Caldbeck treble for Athol Clark and Spot

Over a hillside course, the running was on touchy Swaledale ewes which responded best to careful handling. Alec Baines judged the entry of 46. Both Spot and Jess earned 75 points, losing most of their marks from their driving, However, losing one point less over his out-bye work gave Spot the title.

On Wednesday Arthur Temple and Meg won the Reeth Show Open where the running was over a flat course with a gather of 250 metres. When not pressured the Texel shearlings were reasonable to manage, but were very hard to pen.

With run 14, Arthur and Meg had a very good start, losing one point from their outrun, one from their lift and one over the fetch. Minor deviations throughout the driving cost three marks. Meg brought her sheep to the mouth of the pen where they hovered before going in. Losing one at the pen gave Meg a score of 83, three clear of runners-up Jonathan Brunton and Tess.

With run 30, Andrew Hunter took the lead with Jess in the novice class on 64 points. However, next to the post Anna Hunt and Mick gained 68 to have the winning trial.

On Saturday, Arthur, this time with Bess, topped an entry of 47 dogs at the first trial staged at Dufton Show for 10 years. Working touchy Mule ewes, Bess’ score of 84 put her six clear of runners-up David Harrison and Ben.

Alan Bainbridge judged the Wensleydale Show open. Although the Swaledale ewes were reasonable, yet again they were touchy at the pen.

This time Jonathan Brunton’s took the title as, running Moss at 41, he pushed Derek Bowmer and Del into second place. After a clean start, Moss dropped six marks for line deviations before losing five at the pen to score 79.

At the annual Dovedale open the running was over a national-sized, gently rising course on strong, smart Mule shearlings. Frank Cleary judged the entry of 120 dogs, 40 on Tuesday afternoon and the remaining 80 on Wednesday.

The two top runs came late Wednesday morning and both earned the same score. Between a faultless start and finish Jim Cropper and Mirk dropped five marks for deviations to score 95. Four runs later Thomas Longton and Spot matched that score but losing two from their gather put them in second place on an out-bye decision.

Have your say

Please do not complete the following form field for security reasons.

Name

E-mail

Comment