Ugg, I love this trial but it is HOT! Fortunately, the original forecast of 90 has been downgraded to 87 tomorrow so I'm hoping they'll keep dropping it! The humidity is hard too but if the dogs keep their heads cool, they'll do ok with the katahdins and there is water on the field. Bruce Fogt is our judge and we started tonight at 4PM with the first nursery. We won't do another nursery until Monday but it's nice to sneak in an earlier one today.
The class was won by Chuck Dimit and his very nice nursery dog, Chad, who is the same way bred (and as nice) as his 3 legged dog Coal.
Second was Scott and Diane Pagel's Wynn, who wasn't far behind Chuck. Wynn had not much wrong with his run, with a nice outrun, made all his panels and his pen, getting an 82.
Third place was nabbed by Scott and Missy Parker's Tex. Tex was a little shallow at the top but once he had that fixed the rest of his run was as good as Wynn's and also earned an 82.
Scott and Marianna Schreeder's Jane were working well but once in a while there is a tricky ewe in this flock who doesn't like to pen and makes herself known as you progress around the course. Jane drew this ewe and although she tested her, she did a nice job. The ewe ducked around the wrong side of the post and then at the pen she just wouldn't go in, even though most of the sets penned quite easily. They ended up with a 61.
Scott ran up the field when Bliss ran a little tight on the hill (it's a terraced hill so most of the dogs did a good job just getting it figured out) and then after the sheep left early (because she was a little tight) and she caught them, she came in a little fast and tight. He was able to make sure she knew she needed to open up before he walked off.
Ford did the best he's done! His score was only a 53 but I was really happy with him. He asked me for directions once on his outrun but then got up there the rest of the way on his own. The sheep left a little early but he wasn't that tight so they didn't go far. He found the set out person and figured they should have his sheep and stopped, looking around for them, but when I flanked him over, he started to look around a little and saw them. Our fetch was a little off the line and we didn't make the panels but it was nice and controlled with good pace and I didn't think I needed to press him at this point to make the panels. We took it slow around the post and actually had a nice drive away line and made the panels. I had to talk him through his crossdrive flanks and he didn't do too badly but we were a little low on the line and missed the panels low. He got a little excited when we made the turn for the third leg of the drive (probably because I got a little excited - our second chance at a pen!) but I settled him down and just as the sheep walked in the pen, he panicked like in the last trial and ran behind to keep them out. We had to repen them and I got the gate shut but he still ran around the back. I made him come to the front and stop before I flanked him behind to put them out again. I'm hoping I can get a little practice in on a pen when we get to NY, before the Fetch Gate Nursery in a week, but other than that, I'm feeling good about his progress.
Nursery 1 (14 dogs)
1. Chuck Dimit and Chad 83.5
2. Scott Glen and Wynn 82
3. Scott Glen and Tex 82
4. Barbara Ray and Pippa 72
5. Anita Young and Gil 68
6. Scott Glen and Jane 61
7. Linda Tesdahl and Gus 61
8. Vergil Holland and Cap 58
9. Jennifer Glen and Ford 53
10. Ken Arrendale and Levi 45
Friday, May 25, 2012
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Bluegrass Double Lift
If you didn't follow my updates on Facebook today, I encourage you to check it out to get summaries on all the runs including June and Don's.
June finished her first double lift in 11th place and Donnie, although he was giving a nice run up until then, gripped on the third leg of the drive.
I took some pictures of each of their runs, including Donnie's very well done crossdrive panel.
Don and Scott's clever work to save the crossdrive panel:
June finished her first double lift in 11th place and Donnie, although he was giving a nice run up until then, gripped on the third leg of the drive.
I took some pictures of each of their runs, including Donnie's very well done crossdrive panel.
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| Scott prepares to send June |
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| June and Scott turn the post |
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| This is why June missed the crossdrive panels! |
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| June cools off before starting her shed |
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| June and Scott almost complete the shed |
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| Scott and Don prepare for their first outrun |
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| Don turns back for his second set of sheep |
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Bluegrass Double Lift Running Order
Tomorrow's running order:
1. Debbie Bailey and Huck
2. Hubert Bailey and ?
3. Bruce Fogt and Cam
4. Vergil Holland and Brook
5. Roy Taber and ?
6. Carla King and Emmy
7. Scott Glen and June
8. Alasdair MacRae and Queen
9. Don Wittington and Fionn
10. Bev Lambert and Hemp
11. Mikey Hanley and Moss
12 Tricia MacRae and Cap
12. Chuck Riley and Nan
13. Alan Hickenbottom and Vic
15. Thad Flemming and Bodie
16. Margaret Johnson and ?
17. Dawn Boyce and Gage
18. Scott Glen and Don
19. Alasdair MacRae and Li
20. Bruce Fogt and Wynn
1. Debbie Bailey and Huck
2. Hubert Bailey and ?
3. Bruce Fogt and Cam
4. Vergil Holland and Brook
5. Roy Taber and ?
6. Carla King and Emmy
7. Scott Glen and June
8. Alasdair MacRae and Queen
9. Don Wittington and Fionn
10. Bev Lambert and Hemp
11. Mikey Hanley and Moss
12 Tricia MacRae and Cap
12. Chuck Riley and Nan
13. Alan Hickenbottom and Vic
15. Thad Flemming and Bodie
16. Margaret Johnson and ?
17. Dawn Boyce and Gage
18. Scott Glen and Don
19. Alasdair MacRae and Li
20. Bruce Fogt and Wynn
Bluegrass '12 Day Four
Another LONG day of trialing. The sheep were better today on the open field and the scores showed it. Fortunately, Donnie's scores held up and he will be running in the Double Lift tomorrow!! I'm also extremely proud of his little daughter June who worked so hard to get a good score to make up for her bad score the other day. She did it! (I missed Alasdair's run with his young bitch but I hear she is the same way bred as Donnie and she also made the double lift so it will be a family affair tomorrow)
June had a good outrun and slammed down a little close to the sheep at the top but she quickly made it right with them by backing off and opening up her flanks.
They missed the fetch panels but made both drive panels. She was treating them nicely in the shed too but they stupidly gave her a challenge.
She kept her mouth shut even though I think they were making insults about her mother wearing combat boots. Her confidence has really come up during this trip and she isn't as quick to grip as she used to be. She got her shed but couldn't get it done at the pen. Scott decided not to push it too hard and risk the grip that she'd been avoiding but they almost got it done. She got a 73.5 and got herself in the double lift!
The way Hemp had gone in his last run I wasn't expecting much from him and he didn't give it. He wouldn't take my away flanks. It was hot and he was happy just walking behind them and he didn't really care where they were going. We missed the panels but I got it back under control and we were having a quiet turn around the post. The sheep were behind me when one jumped back the way she came and ran in front of me to rejoin her buddies after they had turned the post. I thought for a second what I was going to do about it and then I retired. We didn't have a score from the day before so there was no chance at a double lift, he wasn't listening so I could only imagine what the rest of the run was going to be and we had just lost too many points to get in the prizes today. Plus I wasn't sure if I should go on (and possibly get a DQ from one judge) or wind them all back around the post. It was too complicated to keep going so I retired. Besides, if I was confused, I'm sure the judges were too and Scott always says, "If you confuse the judges, you are going to pay."
Wynn had some more good training in the nursery field today but Bliss is going to need some more work (which she'll get while we have a few days off in Tennessee). She started out good but she has less training than the other nursery dogs in our kennel and it's starting to show.
Tex was brilliant again! He tied for second with Bev Lambert's Joe dog who is also running in open. I'm not sure who got the higher placing. Lyle Lad won the class.
Fingers crossed for a good draw for Scott tomorrow!!!
June had a good outrun and slammed down a little close to the sheep at the top but she quickly made it right with them by backing off and opening up her flanks.
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| Scott and June turn the post |
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| These sheep know not what they do |
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| June will be in the double lift! |
Wynn had some more good training in the nursery field today but Bliss is going to need some more work (which she'll get while we have a few days off in Tennessee). She started out good but she has less training than the other nursery dogs in our kennel and it's starting to show.
Tex was brilliant again! He tied for second with Bev Lambert's Joe dog who is also running in open. I'm not sure who got the higher placing. Lyle Lad won the class.
Fingers crossed for a good draw for Scott tomorrow!!!
Friday, May 18, 2012
Bluegrass Day Three
Oh, I'm afraid I'm not going to be a very good reporter since I didn't see too many of the runs today. I know that since Scott has Wynn and Bliss qualified now, he spends more time trying to train on them during the trial and making sure they do it right, rather than going for the win. However, Tex still needed a second leg and he did a great job and got a 79 and took second place which is his second leg!
He really looks like a nice dog to handle, listening and responding to all of Scott's flanks.
Bliss beat Wynn today with a 67 and he got a 59 but like I said, alot of what Scott is doing is training so they are good and ready for the finals. Jane did ok today and got a 66. Scott said she is doing better but I know she's a little frustrated on these sheep and I don't think it was good enough for a leg.
Wynn also took third place in pro novice.
Don's run was very disappointing. He again got very difficult sheep. Actually, this time is was one bad lamb and the other two weren't too bad but of course, her lunacy made them all stressed. They busted down the fetch line again and just barely missed the panels but were very difficult to get around the post. The crazy ewe kept busting back to try and jump into the spectators arms. It was a long and tense moment while Don continued to flank out, catch her and put her back with her sisters, just to have her do it again. They were crazy up the drive line but made the panels and crazy across the crossdrive but again made the panels. Got a shed but it wasn't a really good one, and had a tense pen. His score was only 60.5 All we can do is wait to see how it holds up with his 83 and keep our fingers crossed it was good enough to get him in the double lift. He ended the day still in 4th place over all.
Laddie ended the day and ran his heart out for me. He was so responsive and polite to his sheep. He missed the fetch panels but no one would have guessed that was going to happen as they were dead on and just ducked out of the way on the last minute. The judges didn't like the lower half of his fetch but he had a good turn around the post and a very nice drive. In the shedding ring, he was very good and came in but glanced behind him after he turned on the single. Because of that, the judges waited for him to look back at his single before calling it and she got close to the fence and threatened to go over. I thought maybe I should just have him go back for the other two who were patiently waiting just outside the ring. So he turned back on them and I made sure he gave them plenty of room so they wouldn't get spooked but even though he was way off and lying down they popped over the fence and into the spectators and it was over. The audience groaned and then applauded us to help with the loss. Laddie didn't know there was an issue but I went and got him a new toy anyway and all was well in his world.
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| Tex on the fetch |
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| Tex turning on the crossdrive |
Wynn also took third place in pro novice.
Don's run was very disappointing. He again got very difficult sheep. Actually, this time is was one bad lamb and the other two weren't too bad but of course, her lunacy made them all stressed. They busted down the fetch line again and just barely missed the panels but were very difficult to get around the post. The crazy ewe kept busting back to try and jump into the spectators arms. It was a long and tense moment while Don continued to flank out, catch her and put her back with her sisters, just to have her do it again. They were crazy up the drive line but made the panels and crazy across the crossdrive but again made the panels. Got a shed but it wasn't a really good one, and had a tense pen. His score was only 60.5 All we can do is wait to see how it holds up with his 83 and keep our fingers crossed it was good enough to get him in the double lift. He ended the day still in 4th place over all.
Laddie ended the day and ran his heart out for me. He was so responsive and polite to his sheep. He missed the fetch panels but no one would have guessed that was going to happen as they were dead on and just ducked out of the way on the last minute. The judges didn't like the lower half of his fetch but he had a good turn around the post and a very nice drive. In the shedding ring, he was very good and came in but glanced behind him after he turned on the single. Because of that, the judges waited for him to look back at his single before calling it and she got close to the fence and threatened to go over. I thought maybe I should just have him go back for the other two who were patiently waiting just outside the ring. So he turned back on them and I made sure he gave them plenty of room so they wouldn't get spooked but even though he was way off and lying down they popped over the fence and into the spectators and it was over. The audience groaned and then applauded us to help with the loss. Laddie didn't know there was an issue but I went and got him a new toy anyway and all was well in his world.
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| Laddie's conciliation prize |
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