There is a well known saying, 'no pain, no gain' and that will be ringing true in the minds of Milk Link’s 1,600 producers, who are on the brink of reaping just reward for 12 years of loyalty and investment.George and Rose's Peak prize
GEORGE Redpath and Rose won the Ringinglow double gather championship, the conclusion to two days of trialing at Peak Forest.
Running was on a sizeable rising course set over two fields with gaps at either side for the dogs to gather and a gateway in the middle for the fetch.
On Saturday as the Mule shearlings were touchy and proved hard to pen a good number of the 44 entries failed to finish with the shed. On Sunday the sheep were more compliant for the entry of 26. David Sykes judged both days.
Ben Smith and Meg were the clear winners of Saturday’s trial. They were second to the post and none of the following competitors came close to matching their score of 85 of 100 points. On Sunday with the very first run David Wood and Sal set a high standard and with 92 points they were the undisputed victors.
In the championship of 11 contenders drawn second David set a high standard with his other bitch Moe, gaining 133 of 150 points. After two very good gathers she slipped five of her ten sheep at the first drive obstacle and went on to drop further points at the shed. Drawn fourth George and Rose went ahead.
Directional commands
Rose required several directional commands over both gathers, but she took them well. Once her two packets of five sheep were united the remainder of her run was almost faultless.
“She got on with the job and her sheep never stalled or faltered,” remarked the judge. Finishing clean at hand her score of 135 earned her the title clear by two points.
At the charity trial held on Saturday at Hutton in the Forest £270 was raised for the British Heart Foundation. Held on a new field the mainly level course with a fetch approaching 300 yards had a lengthy cross-drive. Throughout the Mule shearlings ran consistently well.
In the nursery class at nine Peter Ellis earned 83 points with Clint to take the lead. That score was matched by Norman Ireland and Penny running at 42 who took the title on an out-bye decision.
The two top runs came one after the other in the novice class. Joseph Relph and Fan took the lead at 46 with 84 points before Larry Cowper and Tod earned 87 to win with a three point advantage.
As last year’s winner, James Howard was on holiday, his father Jimmy judged the entry of 35 at the annual Broomhead Show open. Sloping downhill to the lift the gather was approximately 300 yards and there were natural hazards over the course, including trees and a stream.
Running was on early lambing Texel and Charolais ewes worked in fives which were good over the outfield, but hard to put into the ungated pen.
With run 10, David Whitehead went into the lead with Roy on 82 points. They stood top until, at 23, Ian Gregory gained a single point advantage to take the title with Glen.
English results
RINGINGLOW, Perrydale Farm, Peak Forest, Derbyshire, Saturday Qualifying Open (D. Sykes, Bardney, 44 ran) 1, B. Smith (Ashbourne) Meg, 85 of 100; 2, S. Little (Kerdiston) Brad, 75; 3, J. McBride (Grantham) Joe, 75; 4, S. Little, Foxy, 73; 5, G. Redpath (Dacre) Rose, 73; 6, V. Powell (Cold Ashby) Mint, 73.
Novice, 1, A. Heathcote (Rainow) Blue, 67 of 100; 2, I. Gregory (Peak Forest) Glen, 61; 3, J. Porter (Broughton Astley) Yogi, 55.
Sunday Qualifying Open (26 ran) 1, D. Wood (Derwent Valley) Sal, 92 of 100; 2, P. Williams (Treuddyn) Sweep, 86; 3, D. Wood, Moe, 78; 4, A. Gilchrist (Llangollen) Roy, 75; 5, D. Whitehead (Edgworth) Ted, 71; 6, W. Allen (Sheen) Matt, 71.
Novice, 1, A. Gilchrist, Bob, 69 of 100; 2, R. Saxon (Bradwell) Cammen Rip, 67.
Double Gather Championship (11 ran) 1, G. Redpath, Rose, 135 of 150; 2, D. Wood, Moe, 133; 3, R. Saxon, Cammen Rip, 130; 4, P. Williams, Sweep, 117; 5, D. Wood, Sal, 114; 6, J. Fletcher (Chesterfield) Cap, 112.
CHARITY Trial, Hutton in the Forest, Penrith, Cumbria (G. Smithsom, Kirkbride, 44 ran) Novice, 1, L. Cowper (Threlkeld) Tod, 87 of 90; 2, J. Relph (Borrowdale) Fan, 84; 3, J. Relph, Bet, 81 OLF; 4, N. Cottam (Holmrook) Ant, 81.
Nursery, 1, N. Ireland (Holmrook) Penny, 83 of 90 OLF; 2, P. Ellis (New Hutton) Clint, 83; 3, B. Helliwell (Lancaster) Bess, 77.
– Money raised for the British Heart Foundation amounted to £270.
BROOMHEAD SHOW, Bolsterstone, Sheffield, Open (J. Howard snr, Holme, 35 ran) 1, I. Gregory (Peak Forest) Glen, 83 of 90; 2, D. Whitehead (Edgworth) Roy, 82; 3, G. Birchenall (Chinley) Alf, 78; 4, D. Whitehead, Ted, 75; 5, G. Clark (South Normanton) Floss, 73 OLF; 6, S. Wilkinson (Thurgoland) Huthwaite Faye, 73.
ROMNEY MARSH, Rigshill Farm, Otterden (R. Willis, Kent) Open, 1, E. Lawless (Isle of Wight) Maddie, 87 of 100; 2, Ray Edwards (Eartham) Jess, 85 OLF; 3, Ray Edwards, Sky, 85; 4, E. Lawless, Bill, 84; 5, W. Cole (Tillingham) Fell, 82; 6, J. Marsh (Goddards Green) Gyp, 81.
Novice, 1, E. Lawless, Bruno, 52 of 70; 2, E. Lawless, Niamh, 50; 3, D. Thompson (Tenterden) Ben, 47; 4, J. Robertson (Henfield) Sally, 39.
ROMNEY MARSH. Kent Championship, Chilham Castle (C. Jupp, Appledore, 37 ran), Open, 1, Ray Edwards (Eartham) Spud, 81 of 100; 2, E. Lawless (Isle of Wight) Maddie, 80; 3, Ray Edwards, Jess, 79; 4, W. Cole (Tillingham) Moss, 77; 5, Ray Edwards, Bill, 75 OLF; 6, D. Thompson (Tenterden) Ben, 75.
Novice, 1, D. Thompson, Ben, 75 of 100; 2, E. Lawless, Bruno, 69; 3, L. Amos (Ashdown Forest) Corriedhu Breac, 59 OLF; 4, E. Lawless, Niamh, 59.
WESSEX, Didling Farms, Saturday Trial (A. Jackman, Brockham, 61 ran) Open, 1, A. Blackmore (Ledbury) Floss, 78 of 100; 2, J. Watson (Brecon) Craig, 73; 3, J. Watson, Jake, 71; 4, E. Lawless (Isle of Man) Maddie, 70; 5, E. Lawless, Bill, 69; 6, A. Johnson (Isle of Wight) Drift, 66.
Novice, 1, A. Blackmore, Floss, 78 of 100; 2, Ray Edwards (Eartham) Sweep, 57.
Sunday Trial (J. Watson, Brecon) Open, 1, J. Atwell (Evesham) Snip, 73 of 100; 2, D. Roper (Northleach) Spot, 72; 3, A. Johnson, Drift, 65; 4, Ray Edwards, Jess, 64; 5, D. Roper, Scrap, 62; 6, J. Harper (Jacobstowe) Lily, 61.
Novice, 1, M. Fox (Dorset) Gem, 45.
Best Lady, J. Atwell, Snip.
Aggregate Prizes, Best OLF, E. Lawless, Bill; Best Shed and Pen, A. Johnson, Drift; Farmers Cup, D. Roper, Spot; Shepherds Cup, Ray Edwards, Sweep.
– Profits to Naomi House Children’s Hospice and Canine Partners.
ISLE OF MAN, Bishopscourt Charity Trial (A. Martin, Bride) Novice, 1, B. Davenport (Sulby) Molly, 53 of 90; 2, K. Christian
(Marown) Billy, 40; 3, W. Cowell (Douglas) Nan, 32.
Qualifying Open, 1, R. Crowe (Bishopscourt) Nell, 91 of 100; 2, R. Briggs (Wennington) Wenndale Star, 81; 3, R. Briggs, Bill, 80; 4, R. Crowe, Spot, 74; 5, R. Crowe, Storm, 72; 6, R. Briggs Wenndale Peg, 69.
Young Handler, A. Briggs (Wennington) Ted.
Final, 1, R. Crowe, Nell, 130 of 150; 2, R. Briggs, Wenndale Star, 121; 3, R. Briggs, Bill, 103; 4, R. Briggs, Wenndale Peg, 102; 5, R. Crowe, Spot, 93.
– Money raised for the Isle of Man Children’s Hospital amounted to £200.
NORTHUMBERLAND LEAGUE, Lilburn, Wooler, Open (J. Easton, Eglingham, 41 ran) 1, G. Thompson (Edmundbyres) Red, 92 of 100; 2, E. Gray (Elsdon) Spot, 89; 3, G. Pringle (Alwinton) Bess, 87; 4, B. Dalziel (Ettrick) Joe, 86; 5, P. Turnbull (Rothbury) Mirk, 86; 6, B. Jordan (Whitfield) Tex, 85.
Novice, M. Iley (Longframlington) Cap, 84.
Also in: George and Rose's Peak prize
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