March 24th 09

Another weekend another trial over.

Kendenup trials are usually held in August but this year they were moved up which was good because there tends to be too many trials at that time and the weather was dry instead of wet and muddy.

The sheep worked quite well mostly but there were exceptions.

Some of them got a bit stubborn as the weekend went along. They were a mixed age lot so it depended on what age sheep you got as to how they worked. If you got old ewes they were impossibly stubborn and refused to go into the obstacle at all. Other groups worked well and some had a tendency to split.

Rios first two runs were really nice scoring 63 and a 41 respectively and penning on the second run only to have one leap out before I could close the gate. This happened to a few competitors, the sheep did not want to stay in there.

I was pleased with Angels first run as she scored a 51 and worked nicely, getting to the bridge. She crossed on the second run, got a re-run on her third run after a dicey letout then managed a fairly decent cast only to get stuck at the winding peg, as she wouldn't come off balance properly,  and like her sister Rio shows too much caution to get in to move the sheep, so we will work on that. I was happy with her though.

Karen Buller with Angel’s brother Barney also had a nice run and scored a 58.

Rio’s last run was a disaster. We drew a couple of ewes that refused to work properly so we just got stuck at the first obstacle. One old bag of a thing simply refused to even look down the obstacle let alone walk through. Even the judge commented on her, but that’s the luck of the draw. Others had worse sheep.

The encourage event was won by Jane Dorrell from Bremer bay with the lovely BC Rocky Dusty who is a relation of Balto. Dusty worked nicely for a score of 64.

Jane beat her husband Phil with Ramulan Patch having his first run in a trial. Patch is by Ken Atherton’s Kiwi Knight. There are a few of the Knight pups trialing now and they are looking good.

The novice event was won by Gordon Curtis with the little Kelpie (Yah the Kelpies) Binaburra Jess on 91, followed closely by Andrew Gorton and Boylee Ella on 90. Third was relative newcomer Neil Eastough with Grassvalley Jack.

The improver was won in nice style by Bernie Jones and Glenview Ruth, second was Gordon Curtis with another kelpie Binnaburra Maggie and third was Ivan Solomon with Perengary Sasha, a lovely bitch who won her novice event first time out at the Esperence trial this year Sasha is by Ken Athertons Ramulan Doug out of Ivan’s national champion Perengary Jill. Doug is Balto’s grandsire.

The open was won by Ivan Solomon with Jill, followed by Neil Kristianson with Badgingarra Casey and third was Scott Welke with Badgingarra Doug. Casy has been a great dog for Neil and is Yindi’s Grandmother.

Sam Weaver also had another nice run with Boylee Bill, finishing 8th in the open final.

Denise Scudds ran Badgingarra Pete, who is a brother to Yindi’s sire and he showed some nice work achieving a score of 69 and penning his sheep.

Peter Gorman's run caused a few laughs. The ground was marked with tennis balls which were secured into the ground with spikes, making a nice visible line to follow. Peter's dog Princes Caspar raced out on his cast only to stop in a cloud of dust and try and pick up one of the balls. A shame I did not have the camera ready then. 

The next trial will be a yard and utility so I have to work on Caleb’s cast, Rio’s stop and Angel’s walk in before then. I will be busy. All dogs also need a yard brush up. Drift has had very little work for a long time.

I enjoy the Utility trials as they are much more relaxed and we needn’t worry about getting disqualified for crossing or such with young dogs. There are also generally a lot less entries so we have a chance to run more dogs.

Such is trialing in WA that competitors are limited to 6 runs at some trials due to large numbers. We are working on a solution and some ideas have been tossed about but nothing settled yet. For some competitors who travel a very long way it is a little unfair if they only get to run a few dogs.

Very little happening on the farming front, we are just waiting for the rain really.

We are having a church service here next Sun, where we will bless the fleece and the cropping, a traditional service the church has every year but the first time at our place.

I am looking forward to it, but had better get the place cleaned up a bit I suppose.