the curriculum. These courses are not designed to replace lessons or clinics because every dog is different and there is no substitute for one on one help. Lora's dream was to provide more information to those who eat, sleep and breathe sheepherding. Especially in the restrictive winters.
I hope we'll get to interact with many new people when Scott's lessons begin!

Best Shed Trophy - Addendum

2011-09-22T08:40:00.001-07:00

I wrote in my last post that Scott had won the best shed trophy more times than anyone else. I was wrong. As I was placing the cup on our shelf for the year, I noticed that Alasdair MacRae had also won it four times. Does that surprise anyone? He won it twice with the great Nan, and twice with Star.
I remember talking to Alasdair in 2004, the year Scott won the Nationals, about the upcoming double lift. He told me that Star couldn't win it because she was too hot mentally and she would tire herself out before she could finish the shed. It turned out that no one got the shed that year and Scott won it based on the best outwork. However, it is a testament to Alasdair's handling and training that he was able to bring out her best work later on and win that best shed trophy twice. Happy retirement, Star.

2011 USBCHA National Sheepdog Finals - Carbondale

2011-09-19T14:34:00.000-07:00

The 2011 National Finals is in the books now: Alasdair MacRae is again the National Champion! This is his 3rd win with the 10 year old Star and it was her last run as she entered retirement when it was over. She is Donnie's mother and we hope he can win it as many times as she has.
Reserve Champion is Vergil Holland and Brooke who happens to be a half sister to our Donnie (they share a father). 3rd place was the 2008 National Nursery Champions, Suzie Applegate and Buzz. Congratulations to all of them!
Donnie ended up in 4th place in the finals and made a heart stopping save in the shedding ring. His biggest shortcoming was his 2nd fetch. I had been praying for clouds to cover the sun since it was the warmest day of the whole finals. The thermometer would not have told you that it was very hot out but with the high elevation, that sun burned. The sheep didn't need excuses to be any heavier in the heat. My request was answered and just as Scott and Don took the field, it cooled down. Unfortunately, the clouds brought with them a wind that happened to be coming right from the 2nd lift point. Donnie couldn't hear Scott's whistles to stop or flank until he was well past the fetch gates. All he knew was that he had to bring them so he brought them - but on a very left hand fetch and lost all his points for that part of the run. On a good note, Donnie and Scott did a great shed and once again, Scott won the best shed trophy. He has now won it more times than anyone else starting in 2001 with Fly, 2002 with Cub, 2009 with Maid and now in 2011 with Don.
On the nursery field, the heavy sheep were the undoing of many of the youngsters. Many of them couldn't move them and it wasn't really a good time in their careers to come up against these kind of sheep. Traditionally, nursery is where you mold your future open dogs, not take away their confidence by putting them on sheep that can beat them. Nonetheless, some of them still got it done. Alasdair MacRae's Li showed particular strength in the first round and won it, but was called on a grip in the second round. Suzie Applegate's Tru (a big rough coated sable son of Alasdair's Nap) was third overall and showed great promise for the future. Bill Orr's Sly ended up as the Reserve Champion which wasn't a great surprise for us since we had seen him when we were last in Carbondale this past spring. He had ruled the sheep back then and did it again when it counted at the finals. The champion ended up being Amanda Milliken and Dorey. June moved them just fine but couldn't resist a chomp on a hock as she neared the post in her first run. Scott has plans for her this winter! Reba showed great heart and ended up in 11th place overall. You could tell these sheep were hard for her but every time Scott told her to get up and move them she did.
The town of Carbondale was charming and the people were welcoming. Everyone I met had been or was going to the trial and early estimates of the gate were 9,000 people and that was with a rain storm every afternoon! I heard several residents ask if we are coming back and I heard it is a possibility. I hope we do. Despite the troubles with the WiFi (which wasn't the fault of the hard working finals volunteers), it was a classy, quality finals that ranks right up there with Gettysburg (my favorite), Virginia and Klamath.

Scott and Reba get set for their first nursery run - they ended up 11th overall on very difficult sheep

Reba moves the heavy nursery sheep

The Hotchkiss sheepdog trial brought their sheepcamp wagon to the trial to educate the public

In Don's qualifying run he had a lagging sheep that almost kept him out of the semi finals

Handlers traded off the "Ask Me" position to answer spectators questions

Donnie and Scott had a spectacular semi finals run and won the round!

Volunteer "Vanna Whites" paraded the scores around - this one is Scott's semi finals score

Horses grazed on the top of the surrounding hills and had the best view of all - often they stopped eating to watch

Meg looks to Louanne Twa for direction before their semi finals run

Meg and Louanne move the sheep around the post

Between the rain storms, we had rainbows!

Scott takes a risky shed with Maid in the semi finals - it didn't pay off as she gripped off right after the photo was taken

Overlooking the trial, Mount Sopris was dusted with snow from all the afternoon storms

Scott and Don take the sheep around the post in the double lift finals

During the International shed, as Scott let two uncollared sheep pass, a collared one slipped by

To the crowd's delight, (and Scott's) Donnie made a spectacular save and sent her back to the collared sheep

The sheep gave no quarter at the pen and it took 6 minutes to pen them!

Donnie and Scott won the "Best Shed award". Scott has now won this award 4 times. More than anyone else.

Back row: Vergil Holland and Brook, Scott and Don, Mike Hanley and Moss, Don Helsley and Tag, Herbert Holmes and Juno and Suzie Applegate and Buzz. Kneeling: Alasdair MacRae and Star, Roy Taber and Craig, and Amanda Milliken and Roz.

National Finals 2011

2011-09-14T14:06:00.000-07:00

I'm so sorry for the lack of posts but unfortunately the finals was, shall, I say, screwed over by their WiFi supplier. The story I was told was that when they went to ask for their password from the company who supplied the emergency phone and the included WiFi, they were told by the people who set it up that they had no idea 'cause they were new at this. Not cool on that company's part.
Louanne has been kind enough to take me to town and we are now parked outside of the Carbondale Post office using their WiFi.
The trial itself is going very well. I understand you can watch the runs a day after they happen if you go to the finals website and sign up - so you don't need my daily updates anyway. I am taking pictures where I can and I'll load them when the trial is over. Yesterday, Maid was a good girl and got around but no pen. She should have no trouble getting into the semi's. June had a nice lift in the nursery trial this morning but gripped off on the fetch. Laddie battled hard but despite decent lines, we didn't make a single panel and no pen so we are out of it.
That's all for now. If I go to town again I will try to write another quick update.

Meeker 2011 - Semi Finals

2011-09-10T15:43:00.000-07:00

Both Maid and Don's runs went a little like this...Need I say more?

Meeker 2011 - Day Two

2011-09-08T11:17:00.000-07:00

Donnie ran late this afternoon. The sheep were much more lively today. Yesterday they weren't as happy due to being soggy after the rain. Don had a good lift and then true to Meeker history, the sheep tried to run off to the handler's right. Scott flanked him over hard but it took a little bit before he got over there and then got ahold of them. Donnie got them back on line just before the fetch panels but they still tried to go back and forth around them. He got them through though and marched them right down the field. Many dogs were stalling out after the fetch panels and several runs have ended right there in the middle of the field, but Don never hesitated. They went around the post and then the sheep took off on their customary run up the drive as they tried to get back up the field. Don caught them and put them through the panels and made a quick turn and on to the crossdrive. They still try to get up the field on the crossdrive so it didn't get any easier but Scott and Don's aim was true and they went through the panels and on to the shed. A quick shed and they had 1:30 to get the pen. Most dogs needed more time than that but not Don. He had one sheep dash about a little bit but he got her broke and in they went with an 85 score! At the end of the day they were still in the lead.
One more day of qualifying. Laddie runs around 13th tomorrow and Scott should be running Maid around noon. Lad needs to concentrate on lifting them and keeping them on the fetch line (instead of his usual right side of the field fetch that he does here) and Maid needs to concentrate on keeping her mouth shut! Oh, yeah, and both of them need to get their outruns!

Scott sets don up for the difficult outrun

Making the fetch panels

Don starting the turn around the post

Don makes the turn around the drive away panels

Don turns the sheep through the crossdrive panels

Holding the shed

Don and Scott pen the sheep

Meeker 2011

2011-09-07T16:16:00.000-07:00

The bad news is that I'm having a terrible time getting computer reception at Meeker so I am sitting at the community center where there seems to be decent service. The badder news is that Hemp didn't have a good run this morning. He had a wonderful outrun to the left (most people are sending to the right because you can see the dog the whole way but most dogs are trying to cross that way) but was slow to lift them as they started heavy. Then they raced down the fetch with Hemp hot on their heels. I couldn't ever get them to go in a straight line. When I stopped or slowed Hemp down, they changed directions. Back and forth. The turn was nice and easy but then they ran hell bent for leather up the drive. I got them through the panels but not the crossdrive panels. Easy shed (any 2 out of 5) and then got to the pen. Most people think we need another minute on our time and even though I had almost 2 minutes, I needed that last minute. They were looking like they would finally go in when they called time on me. Hemp wasn't bad at the pen but not perfect. These might be killer sheep for Lad and I have no idea which way I am going to send the terrible outrunner but I don't have to decide until Friday. Scott has been away since yesterday at a helpful person's place (I've never met her) training on his dogs. He runs one tomorrow so I'm hoping it pays off.
I'll try to get service again tomorrow night for another update but no promises!
PS I left the field late this afternoon and there have only been 2 pens!

Soldier Hollow Classic 2011 - Double Lift

2011-09-06T10:10:00.000-07:00

I didn't get a chance to blog the final qualifying day of the trial but as you probably saw from my Twitter feed, Don made it in the double lift. He did a really good job. It was a difficult time to run and there had not been any changes of the top scores since around noon. Nonetheless, Donnie ran well and got on there, launching himself into the final round.
This trial is top class. There just isn't anything like it. From the great handler's gifts (vests donated by Woolrich with the Soldier Hollow logo and the handler's name embroidered) to the fancy dinner on Sunday night right down to the free bug spray table to deal with the last few mosquitoes of the season. Every year, I am amazed at the people who come to watch. Last year, over the 4 days they had over 25,000 people and early reports say that there were even more this year. On the final day the spectators come with their umbrellas, their coolers and their chairs and they sit down in the early morning and they don't move (except to go eat some of the SUPER good food at the vendors) until the gold medal is on the winning dog. I think the biggest reason for that is the announcing of Ray Crabtree up in the booth. Having been a professional DJ, he's got the voice and also being a trialer, he has the information right. He gives the audience explanations about the course and why the dog running is doing what it's doing, and he puts a personal face on each trialer and their dog by telling the spectators about their accomplishments.
This year there was some extra fun with a film crew following the action. A documentary crew had been chronicling some of the competitors through their trial year and the climax of the film is at this year's Soldier Hollow. If you haven't seen the information on the movie, check it out at http://sheepdogmovie.com/
Donnie was first at the post on the morning of the double lift. We had a right hand outrun for the first and then turned back towards the left and the place where the dogs had picked up the sheep all week. On the right almost all of the dogs came in early where a dirt path crossed the field. Donnie was no exception and needed a blow out. There was one more place on that outrun where all the dogs tried to come in and then they disappeared behind the score board. They had told us at the meeting that we could wander 5 yards from the post and it was needed. Between the scoreboard and the trees the view of the dog and sheep was often obscured from the handler. As the dog walked up on the first set you couldn't really see them until they had lifted. Donnie had an easy lift and made his fetch panels but didn't turn back perfectly. He needed a redirect and Scott will be working on his turnback before the Nationals. After that, he had a very nice run, making all his panels and they had an efficient shed. The sheep challenged Don at the pen but they got it closed! In the end, they finished up in 4th place.
Laddie ran 4th up and although it wasn't the greatest run compared to everyone else's, I felt we had improved from the last time we did a double lift. Lad did need two redirects on the first outrun like most of the dogs, and made his first fetch panels. I stopped him for the turn back but he ended up hidden behind a grove of trees so I had to guess at what he was doing. I told him "Look" but I figured he wasn't ready for a flank yet. I was told he did look behind himself and probably would have gone but since I couldn't see him, I was afraid to send him. I tried one more, "LOOK BACK" and thought I saw his body swivel so I gave him a comebye flank and low and behold! He went back clean. He had a tough time lifting and from my buddy, Connie Fontaine who was holding the second set, I learned that Lad approached them kindly and politely asked them to move. Obviously, he didn't know the Baa Ram Ewe password because they didn't shift. By this time, I was telling Lad that he better get moving so Connie said he launched himself into them, hitting them with his chest as he often does when he's frustrated but this time, both Lad and the sheep shot into the air with all four feet off the ground. I could see that from the post and it looked funny to see Lad's whole body shoot straight up! Once he gathered up his mess he moved along on the fetch but our first set was still sitting at the drop off post and I missed the fetch panels as both sets rejoined. After that it was a slog getting them around the course. Laddie has just enough forward on most days but these heavy girls really tried him. Finally, we got them into the shedding ring. This shed is a little different than most international shed's as they have only 16 sheep in your group and 8 have collars. You have to hold on to 5 of those collars to pen. Scott said I had a great shed going which made me feel good with a nice "gate" that Lad and I were constructing but when I got down to the last sheep, I had trouble. The sheep had gotten broke to people and just kinda brushed me aside. While I was trying to dig that last girl out, one snuck around my back and rejoined. I tried again but never got the shed finished and we timed out. Still, I see our weaknesses and what we need to work on but I've got to say that I was pleased with both of us.
Scott ran Maid when the heat was awful. However, she wasn't too affected by it. It did make the sheep stay heavy but she marched them around anyway. Her turnback was perfect and although she was a little zippy, she took Scott's every command and made their panels, even if some of them were by the skin of her sharp canines (which she politely kept in her mouth). The shed gave them some challenges and there were a couple of join ups before they got it finished and moved on to the pen. The great distance between the shedding ring and the pen seemed like trouble with the sheep trying to split up and get around the dog but it gave Maid a chance to get them broke away from their companions and she kept her cool. The pen was still work and it took a little time to get it but they got it closed before the buzzer went off and ended up in 6th place.
The prettiest run of the day and the clear first was Bill Berhow and Pete. Pete is 11 years old now and every year we think he's going to retire and then he goes and lays down a great run. Scott's Pleat was 10 when he won it so maybe it takes some experience to tame the wiley sheep and tackle the complicated course. Congratulations to Bill and the reserve champion Amanda Milliken with Roz. Also a special mention that the third place spot was well run by Faansie Basson and Don.
As always, a special thanks to Mark Peterson for inviting us and putting on this classy event that promotes our sport.

The peanut gallery

Scott being interviewed before his run for "Away To Me" a sheepdog documentary

Scott and Don bringing his 16 sheep to the post on the fetch

Scott and Don at the pen

Laddie and I spotting the first set of sheep

Lad and I making a cut in the International shed

Lad and I being interviewed for the movie after our run

Scott and Maid waiting for the first set of sheep to arrive

Scott and Maid turning the sheep around the post

Maid just barely making the first drive panels with all of her sheep

Maid almost missing her crossdrive panels low

Scott and Maid make a cut on the shed

Too Tired

2011-09-05T20:11:00.000-07:00

I'm exhausted after today's runs and dinner this evening. I will blog with pictures tomorrow. Congratulations to Bill Berhow with 11 year old Pete!

Soldier Hollow 2011 - Day Two

2011-09-03T19:54:00.000-07:00

Well, the Alta-Pete dogs have changed their luck! Maid and Scott ran early this morning - first in fact. At this trial, first is a chancy place to run. It's nice and cool but the sheep sure do hate to leave the set out. Maid had a great outrun, a nice lift and was on line to make her fetch panels but then the sheep in the set out started to call the ones on the course and Scott and Maid were a little fooled. The sheep dodged Maid and ran back up to try to get back to set out. It hurt her on points but she quickly fixed the problem and brought them back down the field.

Maid on the fetch (the second time)

The turn around the post was a little tough when some sheep tried to back track but again, Maid caught them and took them on a nice line and turn through the drive panels.

The drive away leg and score board

A good crossdrive with a bobble at the panels

Maid turning through the crossdrive panels

the third leg

The third leg of Maid's drive

and into the shedding ring.
The shed

Scott and Maid shed two off

and pen were uneventful and at the finish, they had a score of 81!

Camera crew from the documentary "That'll Do" film Scott and Maid penning

They led until Dennis Gellings and old Jan ran a beautiful 89. Then Scott and Maid never dropped below second and made the double lift!
Laddie and I ran in the late afternoon and the heat was very strong. I just wanted to concentrate on getting around because I really thought it was too hot to be too careful. Lad had a good outrun but I flanked him over the top and talked him through his lift. The sheep were laying on him down the fetch line and although I asked for a flank I got nothing. I asked for a stop to correct him, and got nothing. I started demanding but no, he still was holding on to his line which was off from the real line. He had decided that he had them moving and he wasn't going to listen to me maneuver them around. I wasn't really sure what to do when Laddie wasn't listening- it's an extremely rare thing. Just after he missed the panels, he got them on line and became the old, biddable, Laddie again. After that, he was just a gem. He had a good line to the pen and kept his flow. His crossdrive had some wobbles but he made his panels and we fought hard to hold the third leg on the line. In the shedding ring we had over 3 minutes and the sheep settled quick and we took an immediate shed (I got alot of compliments on it) and then ran to the pen (it's quite a jog over there!). I thought it was nice to get the rope in my hand again. Laddie caught them as they tried to pass the pen. This time we had luxury of more minutes on the clock than last time and low and behold, they went in! I was blown away. I have said for years that I wanted a pen at Soldier Hollow but I hadn't even touched the rope in years and this time, they went in. Mission accomplished, but wait! Then there was the score - an 81! Third place (Scott got us on the outwork) and we are in the double lift on Monday! Bonus! I am so proud of Lad.
Tomorrow morning I will be sure to root for Faansie Basson and Don who drew up in the good spot of 3rd and George Stambulic will be in the 12th slot. Scott drew up 29th with Don and 39th with Maid so we will keep our fingers crossed that they will overcome the heat.

Soldier Hollow 2011 - Day One

2011-09-02T20:02:00.000-07:00

I love the Soldier Hollow trial. Good people, lots of people, good food and a good time. However, today, the Alta-Pete dogs don't have good scores! We are hoping our next runs will change it. Actually, the dogs are not running so bad.
Laddie drew up 5th in the morning and did a really nice job. I've had alot of compliments on his run. He slowed up a little on his outrun so I gave him two blows over but the set out crew told me he did a really nice job at the top (thanks to Anna Guthrie and Connie Fontaine for doing such an outstanding job up top) He got ahold of the sheep and didn't rush them down the course. Made his fetch panels and had one challenge him around the post but she wasn't serious and changed her mind when he walked up on her.

Lad and I turn the post

Then we had a nice drive away but just in front of the panels they looked like they were going to bust up the field. I flanked him fast but it was too far and they shot the other way and missed the panels. We had a nice turn though and stayed on the crossdrive line. We made the crossdrive panels but had a very off line 3rd leg. I just couldn't get them on the line but we had a good shed.

Laddie and I doing a nice shed

We only had a minute to make the pen and it just wasn't enough time but I was glad to have had a chance to hold the rope of the pen which I haven't done at Soldier Hollow in about 5 years!

Look, Ma! I touched the pen rope! (FYI it's a heavy gate)

We had a 67 which was nice for a while and then the real handlers showed up and we dropped off the board.
Scott and Donnie's run started out really nice.

Don on the fetch

A good fetch and they made the panels. Nice turn around the post and made the drive panels dead on. His crossdrive was a little low

Don on the crossdrive

and he barely missed the crossdrive panels. A good third leg of the drive

Donnie on the way to the shedding ring

and he had over 3 minutes to get his shed but the sheep didn't settle and alot of time was eaten up there. He finally got the shed but didn't have enough time to get the pen. His final score was a 73.
Scott is up early with Maid tomorrow and Laddie is 35 which runs about 4:30PM. Keep up on the scores and twitter at http://www.soldierhollowclassic.com/

Beautiful British Colombia

2011-08-30T20:53:00.000-07:00

Canadian Championship video by Kristi Oikawa

Canadian Championship 2011- Double Lift

2011-08-29T21:02:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has taken me so long to do this post. We are home for a couple of days but off to Soldier Hollow on Wednesday, and there is much to be done.
The morning of the finals had that nice cool weather we had been appreciating every morning before the oppressive heat descended. Maid drew up in a prime spot to take advantage of it. She ran 3rd in the order but she wasted her time. Her first outrun was an indication about how she was feeling - grumpy. She needed a couple of redirects but she still slammed into the sheep on the lift. She made her fetch panels, and turned back but then slammed into the second set. She did a drive by on the sheep during the fetch but did not get called because the judge didn`t see it. She made sure he saw the second grip on the drive away and was DQ`d
Many of the dogs who didn`t bite their sheep, were having trouble with the turn back. A few crossed just a little bit on the first request but most of them tried to go back to the horse who held the first set, back on the right of the handler. It was hard to redirect them when they went into a dip and didn`t reappear until they were almost to the horse. Most handlers let them get to the horse at that point, so they could see there were no sheep there and then they seemed to be more amiable to go over to the second set on the handler`s left.
I had decided to have fun for the day but when I saw the complication of the first set out horse needing to stay on the field, I worried that Hemp would do what all the others did. By the time he ran, it was too hot to play that game and he would also get mentally tired if I threw too many commands at him. I was afraid I was going to have to retire him. I let him watch the run before me and he seemed ok with the second set being out there. In fact, when I set him up, he wanted to go to that last set that he`d seen and when I sent him, he needed a redirect, which he didn`t really take on the fly. I thought he`d get there anyway, but he ended up tight and kinda crashed them on the lift. He felt crazy for the first few seconds, but then settled down and listened. I thought that felt new and nice and I hope he has decided to make it a habit. He made the fetch panels and I set him up to turn back. He didn`t take my first request and crossed over a little bit. My second request, he took and I gave him the flank as soon as he started to go. He was bending well, but I couldn`t take the chance so I gave him another and then one more just before he dipped out of sight in the dip. Then I just waited with shaking hands. It seemed forever but he was good! He brought those sheep through the fetch panels too and around the post but the drive away was getting to the end of his command quota. The sheep were hot and heavy and I did not get a flow going and he really tried but I could see it was cooking him a little so I just let the panels go. It wasn`t really about how much push he had but about how he was trying to be good and was feeling a little frazzeled. It was a terrible drive but he just needed to get to the shedding ring so he could have a break. Scott was saying the same thing to himself on the sideline. I sent him to the water when I had the sheep quiet in the ring and when I called him back, he was refreshed. We did not get our shed done but I was really happy with our effort. All of Scott`s advice from last summer`s clinic was going through my head. ``Do not get greedy. Slow down. Flank your dog to stop the sheep, don`t call him in.`` I practiced them all. Hemp was trying to stay out of trouble but got confused a couple of times and ended up doing a spin. Not a crazy one, just when he would check on the sheep behind him and then I`d ask him to flank on the ones I had. When he`d come back on the collared sheep he`d turn the wrong way around. It`s something that will go away I think as we get better at this. In the end, we had one chance to get the last 3 out and we just were not experienced enough of a team to make them leave once they decided they`d just rather put their heads down in the circle of collared sheep. I swear there were 15 collared sheep and not just 5 but everyone said I was hallucinating. I was very proud of Hemp this whole weekend and I hope this partnership idea continues.
Now, on to the good run! Donnie ran last. It was hot but he was game. On the first request for his turnback, he crossed a little. Scott did not like that but he went back the second time and got his sheep. He made his fetch panels both times and had a nice drive. When they got into the shedding ring, Scott must have thrown out all his advice to me and just jumped in and started shedding. I had never seen him shed like this. He did loose them out of the ring once too. Later he told me that he had figured that if he let the sheep settle in like I did, he`d never get it finished. He got down to one and had to shed her off himself. The question was: were the collared sheep out of the ring when he pulled that last one off. It seemed that the people that were rooting for him were sure they saw the shed happen before they left and the people who wanted someone else to win saw the sheep leave before the shed. The judge decided the shed happened before they left the ring and Scott and Don won the Championship!
Big congratulations are also in order for Dennis Gellings and the 10 year old Jan who were the Canadian Reserve Champions!
For more results go to http://wcsdt.wordpress.com/sunday-results/

Double lift parade, Jean Gellings, Randy Dye, Scott, Amanda Miliken, Dennis Gellings, Brian Nelson, Bev Lambert, Gail Cochlan, Ian Zoerb, Me, George Stambulic, Lisa Wright and judge Faansie Basson. - photo by Louanne Twa.

Parade of flags - photo by Louanne Twa

Hemp and I discussing the turnback.-photo by Kristi Oikawa

Approaching the post - photo by Louanne Twa

Hemp and I in the international shed. Should have let that one go! - photo by Kristi Oikawa

Scott and Don start the drive. -photo by Kristi Oikawa

At the pen! - photo by Kristi Oikawa

Penny Ohanjanian hands Scott and Don the Canadian Championship trophy!- photo by Kristi Oikawa

Canadian Championships - Day Three

2011-08-27T15:46:00.000-07:00

OK - for the good news first... REBA IS THE NEW CANADIAN AND WESTERN CANADIAN NURSERY CHAMPION!!!
The second round of the nurseries started at 1:30 in the blazing heat. The sheep were very heavy and didn't do straight lines. This got the young dogs either hyped up or slowed down and I don't think the hearing was very good at the top. Reba was a little rough at the start and missed her fetch panels but after that she marched them around. Many of the dogs in both the open and nursery were turning the sheep short of the panels because of the pressure. Not Reba, she put them through both drive panels and then with a little work, got them in the pen too. We are very proud of her.
Congratulations to the Reserve Nursery Champions, Amanda Miliken and Dorey!
June also had a nice run. Until..., Until... the grip! She made all her panels but the sheep were just making her mad (she is Maid's niece after all) and she ate one at the pen.
The open ran in the morning and Donnie drew up 3rd. It was a great time to run and he didn't waste it. He took good command of his sheep and fought for his pen. He finished with a 90.
I didn't hold out much hope for Hemp. It was very hot when he ran and I felt alot of pressure to do something with him. I'm not good with that kind of pressure. I don't think there was much hearing at the top and it was very rough. He missed his fetch panels but then got them on line to go around the post. Not a bad post turn but the drive away was killer. Everyone struggled there. It was hard to line out the sheep and they were like pushing bales of hay. Hemp was trying to be good. He wasn't just blundering on. He was listening and didn't grip but he did give into the pressure once and try to bring them back to me. We adjusted and pressed on though. It didn't get much easier on the crossdrive. He really had to work. It wasn't pretty but he made both his panels and we got to the shed with a little over two minutes. I was pushing a little and then realized I wasn't going to get the pen in that amount of time. Not with this dog. So I better settle down and get a good shed. I got a shed and had about 30 seconds to pen. I ran to the pen more out of habit and opened the gate. Hemp started bringing the sheep and then I noticed that the lead sheep was walking right towards the pen. SHE WANTED IN! So I thought, "You better make an honest attempt for this." and flanked Hemp out a little. Everyone went in but the last sheep who tried to duck around the side. Hemp, with his new found appreciation for putting sheep in a pen, did a nice flank to catch her but not an overflank (like he did at the Bluegrass just 3 short months ago) and put her in. As I started to close the gate, I heard the crowd yell at me to hurry up so I slammed it closed with seconds to spare. Not a pretty run but a 67 got us into the double lift!
There were alot of really good runs in the second round and one of the prettiest was Norm Sommer and Lexi. She had a great first round too but gripped at the pen so she couldn't run in the double lift but a 94 in the second round impressed alot of people.
Louanne Twa and Meg and Joanne Zoerb with Mik were out of the double lift by ONE POINT! Good job anyway girls!
Check out the scores from today at http://wcsdt.wordpress.com/
I don't have the results for everyone in the double lift but my random memory can tell you that Scott and Maid are up 3rd and Donnie is 13th (last run of the day). I drew up 10th. Randy Dye and Sweep (yea Randy!) drew 2nd. Jean Gellings is 1rst. Dennis Gellins is 5th. After that, I can only tell you that Amanda and Bev each got one dog in. Lisa Wright got in with Kate. Brian Nelson got in with Sweep (a Pleat son) and George Stambulic and Kate (also a Pleat child). and 2 more dogs that I can't remember right now (cringe). Hopefully the website will get them up soon.
I'm planing on having fun tomorrow. It's going to be hot when we run and Hemp and I are by no means ready to be the Canadian Champions so we'll just take it easy and enjoy ourselves.

Don catches an independent ewe as they turn the post.

Don and Scott at the shed.

Scott and June (you'll have to trust me - it's June not Don) set up for the outrun.

June on the fetch.

Nooooo, June! DON'T BITE THAT EWE!

Cy Peterson's Reba on the fetch.

Canadian and Western Canadian Nursery Champion, Reba.

Reba's Nursery Champion traveling trophy

Reba and Cy Peterson's new crook!

Canadian Championship - Day Two

2011-08-26T17:16:00.000-07:00

I have to say I'm not as happy a camper as I was yesterday. Laddie had a very good time to run but he didn't get to his sheep. He went out well and then went down into a gully as expected but never came out of it. He went right on past them and despite my walk ups, flanks and recalls I never saw him until I was told he was behind the spectators. Very disappointing to say the least.
I missed Maid's run because I had to take some of our dogs for their CEA DNA test. It sounded rough and Scott said it was but he ended up with an 82 and it will be certain to get her into the double lift on Sunday.
That was the end of our open runs today. We finish up the rest of the runs tomorrow morning. Scott and Don have a good early draw. Unfortunately, Hemp drew in the blazin' heat and I just can't bring myself to believe yesterday's run was anything but a fluke. I'm going into the run with no expectations. (ok, that's not true. If you know me, my expectations will be of failure but I'm tired of people telling me they are tired of my low expectations so I'll just say I'm going in with a blank slate)
We ran the first run of the Nursery finals with the rest of our time today. June was first out of the gate and the sheep were something none of these babies have ever seen. She was fast and on the muscle but ended up with a 72 and in second place to Amanda Milliken's 75. With a cumulative score going to determine the winner, this is not a bad place to be.
Reba was equally quick on these sheep but did what she was told and got a 71 right behind June. Fingers crossed that the girls can jump ahead tomorrow!

Scott and Reba discuss the set out

Reba was so fast on her flank she almost ran into the horse!

Reba and Scott pen

Judge Faansie Basson's dogs cool off in the water tub after a practice run in the evening.

Nursery 1
1. Amanda Milliken and Dorey 75
2. Scott Glen and June 72
3. Scott Glen and Reba 71
4. Denis Gellings and Tess 68
5. Denis Gellings and Gin 67
6. Bev Lambert and Joe 61
7. Lee Lumb and Cass 54
8. , 9. (Tie not broken)
Vickie Close and Jess 52
Lynn Schweb and Toss 52
10. Lorna Savage and Tyler 50

Canadian Championship 2011

2011-08-25T20:18:00.000-07:00

The Canadian Championship and Western Canadian Finals are being held this year in Cranbrook, BC at the beautiful Pine Butte Ranch. The scenery is breathtaking with mountains on all sides, not the least of which are the Rocky mountains on our right. We are running at a different angle this year than we did in 2005. It makes the terrain less dramatic, but that year the sheep were very cooperative. If you need dramatic this year, you need not look any farther than the sheep. They are fine wools from a local Hutterite colony that are used to being worked by dogs in large groups. If you rushed them, one would usually leave or run over the fence behind the post and off through the spectators and then the parking lot. If you were too kind, you might keep them together and on line, but they took it as a sign of weakness and got heavy. There were the rare dogs (namely Jean and Dennis Gelling's dogs, Star and Jan) who kept the sheep calm and moving.
My dogs were working well and in a rare occasion, I was also not doing too bad. Laddie had a good outrun to the right and overran just to where he needed to at the top - it was a lucky break as he usually pulls up short. The judge (Faansie Basson) had asked for the set out horse to back away from the sheep as the dog came around the top. Laddie followed the horse, assuming he had the sheep and when he noticed where they were, he was at a good spot. He needed a little coxing to bring them on but had a very good line to the fetch panels and looked like he was going to hit them but at the last minute they dashed around them. The rest of his run was nice but it was hard to get a flow and I was a little low across the crossdrive. He had a very nice pen, and shed and got an 81.
Scott and Maid were very mean and dashed my hopes for second place this afternoon with an 83 - his main problem was a high crossdrive and missing the crossdrive panels. He had a good finish and is sitting in a good spot for a double lift run.
Hemp ran when it was hot but I was lucky to have a cloud cover come over just as we went to the post. He was listening today and working with me and we had a nice run. There was one major wobble in front of the crossdrive panels. We were low but I had flanked him down to catch it when he took the wrong flank due to the pressure. The third leg of the drive is the typical place for him to grip so I decided to let the panel go and live to fight another day. He had a good shed and believe it or not, actually got a pen. He had two nice flanks at the pen to put them in the mouth and then I laid him down and did the rest myself so I could be sure he wouldn't mess up! He ended up with a 78, which was quite respectable.
Donnie ran towards the end of the day and drew a grumpy sheep. He missed the fetch panels, similarly to Laddie when the sheep dashed around at the last second. Scott had a difficult crossdrive and missed the panels high. He had a good shed but his leader sheep was not wanting to pen and kept dashing out. Donnie had to do some quick footwork to hold on to her and eventually got his pen. He tied Hemp with a 78 but likely lost on the outwork because he missed his fetch panels.
In the end, all the Alta-Pete dogs are sitting well to make a play for the double lift. Tomorrow they will be running open dogs 1-29 (this includes Laddie and Maid) on their second run and then will start and finish the first round of the nursery.
Pressure for me!

Scott and Maid set up for the outrun

Scott and Maid at the pen

Donnie's sheep just miss the fetch panels

Donnie catches the sheep on the third leg of the drive

Don holds a shed

Open 1
1. Jean Gellings and Star 87
2. Dennis Gellings and Jan 84
3. Scott Glen and Maid 83
4. Jennifer Glen and Lad 81
5. Brian Nelson and Sweep 79
6. Jennifer Glen and Hemp 78
7. Scott Glen and Don 78
8. Bev Lambert and Hemp 77
9., 10. (tie not broken)
Amanda Milliken and Clive 75
Wendy Schmaltz and Gin 75

Canadian Championship - Coming Right Up

2011-08-23T10:33:00.000-07:00

We are off tomorrow to Cranbrook, BC for the Canadian Championships. It should be alot of fun. I was at this trial 5 years ago and made the double lift with Jed, but Scott, Bev, and Amanda were at Meeker (Scott was first at Meeker that year, and Amanda was second) so it will be a new field for those heavy hitters. Of course, most of the handlers going to this trial, including me, are probably going with dogs they didn't have 5 years ago so it will be new for them too.
This field is a tough one. The dogs can see the sheep before you walk to the post, but not from the post. The double lift turn back is blind.
Unless they have put up a new cel tower in the last 5 years (I hope they have), I won't be able to get service. I will post what I can, when I can.
In the mean time, I got Reba's traveling trophy from the Wild Rose Classic back from the engravers and took her picture with it.

Shaunavon - Day Two

2011-08-21T18:57:00.001-07:00

We started the day earlier today so everyone could get home and prepare for the rest of the trials this week. (The Canadian Championship starts Thursday) The first dog left the post at 6:30AM. It seemed to stay cooler, longer today and there was a definite improvement in the hearing. It showed in most of the dogs, including mine. We changed the course to a right hand drive so there was less of a pull to the exhaust and instead of making a right hand turn after the crossdrive panels, we made a left hand turn to cross our course and then a straight line to the pen - another attempt at trying to beat the sheep on their pull to home. Apparently this is the norm in South Africa, as Faansie explained it to us. That way the dogs showed both sides of their turns at the panels. After the pen, we had one ewe with a collar (3 sheep total) and we were to shed one uncollared one.
Hemp was much better today and ran more like I had been expecting. I backed him off the sheep at the fetch and he made the panels. He had pretty good drives, especially his crossdrive which was tricky because the sheep took off running toward it and liked to go low. His turn up the course was difficult because the sheep wanted to go over him or back through the panels but he got them to the pen. Unfortunately, even though he listened very well at the pen, I wasn't able to get it done. I need more of a partner at the pen and Hemp is trying to be good and listen but he just doesn't get it and therefore, doesn't do his half without being told. I end up watching him and helping him more than paying attention to the sheep and we ran out of time with no pen or shed. He got a 63 which I felt was respectable outwork.
Laddie really did a nice job today and listened well and held his ground with the sheep. He walked when I asked him to and ran his butt off when I needed him to. I was low on the crossdrive but still made the panels. That was where my major points went but we had a good pen and good shed and ended up with an 89 - tying George Stambulic for 4th but we dropped to 5th because George had a better outrun, lift and fetch. His only major flaw with Kate was a missed attempt on the shed because she contemplated eating one on her way by.
Lisa Wright and Kate also had an outstanding run and was likely going to place until the new turn at the crossdrive panels. Kate was sure Lisa had gave her a wrong flank and took the one she was sure would save them both but it wasn't the correct one and cost them a big placing. They timed out at the shed.
The outstanding run of the day was Randy Dye and Sweep who is a son of Grant Musgrove's Zeus who is a littermate to Scott's Pleat. Randy smoked everyone with a 94 run to win the day!
George Stambulic and Kate won the overall Open.

Open 2
1. Randy Dye and Sweep 94
2., 3. (tie not broken)
Chris Jobe and Jill 91
Dale Montgomery and Ben 91
4. George Stambulic and Kate 89
5. Jennifer Glen and Lad 89
6. Dale Montgomery and Zip 88
7. , 8. (tie not broken)
Chris Jobe and Gwen 86
Peter Gonnet and Taff 86
9. Peter Gonnet and Jill 85
10. Joanne Zoerb and Bryn 84

Shaunavon Classic - Day One

2011-08-20T15:48:00.000-07:00

Shaunavon Stockdog Classic in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan is the first trial of the new season for Western Canada and one of the last trials to school your dog at before the Canadian Championship. (Not to mention Soldier Hollow, Meeker and the Nationals). Scott has been doing alot of clinics this year so he decided to stay home and train on his dogs but I headed over to the competition, judged this year by South Africa's Faansie Basson.
It's a pretty flat field with a gentle breeze that changed directions during the day. The sheep are a fine wool cross who know where the exhaust is and are determined to get to it.
Most of the good runs came from the cool morning and as the heat came up, the sheep became insistent about getting to their buddies and the hearing got less.
Hemp ran just as the heat was coming up but it didn't help him.

The best part of Hemp's run - setting up for the outrun

He had a nice outrun and then it all went to pot from there. I'm not really sure what got into him. He lifted ok but then before he got to the fetch panels he circled the sheep. Not in a frantic over flanking way, but just in a casual flank - so much so that I asked people later if I gave him the wrong flank. They said no. It surprised me so much that I stopped whistling for a second and missed the panel. Hmmm. What to do? Well, the score will be bad, but we needed some training - especially at the pen so we pressed on. We had a wide turn around the post, and then settled everything down on the drive. It is a left hand drive and you spend the whole first leg trying to keep them on line as they try to climb over your dog and get to the exhaust. Just before the panel, Hemp didn't hear my flank, or chose not to take it, I'll never know- and the sheep got away so I figured, there was no useful training going on here and retired.
Laddie ran at the end of the class during the 2:00PM heat. People were retiring all over the place. I decided to try and stick it out. I WANTED A PEN. Come what may. I sent Lad to the right since there was a fence to keep him in if he wanted to go wide but he actually ran a little tight. I left him that way 'cause it was just a little bit and when he got near the sheep, he flared wide and deep but came in a little short just as I was thinking he might. It was the wrong side to be short and the sheep ran off to my left. Lad was on them but didn't work that hard to put them back on line until after the fetch panels. He had a nice turn around the post but his whole first leg was horribly difficult with the sheep trying to cut around him and over him to get to the exhaust.

Laddie trying to beat the sheep to the exhaust on the turn at the post

I was proud of him for holding his ground and getting them stopped but his flanks weren't quite rounded enough to make the panel and we missed it high. We got back on the line for the crossdrive and got in front of the panel but I couldn't take anymore chances on him missing the panel so I broke out the "that'll do" command to round out the flank and hoped that I wouldn't get hit too hard for it. It paid off and we made the panel, had a good 3rd leg and had a good shed. We had to work a little for the pen but got it done and ended up with a 69 for our troubles.

Laddie tries to convince the girls they must not go in the exhaust but in the pen

Pen closed. Mission accomplished.

Done. Good boy, Laddie

Just to take away my "they can't hear" and " the sheep are hot and bad" excuses, George Stambulic had a great run with his Kate in the heat and took the day.
Ho hum. We'll try again tomorrow.

Day One Open
1. George Stambulic and Kate 91
2. Chris Jobe and Fly 90
3. Dale Montgomery and Zip 87
4. Peter Gonnett and Jill 87
5. Joanne Zoerb and Soot 84
6. , 7., 8., 9. (tie not broken)
Bev Lambert and Oden 82
Wayne Roberts and Sal 82
Ian Zoerb and Freckles 82
Chris Jobe and Gwen 82
10. Randy Dye and Sweep 81

Bow River Classic - Double Lift

2011-08-01T16:46:00.000-07:00

Today's double lift started out in the nice cool of the morning but was very hot by the time we were done. It showed in the sheep. They were a little cranky anyway with a few breaking away from the flock on the drive but as the heat came up, they let it be known that they would prefer to be resting the shade. Still, if the dogs treated them well, most sets behaved. Maid drew up 6th and she did get a run away ewe but she didn't do anything helpful to keep it with the group. She was getting a little hot and irritated herself and she didn`t appreciate that ewe making her life any harder. Even with that, she had a good run and won the day with a 151!
Ian Zoerb and Freckles gave Scott and Maid a run for their money and with a quick and efficient shed, it looked like they might eclipse them until Freckles went to the water on the field and then left to go look for some more off the field. It ended up being a DQ.
George Stambulic and Kate had a nice run too and ended up in 5th which was a brave feat since Kate had been battling diarrhea for 24 hours and wasn`t feeling her normal self.
Scott ran Don in the 12th hole. It wasn`t a great time for running. The breeze wasn`t blowing and the heat was wearing on everyone. He had a grumpy lead ewe who took the flock and left the set out early as Don was approaching. Don caught them as they were running but the fetch was supposed to be almost a crossdrive and Don didn`t expect that. He ducked back behind them and pushed them back off the line and ended up very low. His turnback was great and his drive was nice but that ewe gave him trouble again in the shedding ring. It was noticed at one point that he had one extra ewe collared. The judge told him to let one go and he did but unfortunately, the bad one wasn`t around at that time. He had a struggle digging out his last two sheep and lost them out of the ring. He penned and got a 141 - good enough for second place!
In the end, we`d just like to say we love this trial, and love the new location.

Scott and Maid turn the post

Scott calls Maid in on the International shed

Scott and Maid pen

Schmaltz niece and nephew take a break from set out

Don tries to catch a bitter ewe on the first fetch

Don and Scott turn the post

Scott calls Don in on the International shed

Louanne Twa and dog Meg pinch hit in set out to give Wendy Schmaltz a break.

DOUBLE LIFT
1. Scott Glen and Maid 151
2. Scott Glen and Don 141
3. Peter Gonnett and Taff 136
4. Joanne Zoerb and Mik 135
5. George Stambulic and Kate 131
6. Thad Buckler and Nic 128
7. Bob Stephens and Pete 124
8. Ian Zoerb and Sam 120
9. Joanne Zoerb and Brynn 120
10. Lee Lumb and Nan 118
11. Joanne Zoerb and Soot 110
12. Lynn Schweb andDex 89
13. Ian Zoerb and Freckles DQ

Bow River Classic - Day 2

2011-07-31T19:10:00.000-07:00

We were awakened bright and early by the judge's arrival in a bush plane. Grant Armstrong, the pilot and our host was giving him and a Schmaltz nephew, who was working in set out, a tour of the prairie before another long day of judging.
We started with the nursery class and Reba was first to the post. Scott switched it up on her and sent her the opposite direction from the day before. It was good schooling for her since the outruns were difficult. She pulled up a little short this time but then got going. The first set out of the gate were pretty hopped up (and were standing out when the plane buzzed by and got stirred up) and Reba had her work cut out for her corralling them. She made a bad turn on the third leg of the drive because she didn't want to give up the pressure and ended up needing a rather large flank. It hurt her enough to put her in 4th and end up 2nd overall.
Nan got to the pen today but couldn't get them in and ended up with a 60. Tam almost made it to the top, in fact it looked like he was going to do it but he might have been worried about the horse because he turned around and came back the way he went.
June didn't have as nice a run as yesterday with the sheep feeling so frisky but she still managed to win the class and win the overall!
Open started shortly after with Hemp running early. He was a baaaad boy today! He overan on his outrun and then didn't listen to a word I said about flanking, stopping or steadying. We missed the fetch panels but made both drive panels and got a decent shed and I kept him well out of the pen and got them in. He ended up with a 78.
Donnie was his usual unflappable self. He ran a very nice run, not quite as nice as yesterday and got a 93.
Maid was awesome today and won it!!! She tied with Thad Buckler and Nic for a 95 but beat him on the outwork, thereby insuring herself a place in the double lift along with Donnie.
Laddie was the worst today!!! I`m very angry with him. I decided to send him to the right today since he got lost on the left. I set him a little ahead of me to hopefully keep him tight and I put my hand on his collar and got him all jazzed up and ready to go before I sent him. It worked and he did a nice outrun but disappeared at the top. I called, I yelled, I pleaded but I saw no sign of him so I had to call the run, borrow a quad and make the ride of shame. Turned out, he was up there, next to the horse in position to bring the sheep but since he couldn't hear me for the wind, he wouldn`t make a move on his own. I was very unhappy to say the least and he`s lucky he got dinner tonight!
SO - I don`t have the double lift list - it`s supposed to be top 4 from yesterday and top 4 today plus 4 combined runs. Some of the dogs from yesterday qualified again today so we weren`t exactly sure how they were going to deal with that. I will put the list up tomorrow as soon as I get it.

Grant Armstrong flies our judge onto the trial field to start the morning.

Judge, Warren Mick, poses by his morning transportation.

June works to catch running sheep

Nan turns the post

Future winning trial dog, Jamie Van Ryan`s Glen.

Reba

Donnie

NURSERY 2 (15 dogs)
1. Scott Glen and June 79
2. Ian Zoerb and Zen 69
3. Wendy Schmaltz and Floss 65

OPEN 2 (54 dogs) - Scores were not finished on the board! Sorry!
1. Scott Glen and Maid 95
2. Thad Buckler and Nic 95
3. Scott Glen and Don 93
4. Peter Gonnet 92
5. Ian Zoerb and Sam 90

Bow River Classic Day One

2011-07-30T21:20:00.000-07:00

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

Soldier Hollow

2011-07-27T10:58:00.000-07:00

I love the last line in this video!

This Could Be Fun

2011-07-21T12:42:00.001-07:00

With the film festival success of movies like Sweetgrass and Buck it's not surprising that the documentary world would take a look at our sheepdog trials and realize that there may be a story there too. A new film is being produced about that very subject. It follows some of the top handlers on their road to The Soldier Hollow Classic. Haley Howard, Amanda Milliken and Faansie Basson are a few of the names they profile. It's not finished yet and it is hoped that it will be ready in the spring of 2012. So, if you run into the filmmakers around the trials this year, show your support (ultimately it promotes all of us), act natural, don't look at the camera and remember to wear vertical stripes. (the camera adds 10 pounds).

LINK

Bracken And The Ewe

2011-07-13T19:34:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd post these great pictures of Bracken from her and Scott's second run at the Wild Rose Classic. Thanks to Kristi Oikawa for taking them and letting me post them on my blog.

Stampede Pictures and Wild Rose Corrections

2011-07-12T22:38:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness someone thought to bring a camera to the Stampede 'cause it wasn't me! Sarah Novak to the rescue. She snapped some of Laddie's second run. I wish I had made it possible for her to photograph a closed pen picture but oh well!

Lad and I walk to the post (handler's circle)

Holding Lad and signaling for sheep (the dog is disqualified if they leave the ring before you send them)

Lad turning barrels while I whistle him on

Everything looks better on the Jumbo-tron

Turning the post

Attempting the pen

So close but not enough time

Good job anyway, Laddie!

I also forgot to mention how Bracken did at the Wild Rose Classic. She didn't place either day but her runs were worth mentioning because it showed how very direct and brave she is. There are some photos floating out there on the internet of her holding off an attacking ewe that illustrate my point and I will have to try to track them down.

I also messed up on the first day placings of the Wild Rose. I mentioned Wendy Schmaltz and Fly and that would have been a feat indeed since Fly is now retired but Gin has taken her place and the Fly I mentioned was actually Chris Jobe's.
Our next trial is in a few weeks - the Bow River Classic. It is actually the old EID trial put on by Joanne and Ian Zoerb but is now in a new and improved location and so therefore deserved a new and improved title.

Stampede Day Two

2011-07-11T22:10:00.000-07:00

Hemp didn't get a pen tonight and missed out on the finals by 0.12 of a second. Closer than I ever dreamed he would get so not so bad. Laddie was much better and although he drew an awful ewe who kept challenging him, he kept his patience and gave her her space and got her to the pen. Unfortunately, that didn't give us alot of time to get that pen so we timed out.
The good news is that Louanne Twa got both her dogs in, and Lisa got Hope in. Louanne got one of the few pens with Meg but it wasn't enough to win. In the end, Dale Montgomery won it again, and last year's champion and past reserve champion, Dave Claypool was reserve.

Calgary Stampede 2011 - Day One

2011-07-10T22:00:00.000-07:00

Ok, ok. I'm bad. No pictures today and I don't have the results but I can give you highlights. First off, Laddie was bad. He did alright around the course but at the pen he sliced a little and we had some trouble. Finally, one dashed out of the mouth, and he did a drive by and bumped it with his shoulder. He got called for a grip. On the other hand, miracles still happen and Hemp actually got a pen! His run was a little slow but I'll take it. A few other highlights: Dale Montgomery with his Zip dog are in the lead, then Diana Gauthier and Kit are in second. Louanne Twa and Meg are in third (yea!). A few others in the top ten in no particular order are Chris Jobe with both of her dogs and Wendy Schmaltz and Gin. Lisa Wright and Hope also penned.
So tomorrow we press on. Laddie will try for day money and Hemp will try to pen again. I'm not sure lightning will strike twice, but I can hope.
Apparently, they will be doing live streaming tomorrow of the runs:
http://ag.calgarystampede.com/saddledome-ustream-2011.html

Wild Rose Classic

2011-07-09T20:58:00.000-07:00

We are finished and towed out! I will have to post the Pro Novice/Nursery Results later in the week. Because it is a class within a class it's too hard to sort out as we drive late at night to the camping for the Stampede.
Maid got a buckle for overall open and Reba got a perpetual trophy for nursery and a belt buckle for Pro-novice.

A wild rose for the Wild Rose Classic

Scott and Maid on the shed

Camping leading down to the river (creek)

The creek

June on the drive away

Maid at the pen

Scott and Don on the field

Scott balancing all his runs

Open 1
1. Scott Glen and Don 92
2/3 (tie) JoAnn Zoerb and Soot / Scott Glen and Maid 87
4. Wendy Schmaltz and Fly 86
5. Jo Ann Zoerb and Bryn 80
6/7 (tie) Norm Sommer and Lexi / Wendy Schmaltz and Gin 78
8. Dale Montgomery and Ben 77
9. Chris Jobe and Jill 73
10. (tie) Tess Davidson and Dell / Vickie Close and Gael / Jennifer Glen and Lad 68

Open 2
1. Scott Glen and Maid 91
2. Wendy Schmaltz and Gin 88
3. Jimmy Walker and Jiggs 84
4. Scott Glen and Don 82
5/6 (tie) Ian Zoerb and Sam 81 / Dale Montgomery and Zip 81
7/8 Chris Jobe and Fly / Bev Sommer and Jock 72
9.Lee Lumb and Chica 68
10. (tie) Pam Boring and Mirk /Norm Sommer and Lexi 67

Over All Open: Scott Glen and Maid

Over All Pro Novice: Scott Glen and Reba

Over All Nursery: Scott Glen and Reba

Wild Rose Classic

2011-07-09T10:02:00.000-07:00

After the rather exciting weather start, the Wild Rose Classic settled into the business of putting on a trial. This is a beautiful location. The field is a gentle slope with some trees at the top to hide the set out and behind the camping area is a forest with a creek (after all the rain it's imitating a river) running through it. It was planned to have a camp fire last night down in the woods but with the rain and the trial going over on time, things didn't work out. We did have a free chili lunch yesterday which was enjoyable. Every new trial has it's bumps that are ironed out in the first year and this year the set out was a learning experience. Don Grant (owner of the property and host) and Randy Dye (host) have been working overtime to fix the problems and ultimately, the only thing affected was time. We didn't finish last night but finally stopped the runs at 10PM. After finishing up things this morning, we started the open back up again. I'm off to the Stampede as soon as we are finished today so I'm not sure how much of an update I will have time for. I will try to get the top 10 scores posted on the drive over. George Stambulic is our judge and is doing a good job sorting things out. The young dogs ran first yesterday. The nursery and pro novice (same as open ranch in the east) were run as a class within a class. June ran out well and landed behind her sheep but the set out flanked their dog and drove the sheep back on her. She had no more room for a lift and ended up trying to charge them but they like to divide up on the dog if they can so after she struggled a little bit, Scott went up to help her. He figured if he could help her bring the sheep down that would be good enough and he wouldn't take his rerun, but the set out dog ended up driving them over her and back to set out so with those bad experiences, Scott figured he better take the rerun and show her she could lift them just fine. She did. Well enough to win the nursery and place 3rd in the Pro-novice, which was won by Norm Close. Reba had an even better run. It was very pretty but there was a little hearing issue right in front of the drive away panels and she took a wrong flank and almost headed them. It lost her the win but she was second in the nursery and 4th in the Pro-Novice. Tam did a really nice outrun and it looked like he was going to get the sheep down the field but they dodged him and ran back up so Scott retired him. Nan, with her lack of training because of the broken foot she had earlier in the year, pulled up short and just wouldn't get across the top. Scott had to help her get over and then retired her.
The Open got going as fast as it could after that. Maid had sheep that tested her but she did a really nice job with them and ended up tied for second with Joanne Zoerb and her young dog Soot. Donnie did the nicest run of the day and he and Scott smoothly walked those sheep around for 92 and the win of the day.
Hemp wasn't bad. I let him come on too hard because he was on line and I was afraid if I stopped him that they would go off line. Scott said I've got to quit that so when I run him later today, I will try it. He ended up gripping off at the pen but I actually thought he'd done his nicest pen yet. Since it is our albatross, it was nice to see him try to do it right. The grip was minor, he might not even have totally made contact but I ran at him and gave him trouble for it anyway.
Lad had a funny thing happen on his outrun. He didn't run until this morning for his first run. I went to the post as the sheep were settled and noticed that for some reason, two set out people had chosen that moment to walk up the side of the field. It was going to take them some time to get up there (and time is something this trial is short on) so I told the judge that if they could get them to stop, I would send my dog anyway. I figured it would confuse Laddie but we are ok on points for the finals and it might be good training for him. The judge yelled at them, and they stopped. So knowing I was probably throwing my run, I sent him anyway. He went out on a really nice line and then spotted them and gave ground, figuring that they had some sheep hiding out with them. He slowed down but never stopped when he saw they didn't have anything and didn't need a whistle to get up to the top and bring his sheep. The rest of the run was ok but not in the money. A couple of hours later, he had to run his second run. Unfortunately, my previous bid to save time messed with him on his next outrun. When he didn't see those people that he'd seen on the first outrun, he bent out looking for them. He didn't find sheep there before, so he shouldn't have done it but like I said, I knew it would confuse him and I wasn't thinking that I was going to have to run him again so quickly. He didn't need any redirects until the top so I blew him over and then the rest of the run was nice but we had a wiley ewe at the pen and she wasn't going in. I retired rather than keep running them around because with that outrun, I needed a pen. I was ok with that - I chalked it up to training, until the guy who had screwed up the outrun this morning, told me that the dog was wide and he was perfectly within his rights to walk up the field during my outrun. I'm afraid that it's been a long trip and I did what I shouldn't have and told him why he was wrong in a volume that was perhaps not what you would call an "inside" voice. I just couldn't take the fact that I threw the run to save time and he thought what he did was fine. I didn't convince him he was wrong. I probably made an enemy and I'll never get him as a client but since he already thought he knew what he was doing, I guess he probably wasn't going to ask us for help training anyway.
Donnie had a good second run this morning but couldn't get a shed. He finally did but it knocked him down quite a bit in the points.
We are running to a standard right now so hopefully Hemp doesn't get the hook this afternoon!
I'm having trouble getting computer reception here so I can't post pictures right now but I'll try it tonight when we hit the road.
Scott will be going home tonight and I will be off to the Stampede with Lisa and Louanne. I need to hurry now and not miss his run with Maid. - whoops I missed it (he said she was really good ) but he said he had a lung-er so he's getting a rerun and I'll catch that one.

Alberta Wild Rose Classic

2011-07-07T18:35:00.000-07:00

Insanity! We arrived at the trial field at 5:30PM just as the first drops of rain were descending. We jumped out and with our rain gear on, we set up camp. The drops kept getting bigger and I quickly jumped in the back of the truck to feed the dogs and then ran for the camper just as the hail started to come down. It's been coming down for over an hour now and shows no sign of moving on because there is no wind blowing the clouds over us. We had one momentary break where we could venture out and see a fog coming off the camping field

Evil clouds and haze on the camping field during a break in the storm.

and get a look at the size of the giant stones that were pelting our camper.

Huge hail stones

The break was over all too soon before we all had to run back for shelter. Bob, Skid and I are still riding it out in the camper, hoping that the golf ball plus size hail stones don't break any of our vents. Scott ran to the truck and is standing in the middle under the roof, between the two rows of dog boxes so that the dogs have a reassuring presence. It's coming down even faster now .

Our Next Couple Of Trials

2011-06-25T08:38:00.000-07:00

video courtesy of Jobe Video Clips

Fetch Gate Nursery Trial - 2011

2011-06-13T07:42:00.000-07:00

Roger and Heather Millen of Cortland, New York have a nursery trial every year at the close of Scott's clinic. This year, I was unable to take pictures as I was doing some set out so I just have the qualifying scores. Both runs (last night and this morning) were cool and overcast keeping the farm broke katahdin sheep quite happy and allowing the young dogs to have the time to fix their mistakes. The field is a deceptively steep, grassy hill.
Scott got the first leg on his Nan dog who I have not profiled before because she had broken her foot back in March. Due to the little training she had, the healing time for her foot and our travels, we didn't think she'd be ready to run in the nurseries this year. I will do a bio and pictures on her later.

NURSERY ONE (14 dogs)
1. Scott Glen and Reba 85
2. Dave Fetterman and Duff 78
3. Michele Higgins and Rush 77

NURSERY TWO (13 dogs)
1. Scott Glen and Nan 85
2. Scott Glen and Reba 76
3. Dee Woessner and Ben 73

Dr. Ben's 2011 Nursery 2, Open Ranch

2011-05-30T12:20:00.000-07:00

Today is horribly hot and humid but it was a short day so all the dogs are now cooled down and relaxing in the shade. The second Nursery class ran today and an Open Ranch class. June and Reba got some schooling in their classes today but even with that, they managed to pull off some placings. June got a 69 in the Nursery class and took 3rd place but had some trouble in the Open Ranch with her outrun. She tends to take off from Scott's side before he sends her and he is trying to break her of it. In the process, he didn't have her set up exactly right for a good outrun and she needed some shouting out.
Tam needed some redirects on his outrun in the nursery but had a nice fetch and the start of a good drive but the terrain confused him a little and he ended up retiring.
Reba and Scott looked like they were going to win the Open Ranch class until Cy Peterson (Reba's owner) ran Kellee (who Scott trained over the winter) and they laid down a run good enough for an 82 and the win! Yea Cy and Kellee!
Today's shining star was Bracken! She needed a couple of redirects on her outrun but then had a sweet lift and marched them along on their drive. She got a 69 which was good enough for second place and her second leg for the nursery nationals!

NURSERY 2 (14 dogs)
1. Maureen Robinson and Hell Bender 73
2. Scott Glen and Bracken 69
3. Scott Glen and June 69
4. Marianna Schreeder and Cass 68
5. Vicky Wilcox and Moss 66

OPEN RANCH (22 dogs)
1. Cy Peterson and Kellee 82
2. Scott Glen and Reba 81
3. Marianna Schreeder and Cass 77
4. Christine Koval and Tess 74
5. Jan Thompson and Sara 73
6. Sally Glei and Sid 69
7. Lisa Roberts and Kat 68
8. Ginger Bruton and Sweep 67
9. Vicky Wilcox and Moss 66
10. Pam Hellen and Ellie 64

Dr. Ben's 2011 Day Two - Open

2011-05-29T18:59:00.001-07:00

We didn't have much cloud cover today. It was mild in the morning but got hot and heavy humidity within a few hours of starting. Our course today was a left hand outrun and a shed, pen, single. Hemp drew up 10th and it should have been a good time but despite his good outrun he was hard to hold today. He had a great shed but took one too many steps at the pen and we had one of those older wily ewes who just ran around the pen. I got them in the mouth several times but Hemp just couldn't take a one step flank. He had to take two or three steps. When it was obvious I wouldn't have time to finish, I retired.
Debbie Bailey and her two dogs Huck and Camp set the bar early with a score of 102. Scott wasn't keen on being left out of the top 10 yesterday so he and Don made sure that didn't happen again with a 105 to take the lead and keep it all day. It was a precise and controlled run. Don looked great, even in the heat.

Don on his winning run

Lad and I ran a few hours later. Today Laddie ran a clean outrun, if a little wide and took care of his top end himself. I didn't blow a whistle to him until he was just in front of the fetch panels where he had a little bobble. There was another little bobble on the way to the drive away panels because the hearing was off in that area but after that Lad moved the sheep very well. Good shed, easy pen and good single for a 103!
Maid had a great run with not much off until her drive away when her sheep got a little jumpy and a quick flank shot them up the field. Scott retired after that because with such high scores, that was already out of the money.
Christine Koval and Tweed continued their hot streak with a 102 and Bruce Fogt and Cam are really starting to blend as a team and got second place with a 104. This qualified Bruce and Christine for the double lift (2 day combined scores). Debbie's Huck also qualified and Camp's combined score tied with Christine's so he also made the double lift. Christine had some bad luck with a ambulance driving by on the near by road at the time of her turn back. Her dog never got the sheep to the post because he couldn't hear her but he turned back anyway and fetched the second set. Unfortunately, she was disqualified for never bringing the first set to the post. Debbie's Huck had a very nice drive but in the end, Bruce and Cam completed the course and won the double lift.

OPEN 2 (57 dogs)
1. Scott Glen and Don 105
2. Bruce Fogt and Cam 104
3. Jennifer Glen and Lad 103
4. Debbie Bailey and Camp 102
5. Debbie Bailey and Huck 102
6. Christine Koval and Bess 102
7. Allen Hickenbottom and Vic 102
8. Christine Koval and Tweed 101
9. Marianna Schreeder and Penny 100
10. Peggy Wilkinson and Liz 99

DOUBLE LIFT (4 dogs)
1. Bruce Fogt and Cam
2. Debbie Bailey and Huck
3. Debbie Bailey and Camp
4. Christine Koval and Tweed

Dr. Ben's 2011 Day One - Open

2011-05-28T14:41:00.000-07:00

The open started out nice with a cloud cover that made the first half of the day cool. The last half of the day was another story with heat and humidity.
Maid was not on her best behavior today. She needed a shout out on the outrun and then the top 1/4 of her fetch was erratic. She settled down by the time she got to her drive and made all her panels but had a missed attempt on her shed. She got her pen fairly easily.
Laddie ran next and it was just starting to warm up. He also had trouble with his outrun and got lost. He ran too wide then he started to come in early (it looked like he too wanted to bring me the pony in the next field). When he got to the top, his sheep had left a little early and he didn't immediately straighten it out.

Lad and I on the fetch

Finally he got on line and had a nice drive even though I tried very hard to screw up the crossdrive panels. Fortunately, Laddie saved it and then had a nice shed and penned with no help from me.

Lad holding his shed

He ended up with a 76.
Donnie ran when it got hot. His outrun was flawless but he took a little bit of time settling into the sheep. It wasn't a smooth run but the lines were good and he made all his panels. He had a difficult lead ewe and they were not easy to shed. It took a long time to get a gap but when he came in it was nice. After that, the sheep were done and wouldn't let hot, tired, Donnie catch them at the pen (many of the older ewes know just what to do to keep from being caught). Time was called before they completed the pen.
Our surprise good run of the day came from Hemp. Yes, you heard me right. Hemp. In the heat. I won't say he was perfect (but his outrun was), but we were better and with the sheep being broke katahdins, I wasn't scared to ask alot from him. On the third leg of the drive he started acting up by not stopping and flanking as well, which was probably due to getting a little hot but when he got to the shedding ring I could see he wasn't that bad and he could finish. He came in on his shed and then we went to the pen. I kept him well out of it - I let Lad do his pen by himself but with Hemp's history of slicing at the pen when he was hot, I did as much of it by myself as I could and closed the gate with an 87.
The best run of the day was Debbie Bailey's Huck(le Berry Hound) who laid down a smooth one for a 93.

OPEN 1 (57 dogs)
1. Debbie Bailey and Huck 93
2. Bruce Fogt and Cam 90
3. Christine Koval and Tweed 89
4. RC Tomlinson and Lou 88
5. Debbie Bailey and Camp 88
6. Jennifer Glen and Hemp 87
7. Cy Peterson and Emma 86
8. Mike Hanely and Moss 86
9. Scott Kelso and Jill 84
10. Allen Hickenbottom and Vic 84

North Carolina State Championship

2011-05-27T18:33:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since we have been to the North Carolina State Championship, otherwise known as Dr. Ben's, and we are glad to be back. When we were last here, Laddie was 9 weeks old and Donnie's father still lived in Ireland and Don wasn't even a twinkle in his eye.
Now we are back and hope to do as well as the last time (Scott won it with Pleat).
Today, Friday, was just nursery. It started out very warm but a nice cloud cover cooled everything down as evening approached. The sheep are katahdins and the field is a terraced hill that confuses most of the nursery dogs.

The field

Add to that a pasture on the right hand side with some donkeys and a pony that distracted some of them. Tam saw the pony and crossed over to try to bring it to us. After he got to his sheep, he ran one of his best runs but unfortunately, he also had a difficult pen with the sheep outrunning him around it.

Tam on the fetch

Bracken was outstanding, with the exception of her outrun. She was sent to the right, but she also tried to bring the pony in the neighboring pasture.

Scott trying to get Bracken to look up the field

When she realized she couldn't get to it, she followed the fence line all the way up and then came down the field to get her sheep. She couldn't see them because of the terraces, but Scott's whistles got her to them and then she walked them as nice as could be around the field.

Bracken's fetch

Even with her bad outrun, she got a 67 and a 7th place.
Reba also looked great today.

Reba on the fetch

She needed one shout out on her outrun and then she too walked them around with one bobble at the pen. She received a 77 and 3rd place.
Our star was June. She had a clean outrun to the left and a little craziness on her first couple flanks on the fetch but then settled down and, pretty as you please, moved those sheep and penned them right up.

June

She won it with an 81, and got her second nursery leg!
Tomorrow we run open and pray for less heat and humidity.

NURSERY 1 (16 dogs)
1. Scott Glen and June 81
2. Marianna Schreeder and Lass 79
3. Scott Glen and Reba 77
4. Chuck Dimit and Chad 75
5. Maureen Robinson and Hellbender 71
6. Nancy Schreeder and Nick 67
7. Scott Glen and Bracken 67

Bluegrass 2011 Double Lift

2011-05-23T14:18:00.000-07:00

I am assuming that everyone watched the live webcast of the double lift (if you missed it - you can still see it http://www.bluegrassclassicsdt.com/2011_webcast_88.html )
So you know by now that Alasdair MacRae and Star took the day, with Star's son, Don, and Scott in reserve (yet again a bridesmaid) and Tricia Macrae and Max not too far behind for 3rd place.
Scott would just like to say that he really thought he had a perfect line on his first fetch until he realized he was just a smidge too low to make the panel. On everything else, he and Donnie did very well and even got a perfect score on the international shed by all 3 judges.

Scott helps Don spot the second lift in the rain

Donnie picking up his first set of sheep

When the sun came out, Don had to struggle to line out the sheep on the drive

Don's son, Crue, came from Tennessee to root on his father

Don and Scott work on the international shed

The shed completed

PENNED!

Scott and Don receive the "Long Road Award" given to the highest placing handler who trained their dog from a puppy - donated by Vergil and AnneMarie Holland

Bluegrass Champions Alasdair MacRae and Star with Reserve Champions, Scott and Don

Bluegrass 2011 Day Four

2011-05-21T13:25:00.000-07:00

It was rough going on the final day of the nursery field. They have been switching two different flocks of sheep every day and this was the day of the running sheep. Tam, June and Bracken had terrible runs but you can't really blame them.

Tam making his fetch panels in the nursery

Along with Reba, their solution was to try to get wider to slow the sheep down. Not only did this not have any effect on these sheep, but the field is not wide enough for them to get off of them.

Scott getting ready to send Reba in her nursery run

Later in the day, things got better and June laid down a nice ranch run.
They had let us know that during the second round of the open they would be calling you off if there was no chance for you to either make the double lift, get USBCHA points or get day money. We have been running behind every day and they need to make up that time so they can be finished this evening for the double lift tomorrow. They didn't do too many call offs yesterday but today they are sending people away, right and left.
Maid ran very early in the morning and worked very hard for her run

Maid on her fetch early this morning

for some reason they didn't call her first shed and hold

Maid's first shed and hold

so they had to re shed before they could finish their pen.
Donnie ran in a terribly hot time.

Scott sends Donnie on his second open run

He didn't get a great draw either. They made him have to do alot of fast flanking while they constantly ran to try and escape. He made his fetch panels and had GREAT turn on the drive panels but then lost them way high off line. He got them back on around the fetch gates and the rest of the drive looked good. When they got to the shedding ring, he was exhausted and hot. Unfortunately, the sheep had no intentions of settling down. They continued to race around, getting out of the ring twice. Scott was finally able to take the first one on the head. They regathered and took their time at the pen. Many dogs have lost their dogs at the pen to the exhaust in the past couple of days. Donnie wouldn't have anymore left in him if he had to go get them again so Scott made sure they had a straight line and put them right in.

With relief, Scott shuts the pen gate on Donnie's open run

The final score was an 80. I would think that would be well in. There have been ALOT more 80s in this final round if you drew up at a cooler time (sometimes a nice cloud comes over for a little while and it really helps) but since he has a 90 from yesterday, he should be fine.
A couple of other notable runs today : Alasdair MacRae ran Star (Donnie's mother) and as usual he made it look easy and scored a 91. Lyle Lad was the only one to threaten to top that (at this moment we still have a few hours left) and after she had a beautiful run - only 4 points off to the pen- she lost them behind the pen and they ran to the exhaust with Shep hot on their heels. Shep grabbed one hard and they gave her a DQ.
Don't forget to keep checking the scores on the Bluegrass website and plan on watching the webcast live tomorrow!
http://www.bluegrassclassicsdt.com/

Bluegrass 2011 Day Two and Three

2011-05-20T15:10:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry that I didn't blog last night - I was a little sad and we decided to go out to my favorite Mexican restaurant (if you know me, you know I'll never pass up Mexican food because Alberta doesn't have any!).
Donnie ruled the day. He scored a 90 and won the open but it wasn't as easy as it sounds. He actually had a headstrong ewe who didn't want to play nice and he really had to work to keep her in line. He will run his second run on Saturday so we'll keep our fingers crossed that it's good enough to put him in the double lift - his mother, Star, handled by Alasdair MacRae, took second to Don in the first round.
Laddie had a decent run. Unfortunately, he thought he heard me whistle him down on the outrun and he stopped like a good boy. I don't know what it was but there are some birds around here that sound just like a down whistle. It lost him 6 points but he finished the outrun and had a nice lift after that. He brought them down nicely and had to put up with my wobbly lines. In the shedding ring, he was getting a little frustrated with the sheep and he tried to "bite" one (Lad doesn't really bite them unless they attack him but he's been known to chest bump one and get called off) but I yelled LIE DOWN and he just stopped dead in the middle of the sheep. It looked like a missed attempt and we lost alot of points. His second shed was fine and he got a nice pen with a 77.5.
I was worried about running Hemp again so Scott told me to run him with flow instead of line. I did and he did fine although we missed our panels but I thought things went well. He got his shed but he completely imploded at the pen. He had got himself hot in the head and just wouldn't quit slicing his flanks. He lost them behind the pen and then lost one up the field. I decided to retire. It made me disappointed because he has so much talent and he showed it on his really nice lift and fetch but couldn't keep it together by the pen. I've decided that he will be my number one work dog but number two trial dog. Laddie deserves the chance to shine more and I'll run him in Soldier Hollow instead.
June hasn't been doing as well on the nursery field and has been disappointing us. Reba had a bad run today because the sheep were really leaning on her in the nursery but she really had a nice one in the Ranch class.
Tam has been struggling with his fetch and drive but today in his nursery he did really well and got a 72! Scott was proud of him.
Bracken also got it together today and got her first leg in the nursery!
Laddie had a running sheep today and even though he finished it was very crazy.
Hemp and I ran better together today. I kept my whistles light and he responded positively. The sheep were very hard to lift and actually ran from the set out to try and run him over as he was walking toward them on the lift. It was some work getting down the field but he made the fetch panels and had a very good drive away and turn. His cross drive wasn't so bad but when he got across and in front of the panel he didn't hear my softer steady and he headed them twice so I didn't try to get the panel (especially since his two big grips have been on the turn). He was pretty hot when he got to the shedding ring (It was VERY hot and humid today). We had a missed attempt on the shed and timed out. It might not have seemed like a good run but I kept it easy and he responded and I was able to attempt a decent course - even if I did chicken out in the end.
I will get some pictures tomorrow - I promise!

Bluegrass 2011 Day

2011-05-18T17:06:00.000-07:00

The Bluegrass got off to an early soggy start. The temperature hovered around 51F all day. (tomorrow is supposed to heat up to 71 and overcast)
The star of the day for us has to be Cy Peterson's Reba,

Reba on the fetch

run by Scott who not only placed second in her nursery class but also got her second leg and is now qualified for the Nursery Nationals!

Reba and Scott turning the post

Reba needed a redirect and her first flank was difficult but after that, she figured it out and had a very nice run, getting all her panels and a good pen.
Louanne Twa's Bracken, run by Scott had a rough start to her run with a crossover and then she didn't listen very well. Scott decided to throw the run to make sure she'd settle down for her next run, and he went up the field to let her know he was unhappy.

Bracken in the nursery

In her next run in the Pro Novice, she had a completely different attitude and had a nice outrun but had a horrible ewe who wasn't going to stay with the others. While the first two tried to walk around the course, the other ewe just wanted to stand and eat and would dodge around Bracken to stop and get some grass. Bracken did a nice job of regrouping her but when she just wouldn't play nice after going around the post, Scott called her run. He didn't want her to get any ideas about gripping on the field.
Louanne Twa ran her littermate to Bracken, Craig, that Scott trained this winter.

Craig on the fetch in the nursery

They had a pretty good run for Craig's first trial ever and successfully closed the pen gate but didn't get a leg for the nationals yet.

Louanne and Craig at the pen

Scott also ran Diane Pagel's Tam. Tam crossed on his outrun but was game to try the rest of the course.

Tam running in the rain

Scott trained on him through the fetch and the drive and used up most of his time before walking off. In his afternoon run in the ProNovice, Tam was better and although he struggled with his lines on the fetch and drive, he had a nice outrun so we will hope for better with him tomorrow.
June did a nice job although a little speedy but I don't think she ended up getting a qualifying run. We'll keep our fingers crossed for tomorrow.
Maid's run in the open was just crazy. Not that it was Maid's fault. She was actually keeping her head and staying smooth but she just had an insane set that ran as fast as they could, anywhere they could. She did her best to corral them but didn't get a single panel. She had a dicey but good shed and a pretty easy pen. With all the 60 and 70 scores, if she could lay down a good one in the next round. She could still have a chance of making the double lift.
Tomorrow I run Lad and Hemp in their first round of open and Scott runs Don. In addition, the nursery dogs will have another go and so will the Pro Novice dogs.
They are late getting the scores up but they will have them as soon as they can on:
http://www.bluegrassclassicsdt.com/

Strang Ranch Trial - Pictures

2011-05-06T16:24:00.000-07:00

The view from the camping area

View of the trial field from the camping area - note ANOTHER handler walking up the field

June on the fetch

June trying to pen

Reba on the fetch

Reba on the third leg of the drive

Maid on the third leg of the drive

Maid on the shed

Strang Ranch Finals Benefit Trial - Day Two

2011-05-05T17:18:00.000-07:00

Today's weather was nicer (no wind) and the sheep became much more agreeable. The nursery dogs ran first this time and Reba really did a good job today. Scott gave her one redirect for insurance on the outrun and she had a good lift. She was a little pushy but took every flank and stop that Scott gave her. She made all her panels and did some nice work at the pen with sheep that didn't want to go in. She slowed it down and kept the pressure on them but also gave correct flanks so that she didn't slice and upset them. She was rewarded with a completed pen and a score of 69 which put her in 3rd place and it got her her first nursery leg!
June put out equally as good an effort as Reba but she didn't have a very good set of sheep so she had some difficulty lining them out on the drive away. In the end she didn't get her pen but she still had a score of 62 and a 5th place.
The open started in the afternoon and everyone agreed that the sheep were better but there was still 15 DQs or RTs out of 31 dogs. Laddie led off the class and a reversed drive helped him out today but he had one ewe that wanted to run and run, taking one buddy with her but leaving the other two to graze. On his cross drive he had to work pretty hard stopping the first ewe and keeping her from running up the hill but then going back to goose the last two to keep them moving. We lost them out of the ring once on the shed because of our fast footed friend but then Laddie came in nice on a shed where the sheep were running and did a nice hold (yea! that means our winter work paid off) We wouldn't have had a full point pen because Lad was slicing a little but he did get them in. However, they were very jumpy with people and when I started to close the gate they jumped a little - having been burned by sheep running back out, I opened it up a little bit and time ran out. Laddie got a score of 70.
Donnie shined today. His lift was a little rough but he settled into his usual walk and took the sheep around with great command. He had a good shed and finished with a pen. His final score was and 87, which won the class!
Hemp was next. I was shaking in my boots when I went to the post because I was afraid he would grip again. It was very important for both of us to get around without a grip. I decided to keep his cool, I was going to have to give up panels and good lines. He had a great outrun and lift with no points off. His fetch was a little out to my left but I settled him down and made him flank out to straighten it. When he turned the post, I made sure I had ahold of him. Instead of lying him down, I made him "take time". He actually didn't have too messy of a drive but when we made the first drive panels, he over flanked a little bit and I decided that instead of making him do a tight flank to correct it, I let the sheep drift back through the panels. We had a decent crossdrive but he was over flanking a little to hold the top end so I had to flank him back behind them a few times. We missed the crossdrive panels just a little short and I left it to save the run since turning on the third leg has been our albatross that seems to be when he has started to explode. I made sure he gave ground on the next flank and lifted them nice again to bring them to the shedding ring. We had a shed set up but one sheep backed out of it so we lossed three points to a missed attempt but when I finally called him in he did a nice hold. He was very good at the pen which has been a problem in the past and we would have had a good pen but, like Laddie, I just didn't get the gate shut in time, despite the fact that the sheep were in. His score was a horrible 58 but he and I both feel better about ourselves.
Maid started her run a little crazy. The wind had come up and unsettled her and the sheep. Her fetch was rough but by the time she was at the post it settled down. She took a wrong flank on the crossdrive which is very unlike her but several people had been having trouble in the same place and it's believed that the hearing was off. She was a little pushy in the shed but got it done and had a nice pen. She got a 78 and ended up in 3rd.

Open 2 (31 dogs)
1. Scott Glen and Don 87
2. Walt and Sonia Craig 81
3. Scott Glen and Maid 78
4. Dan Keeton and Newby 76
5. Dan Keeton and York 75
6. Lise Anderson and Mack 71
7. Jennifer Glen and Lad 70
8. Ron Enzeroth and Jake 69
9. Rene LaBree and Jaz 69
10. Ron Enzeroth and Dusty 63

Nursery 2 (15 dogs)
1. Bill Orr and Roy 80
2. Joni Swanke and Sage 71
3. Scott Glen and Reba 69
4. Sonia Craig and Jen 65
5. Scott Glen and June 62
6. Bill Orr and Sly 61
7. Bridgett Strang and Treat 58

Strang Ranch Finals Benefit Trial - Day One

2011-05-04T17:42:00.000-07:00

NOTE: The reception here is not enough for me to load pictures. I will add them later.
The Strang Ranch is absolutely beautiful, surrounded by snow capped mountains. We arrived last night and surveyed the trial field. This field is not the same as the one that will be used for the Nationals (but I got to look at that one and it's really nice) but is a nice little course with good sound, even when the wind was in your face. The sheep... well, the sheep ate the dogs for lunch. They are mostly yearling range sheep and were probably some of the most difficult I have ever dealt with, with the exception of last year's Soldier Hollow. Maid ran early and did a very nice job. Many many people had to leave the post or had drive's all over the place due to the lambs wanting to run back to set out. Maid had pretty nice lines though and made all her panels. She got her shed with only seconds to spare and got no pen. Despite that she got an 83 and won the day by quite a bit. There were others who got around but I believe there was only one pen and that was by the second place handler, Sonia Craig with her Walt dog.
Laddie had a nice lift and missed his fetch panel by only a little bit and his lines started well. After he rounded the post his lead ewe ran as fast as she could up the field. Lad got them stopped right in front of the drive panel and instead of taking my comebye to save the panel, he took a little away and pushed them to the other side. After that the sheep wanted nothing more than to run back to the set out and Lad stopped them a couple of times but then he just quit trying and let them get back so I called him off.
Don ran in the afternoon when the sheep were even worse (15 out of 31 dogs retired) He had a rough lift but started to get it straightened out when Scott flanked him. He didn't realize that the sheep were starting to split and Don ended up heading them which made them run back to set out so Scott retired.
Hemp. Oh, Hemp. We almost had it but it ended in a terrible disaster. He had a great outrun and nice lift. Just missed the fetch panels and made the drive away panels. The sheep were fighting him but he was doing so well and was running better than I had ever had him with these tricky sheep but after he missed the crossdrive panels, I attempted to get him back on line and he had had it with these sheep leaning on him. He grabbed one on the hock and would not let go and would not let go and would not let go. I ran up the field and he still held on. I was so surprised, because other than last year's Soldier Hollow, Hemp never gripped and when he did, he didn't hold on. This time he didn't let go until I was about 10 feet away from him and then he woke up and let go and ran away from me, realizing that he'd done wrong. I have to say, I'm afraid to run him now. I don't approve of grips and even though the sheep looked fine with no wounds or lameness, it was quite savage. I will be running him scared tomorrow and that isn't any way to run a dog.
We were hoping for more with the nursery dogs but this was their first time away from home and it was a little much for any dog. June and Reba did well for their first time out. Neither placed but almost. June had a crazy fetch with them running down the right side of the field, hoping to make a break for set out but once they got to Scott's feet they settled down and she had a nice drive but no pen. She was5th with a 61 but only 3 dogs qualified. Reba would have qualified if she hadn't seen something on the left that she was sure was sheep. She crossed on her outrun but once she got to the top she really did well and ended up with a 7th place and a 48 with no pen. Syn tried to come in early on her outrun and I had to shout her out. Unfortunately, this hurt her feelings and when the sheep broke to my right to the set out, she didn't put the afterburners on and lost them. Joni Swanke's Sage was heads and tails above the rest and ran an 84.

Open 1 (31 dogs)
1. Scott Glen and Maid 83
2.Sonia Craig and Walt 69
3.Tina La Platt and Tess 62
4. Rene LaBree and Jazz 51
5. Carol Lucero and Mesa 46
6. Ron Enzeroth and Dusty 45
7. Linda Whedbee and Liddy 45
8.Loreli Judd and Flash 43
9. Melinda Brenimer and Nell 42
10. Lise Anderson and Mack 41
Nursery 1 (14 dogs)

1. Joni Swanke and Sage 84
2. Bill Orr and Roy 71
3. Bill Orr and Sly 64
4. Sonia Craig and Jen 63
5. Scott Glen and June 61
6. Dan Keeton and 53
7. Scott Glen and Reba 48

More Info On The Bluegrass Webcast

2011-04-28T16:18:00.000-07:00

More from the Bluegrass website...

"As you know the 2011 Bluegrass Classic will be web cast live on May 22 by
5:00 Films and Media, the same production company who broadcast the 2010
Finals. Esteban Escobar, the president of 5:00 Films, has put together a
really fun informational video that gives all the details about how it's
going to work this year, both for the Bluegrass and for the 2011 Finals:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYbxjDxPck8

For even more information, visit the Bluegrass Classic web cast page:

http://www.bluegrassclassicsdt.com/2011_webcast_88.html "

Bluegrass Webcast!

2011-04-25T18:20:00.000-07:00

As per the Bluegrass website: http://www.bluegrassclassicsdt.com/
"The 2011 Bluegrass Classic Top 20 will be webcast live on May 22 and all 5 days of open competition will be recorded and available as a video-on-demand event and available on DVD later. More information will be available Wednesday, April 27^th"

Finals Blog

2011-04-05T19:54:00.001-07:00

The 2011 National Finals blog asked for our thoughts on preparing for the finals...
LINK

PR Syn

2011-03-29T17:25:00.000-07:00

PR Syn is my nursery dog for this year.

PR Syn

Syn was bred by Louanne Twa of Phantom Ridge Border Collies and is a littermate to her Bracken, who will be run by Scott in nursery classes this spring. Louanne's open trial winner, Isla, is her mother, a daughter of Bobby Dalziel's Spot.
Syn's father is Lisa Wright's Hope, who is a son of Alasdair MacRae's Sweep and goes back to the only dog to win both the ISDS International and the USBCHA National, Alasdair's Nan.
Syn, although a late starter compared to her littermates, has been an extremely biddable bitch to train. Off stock, I always say she has the personality of a golden retriever and is an easy dog to live with.

Syn in training at Alta-Pete Farm

Syn's first trial will be at the beginning of May at Lc Farms in Missouri.

My nursery dog, Syn

Heppner St. Patrick's Day Results

2011-03-26T18:48:00.000-07:00

Sat Open (48 dogs)
1. Scott Glen and Maid 85
2. Don Helsely and The Wiz 80
3. Dave Imas and Cap 77
4. Lynn Johnson and Anna 76
5. Scott Glen and Don 70
6. Patrick Shannahan and Riggs 68
7. Lynn Johnson and Jessie 68
8. Karen Stanley and Clare 66
9. Ray Crabtree and Ty 65
10. Noel Williams and Nap 64

Sun Open (50 dogs)
1. Patrick Shannahan and Riggs 90
2. Scott Glen and Maid 87
3. Don Helsely and Tag 84
4. Scott Glen and Don 82
5. Karen Stanley and Meg 71
6. Patrick Shannahan and Java 71
7. Elizabeth Baker and Soot 69
8. Lynn Johnson and Jessie 67
9. Noel Williams and Lad 67
10. Laura Vishoot and Brynn 63

St. Patrick's Day Trial

2011-03-20T17:16:00.000-07:00

Heppner, Oregon - There are a couple of things that have become routine at the Heppner trial, the weather will be cold (and sometimes snowy) and the sheep will be tough. The range sheep this year were again difficult and were not rewarding for the finesse dogs. They were not bad in the morning but they were getting hungry by the afternoon and just wanted to stop and graze. You could have line or flow but it was difficult, as day went on, to have both.
They have not had a nursery class for a couple of years so Scott went down with just Maid and Don. He uses this trial to see what his dogs need to work on before we start on our big trip back east. This year, he found out that Maid is doing very well, and Don needs to open up on his flanks more. On the first day, he ran Don 30th, which was well after the time the sheep were wanting to have some lunch and noon up. He tried for a nice crossdrive line but it shut the sheep down too much and he described it as "pushing rope". He had a missed attempt on his shed and no pen. After that, he was sure Maid would probably grip off. That was the old Maid though, and the new Maid came to this trial. She moved them very well and ended up winning the day! Don ended up in 5th.
On Sunday, Scott drew up in much the same place. Don had the nicest run of the first half of the day with an 82 but at the end of the day, Patrick Shannahan and Riggs laid down a 90. Scott and Maid were challenging that score until Scott had a missed attempt with her on the shed. She regathered instead of coming in (I not-so affectionately refer to this as " pulling a Laddie"). They got their pen and their final score was an 87, good enough for second place and the overall win.
I apologize for not having all the people/scores and dogs in the top 10 each day. I wring all the information I can out of Scott and this was all I got this time!

OPEN 1
1. Scott Glen and Maid
2. Don Helsely and Wizard
3. Dave Imas and Cap
4. Lynn Johnson and Anna(?)
5.Scott Glen and Don

OPEN 2
1.Patrick Shannahan and Riggs 90
2. Scott Glen and Maid 87
3. Don Helsley and Tag 86
4. Scott Glen and Don 82
5. Karen Stanley and ?

Overall Winner - Scott Glen and Maid

Alta-Pete June

2011-03-09T14:19:00.000-08:00

Scott's fourth nursery dog is Alta-Pete June.

Our Alta-Pete June

June is owned by us and is a daughter of Scott's Don from his first litter.

June working at the farm.

Don is a son of Eileen Steinman's Star who, handled by Alasdair MacRae, is a two time National Champion. Don himself was the Canadian and USBCHA National Nursery Champion in 2009.

June's sire, Scott's Don

Last year, Don was the reserve Champion at the Kentucky Bluegrass Classic and made the double lift at the National Finals.
Don was bred to XE Megan who is a daughter of Alta-Pete Megan,

XE Megan, June's mother

a full sister to Scott's Pleat(2004 USBCHA National Champion) and Tala (2004 USBCHA Reserve National Champion). XE Megan is also a littermate to my Hemp.
June's first trial will be in Missouri in May.

June

Tam

2011-03-03T12:57:00.001-08:00

Scott's third nursery dog for this year is Tam.

Diane Pagel's Tam

Tam is owned by Diane Pagel of Delta Bluez Stockdogs and is a grandson of Johnny Wilson's well known bitch, Maid. He also goes back to Bobby Henderson's Sweep.
Diane started gathers with Tam over the summer and Scott picked up his training in the Fall.

Tam working at Alta-Pete Farm

Tam had no trouble adjusting to the Canadian winters and took right to working with Scott. His first trial will be at the LC Farm's trial in Missouri May 6,7, & 8.

Tam

PR Bracken

2011-02-22T12:17:00.000-08:00

Scott's second nursery dog for this year is PR Bracken.

Louanne Twa's PR Bracken

Bracken is owned by Louanne Twa of Phantom Ridge Border Collies in High River Alberta and is out of her blue merle bitch, Corriedhu Isla. Isla is a import from Scotland and is a daughter of Bobby Dalziel's Spot.

Bracken's Dam, Louanne Twa's Corriedhu Isla

Bracken's sire is Alba Hope owned by Lisa Wright of Athabasca, Alberta. Hope was bred by Alasdair MacRae and is a grandson of his USBCHA National Champion, and International Champion, Nan and USBCHA National Champion, Ben.

Lisa Wright's Hope- father of Bracken

Training Bracken has been kind of a family affair for Scott who is also training her litter brother, Craig for Louanne. I am also training another littermate, Syn for nursery (who will be profiled later). Craig will be returning to Louanne in March and she will be getting him ready to run in the spring nursery trials.

Bracken moving heavy sheep in a snow storm in Alberta

Scott will be running Bracken until around July, and then the plan is for her to return to Louanne (hopefully qualified for the Nationals) for her to team up with and be ready for the Finals in Colorado.

PR Bracken

Louanne with Craig, Scott with Bracken, and I with Syn will be meeting up at the Bluegrass and plan on having a throw down on the nursery field. May the best dog win!

Reba

2011-02-13T13:22:00.000-08:00

The first of Scott's nursery dogs for the 2011 trial year is Reba.

Cy Peterson's Reba

Reba is a 2 year old red tri bitch owned by Cy Peterson of Georgia. She comes from a proven line of trial dogs. Her mother is the two time USBCHA National Champion (and reserve Champion), Star, owned by Eileen Steinman and handled by Alasdair MacRae.

Eileen Steinman's Star handled by Alasdair MacRae at the 2010 Plumb Lucky Trial.

Star was bred to Eileen's popular stud, Don, who was an Irish import brought over and handled by Alasdair. The breeding has been done 4 times and Reba is out of the third cross. The first cross had a couple of standouts in Alasdair's Rex and Ron Burkey's Sky and the second cross had Scott's Don who has been well chronicled in this blog.

Reba in training at Alta-Pete Farm over this winter

We are hoping that Reba will be the standout in the third litter. Scott is enjoying training her but credits Cy for putting a good start on her. She is definitely a strong candidate to being one of the two nursery dogs that Scott will pick to run at the National finals but that is still a long way away.

Reba fetching sheep at Alta-Pete Farm

Reba's first trial will be in Missourri at Larry Moore's Lc Farm's Stockdog Challenge May 6-8, 2011.

Soldier Hollow

2011-02-08T21:31:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I am putting our 2011 entries in the mail. Yes, thank goodness, we were both invited again. Scott's invite is not a surprise but I am very glad they decided I could run a dog too. I have bombed out every year I have run there so I'm never sure if I'll be allowed back again. There are a few discretionary invites every year and they usually are extended to spouses. Last year, one of those courtesy invites, Jean Gellings, won the whole kit and kaboodle. I need to do that! It's a really fun trial to compete in, and go to. I would go to watch even if I didn't get invited (SHHH! but don't tell them that or maybe it will happen!). Truly, this is a sheep dog trial like you've never seen. It's so much more than a trial, it's an event and I encourage everyone to go and experience it.
Scott will, of course, be running Maid and Don and I think I'll be running Hemp again. It's a toss up for me, but Hemp, at least, has never lost the sheep at the top of the trial's hill. (knock on some serious wood)
This year they are giving back to the border collie community by offering a few "extras". Their new WEBSITE is going to offer a "Border Collie Resource" tab that will include subcategories to promote, blogs, websites and Twitter address and sheepdog related enterprises.
They are also adding a "Sheepdog TRIAL Resource" tab where a trial organizer can get information about how Soldier Hollow became so successful (over 25,000 visitors came last year) and use the tips to improve their own trials. In addition, they are giving complementary passes to any trial organizer and a guest to come to the Classic, if you contact them ahead of time.
Last year, they introduced the handler VIP room with water, sodas and snacks for the handlers. It also had a handy outside deck with shaded tables and chairs that became a popular gathering place for the competitors. This year they will be making computers available there for the handlers, to email, blog or Tweet from.
Speaking of Tweeting, taking a page from the super successful Tweets from the National Finals, Soldier Hollow has added a Tweet button on their home page and they will be posting live updates after each run.
So if you are making the big trip to Meeker or the Finals, come a little early and visit the Soldier Hollow Classic. It's an amazing show.

And It Begins Again...

2011-01-29T14:05:00.000-08:00

It's a new year, and even though the winter still has a few more months, we are looking forward to the warmer weather and the trial season it brings with it. Scott will start the season this March when he again attends the St. Patrick's day trial at Heppner, Oregon.
On our spring trip, we have lost alot of our regular trials so we are changing our routine just a little bit. Plumb Lucky, Shaker Village and the Hanley's trials have all fallen by the wayside (and we will miss them terribly) so we are going to try Larry Moore's trial in Missouri and make sure we get down to North Carolina to attend Dr. Ben Ousley's trial. We have been absent from that trial for too many years and we are really glad we were able to fit it back into our spring trip. Of course, we will again be attending the Kentucky Bluegrass and when we get home in July we will be rushing back to try out a new trial in Alberta that Don Grant is putting on. We hear he has a great and challenging field.
I am really glad that Ian and Joanne Zoerb have decided to move their trial up to the last weekend in July (making it a qualifier for this year's finals) and along with a new name, Bow River Sheepdog Classic, the former EID trial has also relocated to a new field.
August should also keep us busy with Shaunavon taking the old EID weekend and the Canadian Championships following a week later. We are still waiting to hear if we are invited again to Soldier Hollow and we haven't yet decided if we are going to go to Meeker. Then of course, it is the National Finals, this year in Colorado, that is the final show for the year.
Scott's primary dog again this year will be Don who will be entering his sophomore year in Open. His first year made us very proud with several wins and a reserve champion placement at the Kentucky Bluegrass.

Don moves sheep in the double lift at the 2010 Kentucky Bluegrass Classic.

Don continued to please at the national finals, placing high in both the preliminary round and the semi finals. We had some criticism of him in the double lift but he actually performed quite well, we were just being picky. Scott blames himself for the uncompleted International shed and eventual grip off. This winter has been time for Donnie to continue to grow and gain experience to be ready for the next year of trials.
Towards the end of the last trial year, Scott's second open dog, Maid, really started to come into her own. Scott had changed some of his training with her and it seemed to have gotten through. She was finally calming down and taking responsibility for herself. In the past, she had a short temper and was quick to grip. By the end of the year, she had gained confidence in herself and was much more trustworthy. In the finals, she had a little bad luck but even with that, she managed to place 5th in the double lift and kept her cool despite a few challenges.

Maid choosing not to grip a testy ewe at the 2010 National Finals

This winter, we were hoping to breed Maid to Don again (her last litter is a year old now and we are happy with the way they are coming along) but she didn't oblige us with coming into heat early enough. We can't have the pups too young when we hit the road so instead, she and Scott are trying to build on the work they had started last year.
My plans this year are to improve my attitude. I had a very bad year with some mistakes and bad luck and I let my dogs down by letting it affect every trial. Both dogs actually did well at the Bluegrass placing in the top 40's or higher (out of 143 dogs) each time they went to the post, and Hemp placed 26th overall, just a few placings out of the double lift. I am hoping to not let the pressure of trying to get enough points to go to the finals affect me and see if that helps improve my nerves and attitude towards my runs. Despite my troubles, Hemp did manage to get into one double lift last year at the Gelling's trial but once we were there, his bad at-hand work made it difficult to do well in the International shed.

Hemp stopping a collared ewe in the International shed at the Gellings trial in 2010 (photo by Lisa Wright)

I really started to feel like I could "see" how to do it and we have made big improvements in his close up work this winter. Scott has also helped us alot and has made some changes in our style, namely removing the stop as an option on our drive and fetch. This is forcing Hemp and I to find much needed pace. It's a different experience running a dog without a stop!
Laddie is Laddie. He has his short comings but he wants nothing more than to have you tell him what you want on the trial field so he can do it. Lad's biggest drawback last year was his shed. It cost him a placement in the first round of the Bluegrass and gave me such a complex that it was a downward spiral from there. By the end of the summer he had no shed at all. We built it back up by the time we went to the finals but some bad handling on my part eliminated the need to have a shed. SO, this winter, we have continued to work on his shed and we are keeping it light and trying to instill enough confidence in him to hold some of the harder ewes.

Lad in training over the winter (photo by Sarah Novak)

In addition, he has improved his other big weakness, his outrun, without any help from me. I never thought I'd see the day that Lad would finish an outrun when he had a strong draw but he has taken it on himself to fix his problem.
We are excited about the new faces in the dog kennel. Scott will be running Don's first born this year, June, who is owned by us, is by Don and out of Meg, a littermate to my Hemp. Scott will also be running Reba, a little red tri bitch owned by Cy Peterson of Georgia. Reba is bred the same way as Don but out of a different litter and will be making her debut in Nursery at the Misourri trial. Another bitch he will be running is owned by Louanne Twa from Alberta. Her Bracken is a littermate to my nursery dog, Syn. Louanne herself will be running another littermate, Craig, and we are looking forward to competing with all three of of them in the Bluegrass this year. The litter is out of Louanne's bitch, Isla and Lisa Wright's Hope. The final nursery dog that Scott will be running this year is a young male named Tam, owned by Diane Pagel.
In the next few weeks I will start to profile the youngsters and tell you a little bit about their breeding. For now, it's back out to the training field!

Shaunavon Sheepdog Classic 2011

2011-01-17T09:45:00.000-08:00

Here's an alternative trial for all of you who aren't going to Lacamas this year:
Shaunavon is the little trial that could. It's been building every year and is turning into a nice quality trial.

Scott and Donnie won it last year and came home with lots and lots of goodies (dog food, all kinds of dog treats and products) and a beautiful belt buckle and Peter Gonnett and Taff won it in the inaugural year, 2009.
This year the trial is going to be one week before the Canadian Championships which are being held in BC. Both trials are sharing a judge and they are bringing over the many times South African Champion, Faansie Basson.
Good fun!

VIDEO

Shaunavon (Shaunavon, SK) : August 19-22, 2011
Canadian Championships (Cranbrook, BC) : August 25-28

Eye On The Prize

2010-12-30T15:17:00.000-08:00

It's hard to think about the 2011 National Finals while we are hunkered down at home, in the snow, but winter is when we should be thinking about it the most. Alta-Pete Stockdogs doesn't trial at all in the winter. Instead, we spend the time training the dogs, fixing the problems we saw in the open dogs (many, many in mine!) and preparing the up and coming nursery pups for their debut in the Spring.
The 2011 USBCHA National Finals is going to be held in Carbondale, Colorado this year. It's going to be absolutely beautiful scenery.
VIDEO

National Finals '10 - Double Lift

2010-09-26T18:24:00.001-07:00

It's in the history books now. Patrick Shannahan and Riggs are the new National Champions and Tommy Wilson and Sly are reserve. Congratulations to them both! Patrick and Tommy are gracious winners and Alasdair was very classy as he stepped down from his past domination of the finals. (he and Scott plan to fight it out for the win next year)
I'm sure everyone watched the webcast so there is no need to go into details about Scott's runs but I can add a little information from behind the scenes. Maid's rerun was given because she was unable to turn back without a crossover due to the fact that the horses setting the first lot of sheep stayed out to watch the run. When she looked behind her that was all she saw. The judges decided to give her a rerun but they elected to keep her crossover. It was an odd decision but Scott said they might not have given him a rerun at all so he was happy enough. Maid showed she could have done it perfectly and was one of only two dogs to do a turn back without crossing over (the only other dog was Spot) so it was unfortunate that she wasn't given the credit for it. We are just happy that the new way Scott has been training Maid is keeping her head cool and she still didn't grip today.
The other little tidbit is that one of the judges told Scott that until Donnie's grip (Scott said he got a little desperate when the sheep started to rejoin) he was in third place. Not a bad run for a dog who was only 3 yrs old this past January. Scott was very happy with Don. It was the most difficult trial he had ever been at and he showed great command of his sheep.
If you were watching the webcast at home and you noticed in the first few runs they didn't follow the dog on the turnback but followed the sheep, you can thank my buddy Louanne for getting that fixed. She told me on the phone during the runs that they weren't following the dog so I relayed her information to the camera man who thanked her for her direction and changed his camera angle for the rest of the trial.
Wendy Schmaltz and Gin won the overall stockdog of the year award for being the highest placing dog at the cattle dog nationals (7th) and at the sheepdog nationals (4th). She said she couldn't be happier. She's a celebrity now after her heart stopping run and it felt good to scream with everyone else when she shut the pen gate.
Debbie Bailey and her Huck (who showed tons of heart when you realize he was running with a torn tendon in his rear leg and still finished the course) won rookie of the year. Congrats!

Some pictures from today...

Maid and Scott wait for sheep

Maid pushes on a challenging ewe at the pen

She could have gripped but she didn't!

Half time procession - Cy Peterson from Georgia holds the Canadian flag

My favorite dog and handler team (other than Scott and his dogs) : Lori Cunningham and 2 year old Matt

Donnie studying the runs before his

Donnie stops a collared ewe in the shed

Wendy Schmaltz and Gin accept the All Around Stockdog of the Year award

The top 17 handlers and their dogs with the judges

National Finals '10 - Semi Finals

2010-09-25T17:40:00.000-07:00

I am sooo tired so forgive me if this blog is heavy on pictures instead of words. We had some young dogs that felt the need to be walked 4 times last night. Yes 4 times. Then Donnie, who is sleeping in the camper with Maid and us because he has earned it, told me he needed to go out. I thought he had drank too much water and had to potty but no. He wanted to visit the girls we have in the truck who are in heat. I fell for that ruse twice. I'm a slow learner. Just ask Laddie. Anyway, Don and Maid were wonderful today and both got in the double lift, along with our fellow Albertan, Wendy Schmaltz and my favorite dog, Lori Cunningham's Matt and his father, Tom Forrester's Pete. I am happy for all of them.
It was tough running today because the sheep didn't just run, they made the dogs prove they could be moved around the drive. I'm sure everyone saw the webcast. You should have. If you didn't, go to the link on the side of this blog and watch it. You won't be disappointed.
Don has drawn up 17th tomorrow. A good slot. The sheep have been sweet at the end of the day but it will be cooler all day tomorrow. At least they will know what they have to do to get it done. Maid is 4th. Not a bad draw at all. Tommy Wilson has the danger spot of 2nd place. He's going to be hard to beat with that draw. Alasdair is 15th. He's amazing no matter where he draws.
I'm going to bed and get some sleep and hope that Scott, Maid and Don get a good night's sleep
as well.
Some pictures from Don's run:

Don schools a wayward ewe on the art of flocking

Donnie with a good crossdrive line

Scott and Don get the pen

Donnie being filmed for the webcast

Don and Scott do a shed

Maid's pictures:

Maid making the fetch panels

Scott helps Maid take the sheep around the post

Maid on the crossdrive

Maid taking the sheep through the ditch on the crossdrive

Scott calling Maid in on an exciting shed

National Finals '10- Day Four Open

2010-09-24T15:10:00.000-07:00

The heat was almost unbearable today. There were alot of runs that retired early because of it. There are some grumblings that the dates for the nationals should be pushed back to October. Fortunately, they are expecting only 85 tomorrow and a nice 71 for the double lift.
So Scott and Maid and Don made it into the semis tomorrow. Alberta girl, Wendy Schmaltz did too with her bitch, Gin (a granddaughter of Scott's Dan - shameless plug). I reminded Wendy that they will be broadcasting her on the live webcast and that the camera adds 10 pounds so remember to wear something slimming.
My favorite run of the whole trial? Tom Forrester's Pete. They ran today and had the best fetch and what would have been the best drive except that Tom apparently didn't know where the line was on the crossdrive because he marched them brilliantly across but just low the whole way. He made all his panels though and had a wonderful finish. Even with the crossdrive being off, he ended up 5th place overall. I don't think it's a coincidence that Lori Cunningham's Matt is a son of his.
The most shocking run and the one I was most wanting to see was Alasdair MacRae and Star. I love watching Star and comparing Donnie to her. I hope for him to have as great a career as she has had. Unfortunately, today Star was not at her best and took off wide on her outrun. Real wide. So wide that when she got to the three strand barbed wire in the distance, she went through it and kept running. Alasdair tried to get her to come back through but she only came in a little and continued running on the outside of the fence. Finally, Alasdair called her back and walked off (or was DQ'd I'm not sure which). When she reached his side, the audience clapped for her and Alasdair gave her a pat and left the field. In her defence, there was something odd going on for the last few runs on the outrun. Nothing I could see but Vickie Kidd, Jack Knox and Alasdair's dogs all ran wide. Maybe the light was funny.
I have not heard what the running order will be for tomorrow yet. Scott is out helping to set the course again. Don't forget to watch the webcast!

National Finals '10 - Day Three Open

2010-09-23T15:34:00.000-07:00

Hot Hot Hot! (and I don't mean my looks- just kidding) Today reached 95 before it started cooling off in the late afternoon. When Maid and Scott drew up it was about at it's peak. Just before their run the sheep were at their worst. Anne Mock had a set that had two stop in the shade of the tree and the other two kept racing down the fetch line. She couldn't get her dog around the runners to take them back up the field and ended up having to retire. Alan Mills and Sis, who was a nursery dog last year that took third in the national finals open double lift in Oregon, had a set of two and two unless they were 5 singles by themselves. He finally had to retire at the drive panels. So we were hoping that when they took a short break to take more sheep to the top that they would improve. We didn't realize it at the time but there wasn't an improvement.

Maid and Scott wait for the sheep to be set

Scott thought Maid was just being on the muscle and stopping late on the fetch and drive away. On the crossdrive she opened up at bit, but what we found out later from the set out people was that she had a very bad single ewe that they had a difficult time setting. When we went back and reviewed the pictures I took, it was much more obvious that there was a ewe that continuously was trying to run off but we didn't notice it so much during the run. Points for Maid! She had a slightly tight outrun and Scott whistled her once but she didn't really take it. However, she bent when she saw them so no harm done. She had a nice lift and a straight enough fetch although Scott was fighting her alot.

Just after Maid's lift

Good turn around the post and a good line, although, not an easy one, to the panels. After the panels they tried to get past her to the exhaust on the left of the field but Maid did some good work getting them broke and back on the crossdrive.

Maid struggles to control the sheep at the drive away turn

There was some line struggling on the crossdrive and they almost missed the panels on the high side but they got it done and took a good shed.

Maid gets her grumpy hot sheep set up for the shed

The sheep are penning very easily so that was not an issue,

Maid and Scott pen the sheep

but like Don, after they took the sheep out, she figured she was done and she was hot so she went to the water.

Maid cools off in the tub before her single but keeps an eye on the sheep

The sheep were standing nicely, so Scott let her have a minute in there to cool down since it had been such hard work and it was so hot. When Scott called her back she came right to the ring and did her single.

Maid and Scott take the single

She ended up with a 163 which currently puts her in 21st place with the top 40 to go to the semis. It looks like she should make it in but tomorrow is the last qualifying day.
There were some more good runs today. Robin French had a another very good run, this time with Zac and Vergil Holland had a great one with Dally. I have to brag a little bit on Dally - Scott trained her many years ago to the pro-novice/open ranch level long before Vergil owned her. Vergil has had her several years and has made many improvements and handled her wonderfully today but I don't think he'll mind us riding on his coat tails a little bit. The other great run that made us proud was Marianna Schreeder and Penny. Penny is out of Scott's Pleat and Fly and he trained her and trialed her before selling her to Marianna. They are a perfect match and she actually runs better for Marianna than she did for Scott. Their run today made us so proud.
Speaking of proud, I couldn't be more proud of Lori Cunningham and Matt unless it was me and Lad. I've always said that Matt is Laddie's brother from another mother because, although he is better than Lad, he reminds me very much of him. I have to point out that you heard it here first when I declared in May of 2009 that Matt was going to be a dog to watch. He ran nursery here at these finals but like me, Lori said she had a handler error (in the same place no less!) and they didn't do very well. The open was another story. Lori stated ahead of time that she wouldn't make that mistake again and she didn't. I just about busted at the seams with pride when they posted his score of 181 today in the open, putting him currently in 7th place!
One more day of hot and one more day of qualifying. Scott is going to run over to Dan King's tomorrow where he has received an invitation to work the dogs again to prepare them for sat. (thanks Dan and Sylvia!) and I will stay behind and enjoy the trial- oh, yeah, and continue to sweat!

National Finals ' 10 - Day Two Open

2010-09-22T17:40:00.000-07:00

Poor Laddie. He is saddled with an incompetent owner. He doesn't seem to mind but it is his lot in life. In my defence, it was 98 degrees when we ran today. Laddie was fine. I had hosed him down several times leading up to his run and he ate 4 handfuls of ice cubes right before we went on which must have gone a long way to lowering his core body temp. Anyway, when he left the post, he was not panting. My mind is the one thing that wasn't working. There were a few DQs around my run and we were talking about it and I have to think that the main mistake I made was probably because I just didn't have my mind fully on the run. When it's that hot, you get worried about the dog and don't pay as close attention to details as you should. It's something you can't afford when you are competing against this deep of talent with these kind of tricky sheep. Well, I think that was my problem anyway.
I sent Lad to the left and he did his customary pull up short. It was a little too short but I stopped him and since the pull to the left was so hard, the sheep came back on line. We held the line for a little while but then got off just enough to miss the fetch panels and then got them back on line with a nice turn around the post. We had a great drive line going and there was no way we were going to miss the panels except for my misjudgement. I don't know why I thought I would make the only tight turn at those panels when better runs had failed. I figured I'd hang on to a few points and dazzle them all while I was at it. The only problem was that I wasn't through the panels when I made the turn. This caused us to have to catch the sheep again and do some bobbling to try and at least pass the plane. Lad and the sheep got confused and when they split, Lad thought about it and figured the best way to put them back together was to circle the last one and put them back. I didn't have time to react to this before he made that decision but alot of points were gone there. We settled it down and made the panel and even made a halfway decent turn and got past the first 1/4 of the crossdrive where most dogs have problems. It was a wobbly crossdrive but not far off the line. As we went into the ditch the sheep started leaning on Lad (probably because we had lost our athority with them with the crazy drive turn) and pushing him farther down the field. There is a hill there and I couldn't see what he was doing but he was no longer anywhere near the crossdrive panels and had yet to pass the plane. I could tell it wasn't getting any better or the sheep would be back in my line of sight. At this point we had lost too many points to get to the semis and there was no reason to make Lad continue to work this hard in that hot of weather. I called him off and told him to go get in the water. He was doing fine and could have finished the course but there was no point with that many points gone.
The sheep go in varying degrees of difficulty. Our time was about the worst but in the late afternoon there were some really good runs as the sheep became more agreeable. Ron Enzeroth had a spectacular run and Debbie Bailey and Huck would have surged to a huge lead but Huck was thinking about eating his single so Debbie had some trouble calling him in and keeping him from gripping. She ended up not finishing, but the run was so good, she'll still be in there for Sat.
Tomorrow, Scott runs Maid at about the same time I ran today and it's supposed to be very hot again. I'm hoping they will do better than I did. As for Laddie and I, we will relax and enjoy ourselves and try to stay cool. Fortunately, it is supposed to start cooling down on Saturday and I will keep my fingers crossed for Donnie's run!

National Finals '10- Day One Open

2010-09-21T18:23:00.000-07:00

We are very proud of Donnie! He worked very hard for his run today and ended the day in third place. Robin French and her nursery dog, Bill, a son of Joanie Swanke's Lew won the day with a stellar run and Carla King was second. Alasdair and Nap also worked hard for their run and should have no trouble advancing to the semis along with Tricia MacRae who had a great run but didn't get her single. Even without that her run will advance, I'm sure.
Don was sent to the left on his outrun and overran slightly at the top

Scott prepares to send Don on his outrun

(there is a plateau there where the dogs and sheep don't see each other) it caused no damage and he had a nice lift but as in so many other runs, the sheep tore off down the left side of the field. Donnie got them stopped before the fetch panels and then fought them to the line and through the fetch panels. It was a difficult turn around the post and the drive line was good but just as hard as it was for all the dogs. They had a nice turn and a very good crossdrive line.

Don turns the sheep at the drive away panel

At the end of the line, there is a ditch that the sheep have to go through and they came out on the high side so Donnie and Scott had to do some maneuvering to get through the panels.

Don takes the sheep into the ditch on the crossdrive

They had a nice shed (you must take the one collared ewe with one of any of the other collared ewes) and had to work for the pen

Don catches a belligerent ewe at the pen

(they got much easier to pen as the day went on and went as far as running into the pen for some handlers, like Patrick Shannahan). After the pen they went back to the ring and shed off one uncollared ewe and it was done.

Scott and Don take a single

Both Scott and Donnie were hot and happy when it was over.
Tomorrow Lad and I are due up around 2PM. Unfortunately, they are expecting 93 degree heat with a chance of showers which equals humidity. I will play it by ear as to what I will do. I won't hesitate to quit my run early if the sheep continue to be difficult and it gets too hot. I am just excited that Don has done well enough to move on to the semis and Laddie and I will take what comes.

National Finals '10 - Nursery Finals

2010-09-20T17:28:00.000-07:00

The final day of the nursery was a bit of a cliff hanger. The leader of the first day was Alasdair MacRae and his second run was at the very end of the final round. Earlier in the day Anne Mock from California had laid down her second consistently good run. She led the day even when the first day's second place winner, Vergil Holland also ran another good round. Vergil and Scott had a great run especially since the sheep were getting more and more tricky but he couldn't beat Anne. It looked like Anne and Vergil would probably take the day until Alasdair and Coll. Coll had a fetch that was off line and a few splits but by the time they reached the post, it had all lined out and the lines were impeccable after that with a clean pen. We all waited on the edge of our seats to see how it ended up and when it was posted, Alasdair, once again, was the nursery champion with Anne the reserve and Vergil in third. Congratulations to them all!
Kuro ran in the late afternoon. Scott sent him to the right which is his better side but he ran a little tight and got the sheep running off line.

Scott sends Kuro on his outrun

The fetch was fast and furious and didn't get back on the line until almost to the post.

Kuro racing to stop the sheep on the fetch

After that, Kuro and Scott settled the sheep very well and they worked together to make the difficult drive panels to the left.

Kuro works hard to make the drive away panels

The turn to the crossdrive (and away from the draw) was where most of the sheep and dogs came to battle. Kuro's fight ended with him running through the middle of them and circling the last sheep. After that they got back on the line and just missed the crossdrive panels. They had a good line to the pen and with very little maneuvering, got them in.

Kuro and Scott close the pen door

When it was all over, Kuro had placed 24th in the nursery nationals.
Tomorrow starts the running of the Open class. Scott and Don run mid day. Don't forget to keep an eye on things here.

National Finals '10 - Day Two Nursery

2010-09-19T14:58:00.000-07:00

Sweep/Jr. saw the sheep in the exhaust this morning and went there. Nuff said.
There were alot more good runs in the afternoon - Vergil Holland's Nap son, Scott was a standout. I didn't see it but I heard Marianna Schreeder had a good one too.
Scott and Kuro ended up 19th for the first round and have drawn up for run 28 tomorrow.

National Finals '10 - First Day

2010-09-18T16:18:00.000-07:00

The first day of the 2010 USBCHA National Finals was a good show. The handlers are being well taken care of by the hospitality folks and the weather, although a tad warm at times, never got too hot. The swag bag had lots of nice stuff in it including a utility/pocket knife with the finals logo on it and I got a new ABCA hat! We are finished with the first half of the first round and Alasdair is, not surprisingly, in the lead. The sheep are tough but his Nap son, Coll, did the nicest job of getting them around. They want to run like slightly nicer Meeker sheep. They don't run as fast on the fetch as Meeker sheep but they just keep going in the direction they want and the dog has to get almost to their heads to have any affect on them. This is resulting in most sheep missing the fetch gates and a fetch somewhere down on the right hand side of the field.
Herbert Holmes is in second place with his Keema. It was a very nice run that would have been even higher if the dog hadn't gotten a little excited and circled them in front of the crossdrive panels when it felt the draw there. It isn't the only one. Many of the youngsters found that pressure in front of the last panels and did something stupid. The sheep are not bad to pen and there are alot of pens but it is not a given and you have to be on your toes.
Jeanine Van Der Merwe had a smoking run going until she turned the crossdrive panel and seemed to relax and let down. Her bad line on the third leg, and no pen, hurt her.
Scott ran Diane Pagel's Kuro mid day.

Scott and Kuro sizing up the outrun

He sent him to the right since that is his better side and I don't think there is damage done by sending either way. Kuro needed one redirect as he came up the slight incline and then had a decent lift. The fetch started out as a short footrace, but Kuro caught them and got them back on line.

Kuro catching his sheep after the lift

It didn't look like it was possible to miss the panels because they were dead on line but the sheep are tricky and they slipped around it at the last second.

Kuro looking like he would make the fetch panels

After a nice turn around the post, Scott got Kuro onto the line for a right hand drive and they made a good drive panel.

Kuro on his fetch

As they do with every run, they started to race across the crossdrive of their own accord. Most of the time the sheep missed the panels low and Scott was ready for this and gave Kuro a comebye flank but he panicked and took the wrong flank, missing the panels like so many others.

Kuro missing his crossdrive panels after taking a wrong flank

The third leg of the drive was good and after one ewe dashed around the pen, they got them in with less than a minute to spare.

Scott and Kuro at the pen

His final score was a 122 which put him in 10th place for the day but we still have another day to go. Top 40 will rerun on Monday and the combined score will determine the nursery champion.
Scott is first up with Jr./Sweep tomorrow morning.

USBCHA Finals '10 - We are here

2010-09-17T12:26:00.000-07:00

After a week of wonderful hospitality, first at Jan Thompson's and then at Dan King's (both of whom have incredible fields to practice on) we are now camped at the Belle Grove Plantation in Virgina.Camper row is filling up and as the weekend progresses it will be very crowded as all the finest are turning out for this show.
Handler's packets are being prepared. I'm hoping for a new hat.Nursery starts tomorrow. The USBCHA finals committee finally has the course organized. Scott's on the committee so if you don't like the course, call him. He'll enjoy talking to you about it.Remember you can follow the scores on this page.

Soldier Hollow '10 Day Three - No Dice But It's OK

2010-09-05T15:25:00.000-07:00

Well, I will have Scott's company spectating the double lift tomorrow. It's good and bad. Donnie almost made it and stayed on the leader board until about 3:30 when a spectacular run by Haley Howard and Ross took the lead and bumped Scott out of the double lift. Good try Donnie. What is ok about that you ask? This might be a little bit much for Donnie to do a double lift here this year. The sheep are just so difficult. I think not doing this double lift will save Donnie to fight another day when he is more experienced. Halfway through his crossdrive it seemed to click with Don and he loosened up and started taking that comebye flank with some enthusiasm and got control of his sheep. He had a smooth shed and a perfect pen so we were happy with him but his 77 won't play tomorrow.
I'm afraid Maid will also not be in tomorrow. She had a rocky lift when a sheep foolishly challenged her and she told it where to go.
Tonight we eat well. Soldier Hollow gives the handlers a free prime rib dinner with all the fixin's every year and we get to pick up our new Woolrich embroidered jackets tonight - also provided free for the handlers. To borrow a comment from fellow Canadian George Stambulic, I'm going to eat as much as I can incase I don't get invited back next year!
I will probably spend most of my time enjoying the double lift tomorrow and taking the pups into the event to socialize them so I will not do a blog but get today's and tomorrow's scores on the Soldier Hollow website, and keep an eye on Amelia Smith's blog because she's been doing some live blogging about the runs when she's not doing her informative demos.
On Tuesday Scott and I will head off to TN to do some training on the dogs before the finals so I will see you all in a couple of weeks in Virginia at the National finals. (yes, Lad got in at the last minute so I gotta shed shed shed with him this week)

Soldier Hollow ' 10 - Day Two - (Sheep 4 Glens 0)

2010-09-04T17:05:00.000-07:00

We got nothin' again today!
It was hot and windy and the leader board never moved after dog number 19 (the leader by the way was the outstanding Tommy Wilson and Sly with a 92!) Scott had been wondering how Donnie was going to deal with all these new things: heavy range sheep, a difficult outrun, lots of pressure. He did ok. Not outstanding, but ok. We hope for more from him tomorrow. Most of his difficulties came from the outrun. He just didn't understand to look up that steep hill.

Scott trying to help Donnie spot sheep

Scott had to send him blind and Donnie gave it his best. He started tight so Scott gave him a bend whistle which he took, but maybe a little too deep and he almost got lost, he did eventually get to his sheep but was a little frazzled and that carried throughout the run. He didn't have any trouble moving them but his comebye flank was broken and slow so that caused Scott some handling difficulties.

Don on the fetch

They got all the way to the shedding ring and were on their way to the pen when Don took a quick low heel. (so quick that very few people saw it) and he got called for a DQ.

Don and Scott in the shed

I wasn't expecting much from Hemp's run because it was a horrible time of day to run but armed with my lucky new friendship bracelett from 4 year old Hailey Fogt ( who has "styled" my hair a few times already at this trial) I figured we'd do our best and see what happens.
I'm afraid Hemp is liking his grip a little too much and he also got a DQ. He was not as smart as yesterday on his outrun but got there and had a nice lift. He kept things quiet today and took my flanks and we made our fetch panels but had a little grip after, that was not called. He had a nice turn and a wobbly start to the drive but then lined out beautifully and had a tight turn which really surprised me at how easy it was to do today. I was afraid of the cross drive since that is where he gripped last year and yesterday but he did the crossdrive just fine, if a little off line in places and missed the panels by just a little. After the turn around the panels he started getting difficult to handle. I couldn't open his flanks enough to get him back on the third leg and after a fight with me he gripped again (a little more spectacularly this time) and we were called off.
Tomorrow is supposed to be alot cooler and Scott runs both Don and Maid again so I am keeping my fingers crossed.
Once again, for all the scores, go to the Soldier Hollow website.

Soldier Hollow '10 - Day One - ALMOST!

2010-09-03T20:05:00.000-07:00

Tough! That's what I have to say about today. Soldier Hollow is still it's absolutely amazing self but the trial is difficult. This year's sheep are from a different flock than the last few years. They were born a year ago in April and don't know which way is up. Add to that some real heat in the middle of the day and you've got one hard trial run.
Hemp was lucky to draw in the morning and I was hoping to do something with the run but no, it didn't happen. He was third up and I thought he might have spotted the sheep (up a steep hill with roads crossing through it and many trees to confuse you and the dog) but I wasn't sure. He's been running stupid wide at the last few trials so I'm sure you could understand my fear on this difficult outrun. No worries. It was the best thing he did all day. He wasn't quite sure where they were but stayed smart never coming in and always searching. When he saw them he cast out and went nice and deep at the top. He had a quiet lift but as usual, it got a little Western after that. His line was good but his pace was fast (many dogs had some difficulty lifting but not Hemp) so since he was ignoring my pleas for pace, I stopped him. That allowed the sheep to try to run back up the hill and I had to do some maneuvering to fix it. We missed the panel and I continued to over command Hemp. We had a nice line to the drive panel but missed it anyway and after a wobbly start to the cross drive, Hemp had enough of my nagging and flew into the sheep (he was mad at me, not the sheep) and we were off with a DQ.

Scott and Maid enter the Soldier Hollow park

Scott was in the hot hot afternoon with Maid.

Maid and Scott waiting for their sheep to be set

Most of her outrun wasn't bad but she pulled up very short (she did that last year here too) and had to be flanked 3 times before she was in the correct lift point. She had a super quiet fetch with that nice way that Maid is now learning.

Maid on the fetch

Made her fetch panels and had a nice turn around the post. They had a good drive away and made their drive panels but the crossdrive was a little off line and they were eating up time keeping things calm so by the time they got to the shedding ring there wasn't much room left on the clock. The turn around the crossdrive panels is blind because of trees but Maid did fine.

Maid gets ready to make the blind turn on the crossdrive

The third leg of the drive took even more time, with the sheep trying to get around Maid.

Sheep trying to get around Maid on the third leg of the drive

A great shed and only 30 seconds left to pen. The pen is quite far away from the ring and you use up almost all that time getting there and you can't rush the sheep once you have arrived. Scott gathered his sheep in the ring and started over to the pen, not in a hurry and time was called. The score wasn't bad, a 72 and was enough to stay on the leader board, ALMOST to the end. Top 5 go to the double lift from each day. The very last run, by Patrick Shannahan and Riggs, bumped them off!

They almost did it

So, Scott has the great white hope, Don, to run tomorrow. He's never been on these kind of sheep so it will be an education.
BTW it's supposed to reach 90F tomorrow.
For complete scores, go to the Soldier Hollow website

Finals Promotional Video

2010-08-25T21:43:00.000-07:00

This one is pretty cool...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH0Y34d6ngA

EID Classic '10 Double Lift

2010-08-22T19:11:00.000-07:00

Double lift Sunday started out cold and rainy. Scott and Maid drew up second. Maid was very good but had an odd thing happen on her run. Her first outrun and lift was no problem with very little, if any points off. Her turn back was as nice as Pleat's used to be and looked super pretty. She lifted nice and then she got off line just slightly on the second fetch and it put her into a dip. Scott couldn't see her so he didn't flank her back on but Maid kept them moving and brought them up on line, right in front of the fetch panels. There was a little cheer from the crowd and they continued on their fetch, gathered the first group and started around the post. Before he actually got around, there was a sheep crying back down the field. We looked up and there were two more sheep, obviously left behind when they were in the dip (two cranky cheviots if you couldn't guess). Scott went back the way he came, gathered all the sheep together and then turned the post. It hurt him very badly on his second fetch. The rest of the run was uneventful except they had some difficulties getting the last sheep away from the collared ones and they never settled enough for her to get the pen. Her final score was a 125 and she placed 5th.
When Don ran it was a different type of day.

Don starting his second fetch

The sun came out and it was almost warm. Donnie had a great run and was his usual steady self. His turn back was great and he had good control on his drive.

Don starting the drive

It had appeared that the run was just about finished when they got the shed done with 8 minutes left to pen, but the judge felt that the last shed was out of the ring and asked Scott to reshed.

Don and Scott in the shed

After that the shed was not as clean and they didn't get the pen because the same ewe kept breaking away.

Donnie turning back a difficult ewe

Their final score was a 136 and they took the reserve championship.
The stars of the day were George Stambulic and Kate. They had a clean run and kept it calm. It was a beautiful shed and pen. Congratulations to George for winning it! (and on his recent marriage!).
Thank you to our hosts, Joanne and Ian who worked hard and put on a fun show!

Ian resting on the field

Double Lift (12 dogs)
1. George Stambulic and Kate 148
2. Scott Glen and Don 136
3. Bev Lambert and Hemp 130
4. Lee Lumb and Chica 130
5. Scott Glen and Maid 125

EID Classic '10 Day Two

2010-08-22T07:40:00.000-07:00

We have had perfect dog trial weather. It never gets real hot except for during short periods. Yesterday had most people looking in the campers to see if they brought their long johns and today we have rain. Even with the cool weather the cheviots got grumpier and it certainly gave both Scott and I trouble. I had a very bitter pill to swallow when I watched my sheep being set. Four of my sheep set but the fifth one couldn't be brought out with the dog and had to be literally pushed out with the horse. They never got it with the other sheep and it stayed next to the horse's front legs. I told the judge I didn't want those sheep but it wasn't accepted and Hemp couldn't get under the horse on the lift so he left that sheep behind when the other four lifted and started down the field. There was nothing I could do but retire. I had several people ask why I didn't have a rerun but ultimately we have to abide by the judges decision and he didn't want to give a rerun.
I'm afraid after that I didn't really care about Lad's run. He didn't have a chance of getting in the double lift like Hemp did so I just did the run half heartedly and he got a 56.
Scott had to battle in both of his runs. Don drew a terrible sheep that kept running off on the drive away leg.

Don corralling a wayward ewe

The challenge was getting the dog to give ground enough to flank around her and bring her back and not cut her off. She was a little easier on the crossdrive but once she got to the shedding ring and pen she became trouble again.

Don and Scott at the pen

Don worked very hard and only once broke his cool and charged the ewe. The rest of the time he just kept bringing her back. To make things harder, the only time of the day it got warm was during that run. Their final score was an 80.
Maid drew an equally challenging ewe and it was almost the same run as Don. The bad ewe would not stay with the group but continuously kept charging off towards the exhaust or anywhere else that looked like an escape. If you know Maid, this is a perfect situation for her to lose her temper and grip but she didn't. She stayed in there although Scott said she would slow down but not stop. She worked hard enough that her score kept her in the double lift for today and Scott and her are due shortly to the post this morning.
In the pro novice, Sava had a repeat of the day before and didn't find her sheep. Kuro had some difficulties so Scott just trained on him and retired at the pen.

Kuro on the Pro Novice lift

Jr. did much better and had a very nice drive and ended up with a 67.
In the youth class, Bailey Musgrove and Sam prevailed again.

Bailey Musgrove and Sam wait for their run in the youth class

Bailey also took the overall prize. What a way to start your trialing career, Bailey! Way to go!

Bailey and Sam work to pen sheep

Open Two
1. George Stambulic and Kate 89
2. Nancy Stephens and Ike 87
3. Ian Zoerb and Freckles 87
4. Joanne Zoerb and Soot 86
5. Chris Jobe and Jill 86
6. Chris Jobe and Fly 83
7. Joanne Zoerb and Mick 82
8. Bev Lambert and Mirk 81
9. Milton Scott and Ben 81
10. Scott Glen and Don 80
Double Lift Running order
1. Chris Jobe and Jill
2. Scott Glen and Maid
3. Lee Lumb and Nan
4. Joanne Zoerb and Mik
5. Bev Lambert and Hemp
6. Norm Sommer and Lexi
7. Lee Lumb and Chica
8. Wendy Schmaltz and Fly
9. Bev Lambert and Mirk
10. Scott Glen and Don
11. George Stambulic and Kate
12. Joanne Zoerb and Soot

Pro Novice Two
1. Bev Lambert and Meg 79
2. Nancy Stephens and Tweed 76
3. Lee Lumb and Jeb 75
4. Chris Jobe and Fly 70
5. Penny Ohanjanian and Moss 68
6. Scott Glen and Sweep 67
7.George Stambulic and Bill 65
8. Bev Sommer and Jock 60
9. Holly Brunner and ? 59
10. Dave Smart and Pace 54

EID Classic '10 Day One

2010-08-21T08:01:00.000-07:00

August 20, 21, 22, 2010 Brooks, Alberta: Joanne and Ian Zoerb put on a great trial and this one is shaping up to be no exception. It seems to draw more people every year and I believe that says something about it. This year we are judged by Herbert Holmes and your combined score will get you in the double lift on Sunday. Yesterday we started with open. I didn't take any pictures because the air is very smokey due to fires in BC. The fires are nowhere near us but are on a jet stream path that carries the smoke a long way - I will try to get some today. There were very few perfect outruns. The field is tricky with dips and hills and confuses even the best outrunners. The sheep are a mixed bag of cheviots and suffolks and mixes of each. The cheviots are not playing well with the others and if you draw a single cheviot in your group, she tends to run way ahead of the group and makes it hard to contain her when the others are lagging behind. One person drew 4 cheviots and one mix breed and each cheviot chose it's own direction with the one mix breed trying to hang out with whoever it could.
Scott ran really well with Maid. She needed a redirect on her outrun but after that was the calmest I have ever seen. The panels are not all that hard to make if you don't have a running cheviot. Maid really marched her sheep around quietly and kept her cool at the pen. She got an 82.
I ran Hemp a little later and was very happy with him. He ran too wide on his outrun thinking that he had more sheep out there than he did but I'm hoping for an improvement on that today. He had a running cheviot leader but still made all his panels AND had a great shed and pen. I have worked on nothing but his pen and shed flanks for 2 weeks now. You could still feel the newness of the concept with him but he tried his best and it paid off. Now if it could only last one more day! He also ran an 82
Lad was fine but not great. He only needed one redirect on his outrun but was a little lazy about getting over on his fetch flanks and I was late at dealing with it so that was a little off line. I was afraid of his shed because even tho he'd been shedding like he liked it all week, he had a little breakdown the other day and decided he couldn't shed. No way. No how. He did have one missed attempt in the ring and I looked at my watch and saw I had 6 minutes and thought that it was a very long time for us to run out our clock if he wasn't going to shed but fortunately, although the next one wasn't pretty, we got it done. (PLEASE let him do it again today). He had a very smart pen. He's getting super good at that and if we could just fix the shed we'd be back to doing well. He got a 77.
Scott ran Don late in the day and he blew us all away. A perfect outrun and the smoothest run I have seen in a long time. A lot of people commented on how nice a team they are. Unfortunately, the rope was wrapped funny around the pen and when Scott went to grab it, it hung up so the sheep passed the pen, otherwise the score would have been alot higher. As it was, they won the class with a 93.
In the pronovice, we were really proud of Kuro who did his outrun without help. He did fine around the course and showed his great heart and bidability. He got a 5th place with a score of 73.
Sava never found her sheep and Jr. had trouble on his outrun but got out there. Scott schooled him around the course a little bit and then retired him.
We didn't have anything in the nursery class which was filled with some very young dogs this early in the year but it was won by Bev Lambert and her young dog Meg. Bev said this pup is a handful but had a great turn around at this trial and she is pleased with her.
I missed watching the youth class but I must hurry up and finish this post so I won't miss it today. It was between Joey Swenson and his Joy dog and Bailey Musgrove and her Sam.
Joey has been doing this for a year now but Bailey has only been going at it for a few months. She has jumped into it with gusto and has taken over her father's 11 year old Sam who still has plenty of get up and go. They have teamed up and Bailey has complete responsibility for all of his care including exercising him on her bike to make sure he is limber enough to still run. I have to say that although I really like Joey, Bailey's family are special friends of Scott and I so I am very excited to say that at her first trial, Bailey won! If she continues to enjoy it like this I think there is a future for her in the dogs (her dad isn't such a bad hand himself!).

Open One (45 dogs) - ties not broken
1. Scott Glen and Don 93
2. 3. Tie - Lee Lumb and Chica
Bev Lambert and Hemp 89
4.Wendy Schmaltz and Fly 84 (continuing her hot streak!)
5. Lee Lumb and Nan 84
6. Bev Lambert and Mirk 83
7. 8. 9. 10. Tie - Scott Glen and Maid
George Stambulic and Kate
Corey Perry and Jill
Jennifer Glen and Hemp 92

Youth One (2 dogs)
1.Bailey Musgrove and Sam 45
2. Joey Swenson and Joy 44

Nursery One (9 dogs)
1. Bev Lambert and Meg 73
2. Joanne Zoerb and Boone 54
3. Lee Lumb and Cass 47

Pro Novice One
1. Penny Ohanjanian and Moss 79
2. Chris Hanson and Ben 78
3. Lee Lumb and Jeb 74
4. Don Grant and Brutus 74
5. Scott Glen and Kuro 73
6. Bev Lambert and Meg 71
7. Bob Stephens and Tim 70
8. Don Grant and Jess 69
9. Chris Jobe and Fly 67
10. George Stambulic and Bill 67

National Finals Posters

2010-08-17T16:17:00.000-07:00

I received a very threatening chain letter the other day that I thought I better pass on - and I think my trial blog is the place I can reach the most people.
It was sent by Donald McCaig, yes, that Donald McCaig, the one that wrote those awesome books, Nop's Trials, Nop's Hope (my favorite), and Eminent Dogs Dangerous Men.
It's pretty serious chain mail so pass it on. Come on! You want Scott to win the Nationals don't you?

Dear Border Collie Person, (or any other person!) Unlike most chain letters, don't send money with this letter. Like other chain letters, dire consequences will follow if you don't forward it to ten other doggy people. Maryln, of Oshkosh Wisconsin did NOT follow instructions and several weeks later, her dog FAILED TO WIN MEEKER!! Bill, of Purdah, Tennessee did and the very next day WON NOVICE NOVICE AT THE HIGHLAND TRIAL! Don't you want to win the National Finals? Of course you do. To ensure your victory, download this 2010 Finals Poster and email it to 10 doggy friends. (or post to your blog!)With this helpful, explanatory chain letter. Don't live in the east? All your friends are in Honolulu? So what, dummkopf: your friends have eastern friends don't they? Friends of friends yearning to attend the Finals if only they had a poster. WIN BIG: SEND THE POSTER.!!!
Donald McCaig

(you can click on the poster to read the small print)

And don't forget the FREE web cast...