Matt and Milo head up the English qualifiers

August 27, 2010

AFTER a closely contested run off the English National Champion title went to Matt Watson with Milo.

The national was last held at Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, in 2005 and this year, with the castle as a backdrop, there were long sunny intervals between showers, while Saturday was dry.

The course was set over a gently rising pasture approaching the lift and had a slight incline from left up to the right. Dogs gathered either way but due to an open expanse of ground they could go too wide on the right. Those going left disappeared into a dip, re-emerging about 70 metres from the lift.

Thursday’s dogs worked Cheviot cross Mule shearlings and one crop ewes, while Friday and Saturday’s dogs had Cheviot shearlings.

The top five from each day qualified with a run-off between the three winners on Saturday evening to decide the champion. The reserve berth went to Eamonn Lawless and Bill, the highest pointed sixth placing from the three trials.

Ian Murdoch and Gus Dermody had three lengthy days of judging. “They were long hard days but I thoroughly enjoyed them,” said Ian. “It was a very good national and nobody qualified without having to work hard for it,” added Gus.

“There were some very good outfield runs which fell down in the shedding ring where the sheep were difficult to part. It was interesting to watch the competitors’ different techniques in the ring.”

Testing sheep

Thursday’s sheep were the most testing, being lively and easily upset, and as it was impossible to get a standard, competitors were taking the full allocated time.

With an early run at three, Ben Smith and Meg had a good round to take the lead on 159 points. At 23, Mark Elliott and Spot pulled ahead by a single mark on 160. It was late in the day at 45, as the sun was setting, when Stephen Duckworth and Spy had the winning trial.

After a good right-hand gather Spy kept a nice line down the fetch before having a tight turn (which was hard to achieve) into the left hand drive. The cross-drive obstacle was hard to judge with many missing it on the inside, but Spy slipped her sheep at the far side.

She had a good shed, a perfect pen but lost half of her single points to earn 164. Five-year-old Spy was homebred out of her master’s Gyp and sired by his Highcliff Tom. This is the first time Stephen has qualified to be in the English team.

On Friday although the Cheviot shearlings continued to be a good test for the dogs they were a little easier to manage.

David Harrison took the lead with Ben on 174. They had an excellent start, losing four points from their gather, had a clean lift and lost just six from the fetch.

Keeping his sheep settled, Ben had a very good drive catching both obstacles well before having a clean shed. There was slight milling before the sheep went into the pen but he was out of time before taking the single.

Registered on merit, Ben was bred in October 2002 by Martin Harrison, David’s son, out of Jess and sired by Alan Leak’s Tom. This is the third time he and his master have been in the team.

Carol Mellin and Maisie pulled into second place on 172 before Mark Elliott and Gail, last year’s runners up in the Supreme, matched Ben’s score. It was Ben’s good start which won him the day on an out-bye decision.

The Cheviot shearlings were similar to the previous day on Saturday but, over the afternoon, were stopping to graze more.

Matt Watson and Milo were fourth to the post and after a good gather and lift Milo had an excellent fetch. His driving was good with just odd stops and minor deviations.

Losing six points at the shed and four at the pen he finished with a clean single to earn 182, the top score of the trial.

A brown and white dog, Milo was bred by Mrs Shirley Turnham of Syresham, out of Sian and sired by his master’s Cockburn Moss. This is the fourth time 34-year-old Matt has qualified to represent England and the second time with Milo.

Alan Von Dinther earned 180 points with Monty to take second place while Arthur Temple and Meg scored 178 to take third.

Run off

In the run off, the winning trial was last to go. Milo had a clean left-hand gather before losing four marks at the lift. Just six points were lost over a very good fetch, then 16 went throughout the drive for slight bends and a wide turn.

A slightly untidy shed cost 10 marks and then eight went at the pen. Finishing with a clean, positive, single gave the winning score of 176, while Stephen was second on 162 and David third with 140.

Matt was obviously delighted: “I am really chuffed with how Milo ran, particularly as he worked so consistently both times.”

After being the runner-up last year Richard Hutchinson was the brace champion, running Wenndale Roy and Sweep and he also qualified Roy in the singles. John Carter will represent England in the driving championship with Moon’s Park Jen.

Results

Judges: Ian Murdoch (Sutton on Forest) & Gus Dermody (Nantwich).

Day 1, 1, S. Duckworth, Spy, 164; 2, M. Elliott, Spot, 160; 3, B. Smith, Meg, 159; 4, C. Cropper, Ned, 156 OLF; 5, E. Lawless, Maddie, 156 OLF.

Day 2, 1, D. Harrison, Ben, 174 OLF; 2, M. Elliott, Gail, 174; 3, C. Mellin, Maisie, 172; 4, J. Carter Moons Park Jen, 168; 5, Richard Hutchinson (Wenndale) Roy, 164 OLF.

Day 3, 1, M. Watson, Milo, 182; 2, A. Von Dinther, Monty, 180; 3, A. Temple, Meg, 178; 4, T. Lawrenson, Spot, 172 OLF; 5, J. Cropper Black, 172 OLF.

Team, 1, M. Watson (Tadcaster) Milo, 176 of 220 in run off; 2, S. Duckworth (Haslingden) Spy, 162 in run off; 3, D. Harrison (Selside) Ben, 140 in run off; 4th to 6th calculated by taking the three in second place on each day and ranking them in score order, similarly the three third placed for 7th to 9th etc; 4, A. Von Dinther (Whitchurch) Monty, 180; 5, M. Elliott (Kirklinton) Gail, 174; 6, M. Elliott, Spot, 160; 7, A. Temple (Holmrook) Meg, 178; 8, C. Mellin (Oakworth) Maisie, 172 OLF; 9, B. Smith (Ashbourne) Meg, 159; 10, T. Lawrenson (Brindle) Spot, 172; 11, J. Carter (Delabole) Moons Park Jen, 168; 12, C. Cropper (Water) Ned, 156; 13, J. Cropper (Deerplay) Black, 172; 14, Richard Hutchinson (Littledale) Wenndale Roy, 164 OLF; 15, E. Lawless (Isle of Wight) Maddie, 156. Reserve: E. Lawless Bill.

Brace (6 ran, judges, George Redpath (Dacre) and Thomas Huddleston (Caton)): 1, Richard Hutchinson Wenndale Roy and Sweep, 186 of 280; 2, S. Duckworth Spy and Highcliff Tom, 169.

Farmers Trophy, M. Watson, Milo.

Shepherds Trophy, V. Powell (Cold Ashby) Mint.

Driving, J. Carter, Moons Park Jen.