National Finals Double Lift

Well, Alasdair MacRae has done it again! This time he was first with his own Nap and reserve with Star. Star is the mother of our Donnie who got his official nursery photo today.

Donnie's win photo

Scott's run started well with an outrun to the left. When Maid started to come in, Scott yelled, "HEY!" and that worked well enough for a good redirect. She lifted and had a decent line on her fetch but the sheep squirted by the fetch panels and then ran off to the left of the field. Scott knew she was way off and would never be able to turn back from that side of the field (a difficult turn back even when things were going right) so he had no choice but to turn the sheep around and take them back to near the turn back post when he got the sheep settled, Maid turned back like a good thing. No problem on that outrun and then made her fetch panels. They made all their drive panels and then moved into the shedding ring. They had a nice shed and got the BEST SHED TROPHY!

A good first cut on the shed

A second cut

Scott and Maid let the last two sheep slip through and the shed was complete

After the shed Scott and Maid had a difficult pen with the sheep wanting to join their buddies. However they were successful and ended up in 10th place overall.
Try Pearse Ward's blog for details on other runs.

National Finals - The Semis

The morning was the same as everyday, very cool (cold) in the morning and blazin' hot in the afternoon. Today was the "Tough enough to wear pink" day honoring the battle with cancer and we had several fundraisers including Alberta's own Wendy Schmaltz who raised over a $1000 and shaved her head.
We had a left hand drive with a marked shed - two uncollared - then a pen and then a single with a collar. Our judges were Lyle Lad and Kevin Evans from Wales. There were some really nice runs today. Haley Howard is probably a crowd favorite being very close to a local and her Ross and Bodie looked spectacular. Bodie, just a 3 year old, had the top score of the day. Alasdair and Star are always a favorite and he looked good with both her and Nap. Derek Fisher also looked nice with his bitch and had a fairly high score.
George Stambulic and his 4 yr old Kate handled the sheep well and got quite a respectable score of 141 but in the end it just wasn't enough to make the double lift.

George Stambulic and Kate on the third leg of the drive

His old dog, Gyp ran in the heat and George retired in the shedding ring so that she didn't get over heated.
Maid and Scott had a great run. Maid was on and listening well with an easy stop.

Maid on the fetch

She made all her panels and had a great first shed

Scott and Maid on the first shed

and just a tiny bobble on the pen. When it came to the single, Scott had over 2 minutes in the ring but he rushed the call in. You can't rush Maid in the shed. She can eat one. She came in like a scud missile and the sheep went up in the air and no shed was called. On his second attempt it was calmer and a success. Unfortunately, that shed was probably only worth 1 point and they got a 162 and landed in 15th place for the day still ok for the double lift tho.
I ran with Lad when it was quite hot. My goal at this finals was to get into the semis since I have never gotten that far before. I didn't actually think about what I had to do when I got there. I HATE doing a marked shed and I really didn't think I could do it so I thought I'd just try to get the experience. I sent Lad to the right again but this time he didn't go as wide. Of course, the king of the bad outruns got himself quickly lost in the unfamiliar territory of a correct outrun and I had to blow him out. He didn't take it wide enough and got way too center so I stopped him and told him to Look. He took that and then went nice and deep but pulled up short. I blew him over once but he wasn't convinced and I had to blow him again. Still, not much of a response so I let him walk on which wasn't too good and the sheep lifted off line and stayed that way for a little bit. I got them back on the line and made the fetch panels although a little wobbly. Lad was still handling them well but they were running. They ran down the drive line and we made the panels and had not too wide a turn and a decent crossdrive. We had been told in the handler's meeting that we could leave the post when they made the crossdrive panels but couldn't enter the ring until the sheep did. It totally slipped my mind and while I was admiring my 3rd leg, I walked into the ring too soon. Once there, I almost lost them outside the ring while Laddie ran to cover until I woke up and walked over to stop them. After that, we puzzled on the shed for a little while. We had over 7 minutes so I knew I had time. (I remembered to set the watch again!) I found it wasn't all that hard to move them and before I knew it, I had a nice opening and Laddie found it wise to come through.

Laddie and I getting the first part of the shed

On to the pen. That was easy and quick

An easy pen

and we were back in the ring again trying to saw off one collared ewe. I managed to get one at each end of the line of sheep. The girl on my right was walking away but I was set up to stop the girl on my left and hoped that I had chosen the right one and she didn't squirt ahead with her buddies. I waited her out for a second and everyone left but her because she was busy looking at Lad. I called him in and another miracle, he came in and we were done.

Laddie coming in on the single

Many things could have been fixed and we only earned a 141 but we were respectable ending up in 26th place, and learned alot and actually enjoyed playing with the shed. I might actually not worry the next time I make a semi finals. Yeah, right.
We didn't make the double lift but we achieved our goal of the semis and tomorrow I plan to sit back and enjoy the double lift and root on Scott and Maid who run 10th. If you want more of a play by play of other runs check out Diane Pagel's blog.

2009 USBCHA National Nursery Champions - SCOTT AND DON!

I"m beyond proud!

Finals Day Two and Three

Sorry I didn't blog last night. We went to my favorite Black Bear Diner in Klamath. Discovered on the fateful 2001 trip with my best friend Melissa, I loved it and needed to go back for good luck.
OK. River and I were up early on the nursery field and I sent him to the left. He had a good outrun but when he got behind the sheep they took off to the right. The set out person is standing on the draw side with their dog uselessly to on the other side (I'm sure they have a good reason for that) so if the sheep want to run, they practically knock them over to get by. River was always right there but not quite fast enough to stop them and they split up way over to my right on the fence with one sheep running back to set out. Obviously, I had to retire.
I'm sure some of you have already heard that Maid had a rerun yesterday. Her first set left just as she was passing 3 o'clock on her outrun. They tore back to set out (which is quite a ways back from where they are being set) and Maid tore after them and got them stopped but they were way off line. She did, however, get them under control and start taking them to the fetch panels but the judges didn't have enough worth judging so they gave them a rerun. However, Maid never got her rerun sheep broke like she did the first set and the run was very very fast. When they got to the shedding ring they still had over 7 minutes! (13 minute course time) I'm thinking she needs to go to the Calgary Stampede next year! The shed was tense and I was afraid Maid might be hungry after all that running but she kept her mouth shut and got the shed and then got a pen. They got a 153 (two judges) and it looks like it will be a good shot for the semi's on Saturday.
We went to the nursery field right after that to watch Scott run Sleat. Scott sent her to the left and she crossed over on her outrun despite Scott's whistles to the contrary.

Scott and Sleat just before the crossover!

After that she had a good fetch and drive away but typical to Sleat, she will tend to have a bad crossdrive if she has a crossover. It's just a young dog's indication that her mind isn't where it should be and sure enough, she took a wrong flank and messed it up. Scott got it back under control and got a pen to finish it off.

Scott and Sleat getting a pen

She only got a 65 and it looks like it won't be good enough to get her a second run.
Today I ran Lad 6th up. It was a great time to run because it has been cool at night, in the 40s but very hot during the day, getting up to 88F. It has also been very dusty here. It's like flour and it gets very bad during the day. There is also a couple of fires burning in Southern Oregon and they have made today very smokey. At the time Lad ran, the smoke was bad but not as dry in the cool morning. Lad went out to the right on his outrun and passed the normal place where the other dogs curled in, he went way out wide to my right and into the uncultivated native grass. I would have panicked, but Louanne's Isla did the same thing and although not ideal, I knew that there was a chance that the lay of the land would bring him in around 2 0'clock and it did. If he had passed that point he would have got behind a fence that wouldn't have allowed him to get back on the field. He came down to his sheep and I gave him one short blow away and then had him lift. No problem. In fact, Lad's whole run was no problem for him. He moved the sheep easily. Me on the other hand, I was a frazzled mess and got panel panic. I missed the drive away panels even tho the sheep were walking nicely towards it, they dashed around at the last minute. I did make the other panels and with Scott's advice about the shedding ring (don't use yourself much, make the dog do it or let it happen) and the luck that I remembered to set my watch, I knew I had enough time to get it done. The pen was pretty easy and the sheep went right in. I was proud of my boy but disappointed in my agitation around the course. However, the score was a 152 and might allow us to play again on Saturday's semi's.
Scott ran Donnie in the nursery after that and laid one down!

Donnie on the fetch in the smokey sunshine

So smooth and made every panel. He's in second place right now and will definitely do a second run on Friday (top 40% do a second run). The good thing is he is one point behind the leader and nursery is a cumulative win.

Scott and Donnie at the pen

Lucy ran when it was very hot out. The usually biddable red dog was kinda crazy today. She had plenty of heart but unwound her flanks alot and I had to watch her closely and not watch my sheep or lines. We did make all the panels but didn't have straight lines getting there. The shed was difficult and we lost them out of the ring once with a grip. We ran out of time on the pen. Lucy scored a 118- respectable but not a contender for the semi's.
Tuque. Short and sweet? She spotted something off to my left in an uncut alfalfa field (Scott thought it was a tractor) and would not be persuaded from a crossover. I never got her back to the sheep. Sorry David and Susan!
Scott runs Drift tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

Finals Day One

Klamath Falls, Oregon - Killer sheep! Really difficult. That would be the theme of the day. They remind me of Meeker sheep. It's not looking good for my stable of dogs but we will all go down fighting. The day started with Ian Zoerb and Gyp. Gyp pulled up short and then over did her flanks on the top with a difficult lift. Shortly after that she got crazy with the sheep and was DQ'd. Bev Lambert and Hemp had no trouble lifting or moving them but the lines were difficult to hold, especially after the turn after the post when the sheep tore off on the drive way up the field. The prettiest run of the day was Candy Kennedy and Moss (not to be confused with her old Moss). He went a little deep on the outrun and over ran a little but once on his sheep he made it look easy. He was the only one of the day who did. Alasdair and Nap had some trouble holding the lines along with everyone else. My good buddy Louanne Twa ran at a time that the sheep were getting harder to lift. Her little bitch has alot of eye and took a ton of time to lift which was unfortunate because once she got them moving and got the first part of the fetch back on line, the rest of her lines were really nice. She ran out of time at her shed so she only scored a 50 per judge.

Louanne Twa's Isla working hard on her fetch

Milton Scott and Ben ran shortly after Louanne and had similar trouble moving the sheep. He ended up behind a hill to the left where you could no longer see them. After trying to get them back unsuccessfully he was called off by the judges.
We were very proud of George Stambulic and Kate (a daughter of Scott's Pleat). She had a fetch that started way off to the left and ended up behind the same hill Milton's dog did but she was able to bring them back and then finished the rest of he run very well. Both judges gave him a 76 and he will likely make it to the semi's on Saturday.

George Stambulic and Kate holding the shed

Scott runs Maid at the same time that he is scheduled to run Sleat tomorrow morning so he will likely run Maid first and then run over to the nursery field to run Sleat. I run River at about the same time so I will try to send a camera over to the open field to catch Scott and Maid. Hopefully, she will have something good to show!
Check HERE for scores.

Klamath Falls Worries

Scott and I are now in Wyoming. We are getting a chance to get our dogs worked before the finals - something they desperately need after their sub par performances the last few weeks. We are hoping to find a field where we can work on outruns. The Klamath Falls National Finals committee is proud of their outruns. I haven't been to Klamath Falls since that fateful trial in 2001. If you've been around me even a small amount of time, you've probably heard me tell the story. I laugh now but at the time, when the wound was fresh, all I wanted to do was cry. I didn't have a camper to go hide out in then so I had to be brave and tough it out.
I was eight years younger, 20 pounds lighter and horribly wet behind the ears in herding.

On the way to Klamath 2001 with my pet dog, Chip. - photo by Melissa Lucas

Only one year before, my first border collie, Bob and I had entered our first novice trial. Now he was 30 months old and we were on our way to our first National Finals to run in the nursery class. Of course, I was completely ready for this. I felt it was only a matter of show that I even had to run in the nationals. Because, you see, I had already won an open trial with my young Bob. I believe I was the only one entered in the nursery that year who had a dog who was already an open trial winner. They should just give me the trophy and send all the other competitors home to keep training.
Reality, when it hit me, was painful. I believe all novices go through a period where they do well and feel they have nothing else to learn. It's only up from here. The reality is that there is a bit of beginners luck that seems to happen to most of us. That's often all it is. Luck. Unless you are my husband or Alasdair MacRae, who often joke that they only win because of luck but those who know them also know that there is quite a bit of talent and hard work that actually keeps them at the top.
So back to Klamath 2001... I was all cockiness until I saw the outrun. The Scottish judge declared it too far for nursery but you be your own judge. It measured out between 475 yrds and 500. Dear Bob had never gone more than 300. Yes, I was ill prepared. The open trial he had won was on his home field on his home sheep on a fenced cleared 300 yrd field. He never had to look for sheep. He never had to travel to sheep. yikes. I started to fear.

On the way to the post with Bob, notice my slumped shoulders - I was sure I was going to my doom - photo by Melissa Lucas

I believe they said that 60% of the nursery dogs didn't find their sheep that year, and, yes, Bob was one of them. What made it worse was that the sheep were difficult to set and weren't even in the same place all the time. Bob gave it his best. He ran out about 200yrds with good intentions but then he came in too early, and back then, a look back was not even in my vocabulary, let alone Bob's.

Bob on his outrun (red arrow)- notice you can see no sheep in this picture even though those are the fetch panels in front of me - photo by Melissa Lucas
I finally had to call him back so that Alasdair who was waiting in the blind behind me, could send his young dog and actually find sheep.
I declared this would never happen to me again, and with Bob, it didn't. Be careful what you wish for because I turned Bob into a dog that always knew where his sheep were to be found, but he often ran 10 times the distance he needed to get to them. But he always found his sheep after that so that was good, right? Hmmm.
So this monkey has been on my back for 8 years now. I always wanted to return with Bob but it never happened and now he is retired and 10 years old and not exactly my best open prospect. So I return with Lad. Lad and Bob are cousins. They are very similar but Lad was trained better if only because I've seen more than I had when I trained a young Bob. Unfortunately, Lad also has the bad outrunning gene. And back we go to Klamath, king of the outruns, and this time I'm in open. I have more tricks up my sleeve, but will they be enough? It's a little early for me to start stressing but when has that ever stopped me?
On the lighter side, Klamath was the first place I laid eyes on my future husband. For some reason I noticed him but despite encouragement from my friends, I never spoke to him. He had a very good trial that year and his Fly bitch was the reserve champion. He goes back with Maid this year, Fly's grand niece. They share alot of traits. I hope they prove to share an aptitude for Klamath.
Oh, and one more thing, Klamath Falls 2001 will always go down in my books as having the best handler's dinner ever. Pesto Chicken. It almost, almost healed my wounds that year.

And The Winner Is...

Amanda Milliken and Ethel! Ethel had been reserve champion here before and Amanda was very pleased to win it with her old dog. Her run was very good. Her turn back required a couple of redirects to keep her from crossing but the rest of the run was clearly the best.
Our favorites, Faansie and Jill missed their first fetch gates and the crossdrive gates. He had a nice shed and got to the pen but the sheep escaped the mouth and ran back to join their friends in the sloughed flock before Jill could stop them.
Most others had difficulty in their shed except Ian Zoerb and Peg. Amanda won the best shed trophy but many felt that Ian should have won it. Not to take anything away from Amanda's shed, it was definitely a good one but Ian's had more flow and was prettier to watch. They both lost 2 points on the shed so it was a judges decision.
Scott and Drift won a beautiful woolen blanket donated by Routt County Woolens for the best drive in the first go around and Scott also won the hard luck award. Not sure which run that was for but we are guessing Maid's. It paid $150 so we are ok with that! He also was fourth in the second day go with Drift and took home a check for that.
So now we are off to Wyoming to do some training. We know what we need to work on and hope we can get it done before the finals in a week.