Chloe Cropper takes top honours as young handlers battle it out at Quernmore

It was an enjoyable and social event, with Brenda Helliwell doing the catering. Eric Baxter sponsored the shields presented to those competitors placed first and second in each class. Bags of CSJ dog food were donated by Brian Sellers, Mark Pickering gave some shepherds crooks, and the ISDS donated some dog training books, which were all given as prizes.

There were three young handler classes. The first to be run was for those aged under 13. Each of the four competitors had to send their dogs out on a small gather for six Herdwick hoggs. After bringing the sheep to their feet, they could walk with their dogs while they weaved the sheep down a line of seven posts. To finish the sheep had to be penned.

Competing in his very first competition, Luke Bancroft, 11, won the class with Moss. His family farm at Briercliffe and Moss was bought last autumn for Luke’s mum. However, on finding the dog would work for him, Luke has claimed him and has been going to the training classes held by Mr Longton on Thursday evenings, which he really enjoys. Moss was bred in May 2006 by Julie Baggot of Cardigan out of Daisy and is sired by H.S. Jones’ Tweed.  

The next class, with an entry of three, was for under-18s. They had to complete a normal course, finishing with the pen. Steven Longton, 15, took the title with Sid. As he ran Sid over the winter of 2008/2009 in the young handler classes, this is the second season Steven has been competing. Sid was bred in January 2006 in County Antrim by M. Gallagher out of Gyp and is sired by A.P. Gallagher’s Cain.

 In the final young handler class for under-25s the standard was very high among the four competitors. They took five sheep around a full trial course finishing with a single after the pen. An outstanding young handler, 18-year-old Chloe Cropper won the class with Roy with an excellent round, losing only three marks. Chloe was also the overall winner. Seven-year-old Roy was bred by Charlie Pickford of Rainow out of Jess and is sired by Alastair Gilchrist’s Mac.

New handlers

There were two new handler classes. The first, with an entry of 10 dogs, was for competitors who had never been on a trial field before. They did the same course as the under-13s.

Jack Simpson won the class with Tess. Bred in July 2008 by Beverley Fort of Steeton out of Nell, Tess was sired by Iain Ibbotson’s Zac. Jack bought her as a pup and has reared and trained her. Local farmers have been kind enough to give him access to sheep and he has had help from Katy Cropper. He has always fancied having a go at trialing and plans to compete in the nurseries next season.

The final class of seven entries was for competitors who had not won any prize other than a new handler prize. They also ran over the full trial course, finishing with the pen, but if necessary, they could walk with their dogs. Joe Lowry won the competition with Sky. They have been competing this last winter at Windermere and North Westmorland in the new handler classes winning the aggregates at both. Bred in March 2007 by J.Wilson out of Clifton Moll and by Moss, Sky has been reared and trained by Joe.

Thomas also hosted an open trial, along with a judging seminar last Saturday. The course was set over a pasture which had originally been two fields with the second rising to the lift. Most of the dividing hedge had been removed, but dogs had to cross a ditch, and most favoured the right hand gather as there were more trees on the left. Although they could see their sheep at the start of their outrun for much of the way the dogs were running blind. Throughout the Herdwick hoggs were biddable and the standard of running was high.

With run 24, Alf Kyme took the lead with Moss. Over his right-hand gather, Alf gave Moss an additional command to cast him out costing two points. Three points were lost for minor deviations throughout the drive, but with a clean pen and single, Moss earned the winning score of 95 of 100 to take his first open title. Home-bred in August 2006 out of his master’s Meg, Moss was sired by John Harrison’s Calderdale Jim.

Those who took part in the judging seminar scored several runs individually and then all the scores were transferred on to one sheet of paper for ease of comparison. There was quite a variation in the scoring and the exercise proved both interesting and educational.

At the weekday Tewitfield open, Mark Pickering judged the entry of 40 dogs. Running was over a sizeable hillside course with the lengthy driving measuring over 450m (500 yards). Overall the mixed store lambs ran well apart from odd ones that could be awkward. With a mid-morning run, Derek Scrimgeour took the title with Killiebrae Laddie on 85 of 90 points. A seven-year-old dog, Laddie was home-bred out of Killiebrae Maddie and is sired by his master’s Jim.

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