30th July 2008

Another trial over and done. This was the State Yard and utility trials at Binnaburra near Kelleberrin WA. It rained the whole way, making the trip nearly five hours, but I was glad I made the effort. Driftz was second up in the Novice utility. It is a fairly long cast and as Driftz had never trialed here she failed to find her sheep so I had to walk off my peg to show her. Once she spotted them we finished the cast ok and put the sheep into the yard for the yard section. She did a fair job here and we re-entered the paddock for the obstacle work. She managed to get her sheep through all the obstacles and into the pen, a first for both of us. However we ran out of time before we could shut the gate but I was very pleased with her. She also had a great run in the novice yard to finish up fifth and just miss out on a run in the finals. Her run in the open yard was also excellent.

Lara had just one run in the Nov utility and went ok. She has not long weaned her pups so one run was enough. She stresses a bit sometimes so I am trying to make it fun for her.

Caleb was in La-La land and refused to listen to me at all. He is still very young though and it can be a bit overwelming, people, dogs, noise, sheep as well as trying to listen to me. So more time to grow up and more training needed.

 
Rio was a bit of a star as far as i'm concerned. She had a nice run in the novice utility and then went better in the open utility managing to pen her sheep. However I got over excited and closed the gate too soon and one sheep ran out. So handler error yet again. She has not trialed for nine months so I was very happy with her. 

The sheep were very workable and there were some great runs, including a perfect score for Neil Kristianson and Jock in the open yard. He is rarely beaten in this event. Neil also won the nov utility with his NZ heading dog Shadow and placed in the open utility with Jock

Richard Mcguire also had a great weekend with a win in the Nov yard with kelpie Bella and a third in the open yard with kelpie Charlie.

Gordon Curtis won the open Utility with Binnaburra Tuff a Fabulous Kelpie. Rod Forsyth's young Kelpie Milo did very well with two placings. 

Marrianne Rogers did well with her two BCs Obie and Coco getting both into the open Utility final. Sam Weaver also had some nice runs with her two BC's Queanie and Bill gaining 4th and 5th in the Nov Utility and just missing a finals run.  Go the girls.

This was the last utility trial for the year, just three sheep trials remaining now.

In other news, it is very wet here now and some sun would be nice, not that I am complaining. However we would like to get some crutching done soon.

Lara's pup Tonka is a bit of a ratbag and we had to modify his pen to stop him climbing out. (See photo in puppes in gallery) I still have his brother for sale, also a lovely little guy.

Too wet to train the pups much, the sheep yards are almost under water and using them really churns them up. So most of my sheep are having a holiday too.

I am looking out the window at a pitch black sky and can hear thunder so must finish up.