Consistent Kim takes West Country honours

At the ten trials this season, competitors accrued points (six for a first down to one point for sixth placing), which counted towards the aggregate trophies.

Jim Nicholls and Kim proved strong in the driving class in which 31 different dogs competed over the season. With two wins and six placings on 36 points they won the driving aggregate and were presented the R. Sleep Ltd Perpetual Challenge cup.

Reared by Jim from a pup, Kim was bred by R. Rofe of Beaworthy in January 2008 out of Gwen and sired by R. Moore’s Gilfach Glen.

The Maltese cross class, where 45 dogs overall competed through the season, was dominated by Jed. Jed won all eight trials he attended with five different dogs but took the aggregate with Jake, who with two wins and six placings, also earned 36 points. Jake was bred by S. Mobberley of Knowbury in July 2008 out of Jess and sired by Jim Cropper’s Sid.

Close contest

The lady handlers were strong this season and the Philleigh Cup for the lady accruing the most points was closely contested.

With two wins and four placings, Maureen Capes with Mist won it on 22 points, while Jenny Holdsworth was runner up with Dusk on 20 points. Mist went to Maureen as a pup and was bred in December 2006 by G. Martin of Lydney out of Jig and by Tig.

In the Young Handler Class, for under 16s, both Matthew Carter and Mark Hopper, each running two dogs, gained a huge amount of experience over the winter. Points gained over the season were closely matched at the trials where both were present.

Matthew, however, edged ahead and with five wins took the trophy for the second consecutive year with Blue, although he won the final trial with Jill. Blue was bred by Mrs L. Lomax of Goole in August 2004 out of Dusty and by Scot.

This final trial was run over a mostly flat sizeable course with a fetch of about 320 metres (350 yards), which could be gathered either way.

Running was on mixed breeds of hoggs that were very lively and hard to pen. Julie Tucker judged the 20 entries in the driving class where Rob Watson and Don took their first win of the season.

Although Don’s sheep were on a near perfect line down the fetch they jinked around the obstacle. The hoggs seemed wary of the hurdles and the same happened at the end of the cross-drive.

Don had a very good finish at both the shed and pen, which gave a score of 76 and he took the title eight clear of the runners up Merrill Fox and Gem. E.I. Jones of Erwood bred Don in January 2008 out of Sooty and he was sired by H.J. Francis’ Moss.

Rob bought him at 14 months-old from his brother Jed. After a break of ten years Rob returned to trialing this winter with Don and a second dog Lad.

Lesley Lock judged the 11 entries in the Maltese-cross class. Roderick Hayes and Ned took their first win this season clear of Jim Nicholls and Gale in second place. Ned was bred in April 2007 by D. Calcutt of Bicester out of Astley Gem and by John Thomas’ Cap.

Crosthwaite

At the midweek Crosthwaite open trial, Ralph Swainson judged an entry of 35 dogs. Set over two fields the course had a lengthy outrun. Those dogs that gathered left-handed passed through a gateway while to the right they ran through a gap made in the fence.

It was a difficult outrun and much of the way, the dogs were running blind, consequently 12 crossed their course. In the morning the Herdwick and Swaledale hoggs were quite good to manage but they became more difficult later in the day.

Thomas Longton was first to run with Spot. Four points were deducted from Spot’s left-hand gather; two for being too far away from his handler’s feet as he set off and two for extra commands to cast him out. Just an odd point was lost from his lift.

As the sheep came down the fetch they passed through another gap made in the fence. Once through the gap they tended to swing to the right and many dogs lost points here as they could not put their sheep back onto line until they had also passed through the gap.

Spot lost four points from his fetch before having a good left-hand drive where only two points were dropped throughout. Finishing with one point lost at the pen, he scored 78 of 90.

At seven Derek Scrimgeour ran Killiebrae Laddie. They lost less on their gather but dropped an extra point on their lift. They lost five points on their fetch and three on their drive but a clean pen gave them a score of 78 points.

Derek ran Zac at 13 but was given a re-run, which he took at the very end of the day and again they scored 78. It was Spot’s quicker time of 5.24 minutes that gave him the title over runner up Laddie on 5.50, while Zac was third on 6.25.

Bred by John Ellis of Whitchurch in July 2006 out of Jill, Spot was sired by E. Black’s Rex.

Have your say

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

Name

E-mail

Comment