John Palmer and Sly lift trial title at Bolton Abbey

The course at Bolton Abbey was set over a large undulating pasture that rose gently up to the lift with a fetch in excess of 250 yards. Dogs were gathering either way, but most went right as there was open ground to the left. Many packets of the Mule hoggs refused to flow and were difficult to pen. Robert Fielden judged the trial entry of 38 and then the championship of six contenders.

Running at number nine in the trial, Tim Longton took the lead with Kim, gaining 70 of 90 marks. They stood top until, at 29, Jim and Ford gained a single-point advantage. For hesitancy towards the top of his left hand gather Ford lost three points before having a clean lift.

Obstacle

The sheep were quite hard to keep on line down the fetch, but Ford managed his packet well, losing a further three marks. After good driving he missed the last obstacle, dropping 11 points in total. Concluding with one of the better pens where just two points were lost, Ford had the winning score of 71. Having taken two wins at Holme and one at Yorkshire before Christmas this was his fourth title.

In the championship the sheep were run in packets of four and although more settled over the outfield they proved very hard to pen.

John and Sly ran first, and for stopping slightly short at the end of his gather Sly lost two points before having a clean lift. A stop just before the obstacle on the fetch cost an odd mark and two further marks were deducted at the turn. His driving was controlled but for minor deviations and slipping one sheep at the last obstacle Sly dropped six points.

The sheep milled for some time at the mouth of the pen, costing four points. Due to the time taken to pen his nine minutes expired before he was able to shed. Nevertheless he set the standard with 75 points, a score none of the following competitors was able to match.

Tim Longton was the runner-up with Kim for the second time that day. Kim’s score of 67 took second place on an out-bye decision over James Howard’s Zac on the same score.

After taking seven wins in his second nursery season and being the runner-up the previous week in the Trawden championship, Sly took his first championship title.

At the North Westmorland trial held at Greystoke Robin Dean judged an entry of 46 nursery and novice dogs. The entry included Chris Todd, competing for the first time since having major heart surgery.

Running was over a mainly flat course on packets of four Herdwick hoggs, which tended to pull to the right. In the nursery class Stephen Thexton took the lead with Mick on 80 of 90 points. However, Arthur Temple and Bob matched their score to take the title on an out-bye decision. In his second season this was Bob’s sixth win.

Fourth win

The two top novice runs came later in the trial. At 38, Joseph Relph earned 82 points, the highest score of the day to take the title with Bet. At 43, Derek Scrimgeour and Zac were the runners-up on 81. This was Bet’s fourth novice win of the season at North Westmorland. Paul Avis won best new handler with Bella.

An open trial held on Sunday at Lower Twiston and sponsored by the Trawden Sheep Dog Society, raised £350 for the 2011 World Trial.

Iain Ibbotson judged the entry of 54. With run 29, John Palmer and Sly were standing top on 79 points until, at 42, Colin Pickford gained 80 with Chappie. However, the title went to Tom Lawrenson and Clyde who, with run 50, took a clear three-point lead with 83.

However, the title went to Tom Lawrenson and Clyde who with 50 took a clear three point lead. After dropping a couple of points for an additional command over his left hand gather, Clyde lost nothing until his drive where four marks went in total for minor deviations. With one point lost at the pen he earned the winning score of 83. “He was fully in control at all times,” said the judge.

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