Raymond and Don take series after a third win

This week, entry fees, donations and sponsorship raised £432, bringing the overall total to £1,878, which had ‘exceeded all expectations and he is extremely grateful to all who have supported the trials in any way,’ said the host, Joseph Relph.

Running was over a mainly flat course set over two fields where three gaps had been made in the dividing fence.

Most dogs took the gather of approximately 300 yards left-handed and ran out well. Worked in packets of four, the Herdwick hoggs were quite good to manage but were quick to take advantage and would pull towards the exhaust pen, situated to the left of the course.

At hand, they were good to pen and shed. Norman Ireland judged the entry of 59 dogs.

The lead changed hands several times, with first David Harrison and Ben gaining 90 of 100 points, followed by Arthur Temple with Meg on 93 and then Alan Common with Mirk going top on 94.

It was at 53 when Raymond with Don went to the post, and little fault could be found in the rough-coated dog’s trial.

He lost one mark from his left-hand gather, and two for minor deviations down the fetch. He kept a good line over the cross-drive and had another tight turn after the last obstacle.

Clean finish

Just two marks were deducted throughout the drive – again for very minor deviations. Finishing clean at both the pen and shed gave Don the winning score of 95.

He won the first, the third and now this, the fifth and final trial of this series.

Although Richard Briggs made a strong challenge with Bill two runs later, their score of 94 took third place on an outbye decision to Alan Common and Mirk.

Five-year-old Don was bred by V. Price of Talgarth out of Fern, a daughter of T.W. Japp’s Ben.

His sire is J. Wright’s Jaff. Raymond bought him from Jim Cropper who ran him in the 2005-6 nursery season. This is the third open season Raymond has trialled Don.

“He is a good workmanlike dog with plenty of guts and is very consistent. I am delighted with him,” said his master.

Despite the course being demanding there was some good running at the Lonscale open, where Athol Clark judged the entry of 53.

Most dogs took the 500-yard outrun left-handed going downhill through clusters of reeds and trees.

Right-handed was the more difficult gather where the dogs were more included to cross.

Running was on Swaledale gimmer hoggs which had been wintered at home and were fit. If handled well, they went well over the outfield but had to be worked into the pen.

Running in the early forties, Jim Cropper had a very good round to take the lead on 96 points with Fleet. However, with a late forties trial, Derek Scrimgeour and Fleece gained a single-point advantage to win on 97.

Fleece was bred in August 2005 in California by Geri Byrne out of Killibrae Lyn and by Ted. She has been in the English team twice - in 2008 and in 2009.

Both trials were very similar and of an excellent standard. Their faultless line over the downhill return to the pen, gave Derek and Fleece the advantage, said the judge.

The Ryedale Society had two days of trialling last weekend at Middleton, Pickering.

Gentle rise to lift

With a fetch of about 250 yards, the course rose very gently to the lift.

Most gathered right-handed as the dogs could run too far and into a deep valley on the left.

The Mule gimmer hoggs were touchy and tended to split in the wet and windy Saturday weather, though they were generally good if handled carefully on Sunday.

John Atkinson judged the entry of 41 dogs on Saturday. At 16, James Howard took the lead with Wisp - on 96.

However, the title was taken by Brenda Swinbank and Nell with run 37. After a clean outrun Nell had a gentle lift.

Just an odd point was dropped at the turn into the first leg of the drive where another point was deducted.

One last point went for a minor deviation over the cross-drive, before Nell finished with a clean pen and shed to take her sixth title with 97 points.

On Sunday, Graham Blyth judged the entry of 43.

The standard was set early when Jim Cropper gained 92 with Black.

However, at 16, his wife Shirley, pulled one point ahead with Boss to take the title on 93. After a clean start, Boss had a controlled run, losing odd points for minor off line straying.

One sheep went around the pen – costing two points – before he finished with a clean shed.

Charles Cutler’s run with Ben at 19, took second place on an outbye decision.

Have your say

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

Name

E-mail

Comment

Post as

Anonymously

Display name