James Howard and Zac win twice in a weekend

Peter Wood judged the entry of 36 at the third and final Bamford trial of the season, where the Mule ewes were good to manage over a flat course with a fetch of 250 yards.

At 18, David Wood and Sal set the standard in the nursery class, on 81 points. However, at 25 James and Zac took the title with a single point advantage.

After dropping two points from their gather, they lost six for line deviations, before finishing with a clean pen to take their first nursery win.

For her consistent work at the three trials, the nursery aggregate went to John Chamberlain’s Molly.

In the novice class, Gus Dermody set the standard at 15, earning 81 points with Jess. They stood top until Ian Gregory took the title with Glen at 28.

Glen had an excellent outfield run, losing nothing until the drive, where three marks were deducted.

Later in the day, the entrance to the pen became muddy, making the sheep more difficult to box. Glen’s packet slipped round, costing four marks, to give a score of 83.

Glen was bred by F.V. Roberts of Llandegla in October 2005 out of Cammen Nan, sired by his Fran Ben. Glen was the joint winner of the novice aggregate on the same points as Gus and Jess.

Deerplay

At Deerplay on Sunday, Ian Salter judged the entry of 18 first season nursery dogs.

Over a sizeable course, set on elevated rough and wet ground, the running was on Cheviot shearlings. The strong and bitterly cold wind blowing down the field straight at the handlers made trialing conditions difficult, unsettling the sheep and making hearing hard for the dogs.

First to the post, James and Zac had an untidy lift before having a very nice run, hitting all three obstacles well and finishing with a good pen to score 80 points.

They took their second title eight points clear of runners-up Jim Cropper and Mac on 72.

Home-bred in July 2008 out of Jill, a bitch James has had registered on merit, Zac’s sire is James Richardson’s Staff.

Dovedale

Cyril Roberts judged the final Dovedale trial of 31 entries on Sunday, along with the concluding championships.

Over an undulating course, with a fetch of over 200 metres (650ft), the running was on good-to-manage Mule hoggs.

At nine, Maurice Gregory set the standard in the nursery class, gaining 74 points with Jake, before Gus Dermody and Gem took a clear lead on 80 points with run 15.

Bred in March 2008 by G. Hodkinson, of Chipping, Lancashire, out of Kim, Gem was sired by Robin Dean’s Kit.

John Harvey’s early run at three with Pat, scoring 81, failed to be matched. They won the novice trial, eight points clear of George Bonsall and Nap in second place.

It was a successful day for John and Pat as, in addition to winning the novice aggregate, they went on to win the championship.

Last of the three contenders to run, Pat dropped two marks from her lift, and four from both her fetch and driving for line deviations.

Following a clean pen, she lost all but one of her shedding points to score 81 of 100 and take the title six clear of George and Nap, who again had to settle for second place.

Home-bred in July 2006 out of her master’s Jill, Pat was sired by Roy Driver’s Joe.

The nursery championship was won by Paul Tomkins and Fynydd Ben, who ran first. They had a steady, controlled run, dropping odd marks from each section of their trial, before finishing with a clean shed to score 88.

Home-bred in November 2006 out of Fynydd Peg, Ben was sired by A. Smith’s Flint. Runner-up was kennel mate Fynydd Mac with 85 points, who also took the nursery aggregate.

Trawden

There was an entry of 35 dogs at the Trawden nursery, held on Saturday at Downham.

Over an excellent flat field with a fetch of 250 metres (820ft), the running was on Mule gimmer lambs, of which none were run a second time.

“The sheep accepted the steadier dogs,” said judge John Atkinson.

At 22, Stephen Duckworth set the standard with Shep, gaining 79 points - a score Elaine Hill matched, running Kate at 30.

It was Kate’s clean outrun and lift that won her the day and she took her first nursery title.

Home-bred in April 2008 out of Pippa, Kate was sired by Enid Moore’s Roy. She was reared and trained by Jim Jackson, returning to Elaine in September.

Tewitfield

On Sunday, Brenda Helliwell took her very first win with Bess at Tewitfield, where Philip Rigby judged the entry of 24.

Over a sizeable hillside course, the running was on testing Merino ewes.

With a late run, Bess hit all three obstacles, before finishing with a clean pen to gain 74 points and taking the title on an out-bye decision over Richard Hutchinson and Sweep on the same score.

Brenda bred four-year-old Bess out of an unregistered bitch by her own dog Strachan. Bess is the first dog Brenda has trained and competed with and has recently been registered on merit.

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