The three sheep trials at mayanup this year were an interesting affair.
Mayanup has always been known as a difficult course, with the longest cast of any ground and an interesting mound half way up which causes many dogs to lose sight of the sheep and cross. The sheep are usually challenging and this year we worked two year old wethers, young strong and a little like antelopes, leaping fences and racing away at top speed. Not many people managed to pen in fact quite a few didn’t complete an obstacle at all. Still it was challenging and there was plenty of action, with many top dogs failing to score or only achieving low scores. I only enterd Lara and Rio, Drift was in season and I knew the difficult course would not suit her full on style.
Lara crossed on her first run. She so rarely crosses in fact Mayanup is the only course she has crossed at. On her second run she was fired up, (probably still in farm mode) and hit the sheep too fast at the top. The sheep bolted and she bought them down too quick. She nearly got away with it, but one sheep truned for the fence and went over, so that was that for her.
Rio had two lovely runs. She has a bit of a nervous temperement, so I never quite know what she will do. Her cast in the novice event was lovely, she read the sheep well and bought them down calmly. She held things together and we got safely to the first obstacle but could not get the sheep through. With sheep like these it is hard to force them as too much pressure will cause them to split and take off, but too little and they will not go through the obstacle. So we ran out of time at the obstacle, but managed a creditable score, enough to place us in fifth. And to prove it was no fluke she achived an even better run in the improver completing an obstacle this time before the bell went. Her score was better and she just missed out on fifth place again by one point. I was pretty happy with her.
There were about 60 Border Collies entered and only five Kelpies but kelpies still managed one sixth, two fifths and a second. Ken Atherton had a couple of nice runs with Badgingarra Tony for a second and a fifth. There were nearly as many women entered as men, so we are slowly taking over. Marrianne Rogers mananged to pen with Christies Coco one of the few who got that far. Sam Weaver had a few nice runs with Boylee Bill and Dahaeim Queen. Sarah Somers also managed to get two dogs into the open final but I missed the open runs as I had to go home. Karen Buller entered the encourage with Angels full brother Badgingarra Barney who won that event and she placed second with Ramulam Gus also a Kelpie.
The weather was interesting too, cold wet and windy one minute, warm sunshine the next. We spent a lot of time taking coats on and off. It was a nice social event with a huge casserole tea Fri night and a few bottles of wine drunk by certain members.
On the farm side of things we have had some very welcome rain in the nick of time. Not a lot, but enough to keep the grass growing a bit longer. More is forcast for tomorrow so it is looking better for a good finish. It has been warm though except for a very severe frost a few nights ago, one of the coldest Sep nights ever. Dosen’t effect our oat crops but can be bad news for Barley, Wheat and Canola crops.
We are busy culling and jetting the hoggets at the moment as the blowflies are about already. And then it is on to shearing a bit later.
Balto is going well and went to the trial to socialise, which he loves as he has little fear but rushing up to strange dogs can be risky so I had to put a leash on him for the first time which he was not happy about. Mango also came along and she seemed quite ok with people as her mother Rio is a bit wary of strangers so that was good to see.
Tried Zinc and Tonka on sheep for the first time but they are not interested at all. So will try again later. Mango is working well but still racing around a bit. Angel is also progressing and I may trial her at the next trial.
Caleb is still a bit full on out in the paddock so more work needed there.
Days are getting longer as we approach the dreaded Daylight Saving time. Everyone I know hates it with a passion. Why it was forced on to us is still a mystery. It has already been voted out twice and will be again at the next referendum. And then hopefully we will farewell it forever. It is simply not suited to WA, our evenings are long enough already.
Another trial has been slotted in at the end of the year in Albany so hope to make that one. Mayanup was the last official trial and the three remaining ones are unofficial and more suited to starting a young dog.
So back to the training board.
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