Repeat title win for John and May at Trawden

Held on the Trawden Show field, the course, with a fetch of 250 yards, sloped very gently uphill to the lift. Most gathered right-handed as the ground was open and rough to the left and the dogs could be lost from sight.

If lifted carefully and not pressured, the Mule gimmer hoggs were quite good to manage over the outfield but hard to pen. Of the 41 entries judged by Bob Clarkson, Jim Jackson and Jess, placed fifth in the novice class, were the only competitors to have a clean pen. Second to the post, William Bell and Ness, set the standard in the novice class.

Their outfield work was very good with only five points lost. However, difficulty at the pen cost six marks to give a score of 79.

John and May ran at 14. After losing one point from her gather May had a clean lift. For minor deviations down the fetch she lost two points along with three deducted from her driving.

Four-point loss

On reaching the pen she was one point behind Ness but a better finish with a loss of four points put her ahead on 80. Having won the Yorkshire Novice in 2008, this was the second time John and May were presented with the Lionel Whittingham Cup, they were also runners-up last year.

May was home-bred in February 2006 out of her master’s Jen and sired by Alun Jones’ Bill and she is currently rearing a litter of pups of her own. William and Ness were the highest pointed competitors residing within a 20-mile radius of Silsden, where the Yorkshire Society was founded and therefore they were presented with the Charles Thackray Cup.

Placed third in the novice class Elaine Hill with Kate on 76 points won the Sam Dyson Cup for being the highest pointed Yorkshire committee member.

The top two nursery dogs ran later. At 30, Thomas Longton and Maya took a clear lead.

Just one point had been lost as Maya turned her sheep into the left-hand drive. Throughout her driving she lost three marks but on reaching the pen, her sheep refused to go in – costing ten points and giving a score of 76.

Maya’s closest contender ran at 34, John Atkinson’s Dave. Apart from missing the fetch obstacle, Dave had a good run and penned with a loss of five points (74) and take second place. Maya was bred by Brenda Helliwell of Lancaster in April 2008 out of Nel and sired by Eric Baxter’s Cap. Thomas bought her in November from Sally Temple. Maya has also been rearing a litter of pups and has not competed at many trials over the winter.

First nursery win

On Saturday she took her first nursery win and her master was presented with the Ernest Brewer Memorial Trophy.

At the weekday Tewitfield open trial, Mark Pickering judged the entry of 32 dogs. In fine but breezy weather conditions the running was over a sizeable hillside course. Never were the store lambs of various breeds easy to manage and were flighty over the outfield and difficult to pen. Once taken back, they became more awkward and most of the higher-pointed dogs ran in the morning.

Running late morning, Jim Cropper and Fleet handled their packet of hoggs well: “Fleet took hold and kept hold of his sheep,” said the judge.

Steered by Jim, who always excels when the sheep are unpredictable and flighty, Fleet lost two points from his fetch and two from his driving for deviations.

Patience paid off at the pen where just a single point was lost for hesitation. That good pen gave Fleet a strong advantage and with 85 points he took the title five points clear.

Shirley Cropper and Boss were runners-up with another good outfield run but difficulty at the pen put them on 80. Brian Bell and Kyle earned the same score and were placed third on an outbye decision. Four-year-old Fleet was bred by J.B. Fothergill, of Hawes, out of Gail and sired by John Harrison’s Calderdale Jim.

On Good Friday, two open trials were held at Slindon, Staffordshire. Running was over a sizeable flat course with a fetch of about 340 yards and each section of driving over 100 yards.

If handled in a firm but gentle manner, the Mule gimmer hoggs were reasonable over the course. However, the dogs had to work to put them into the pen and some struggled to single as the hoggs tended to stick tightly together.

Cross-drive hurdle

Thomas Longton judged the morning trial of 30 entries. At nine, Dave Hemmings took the lead with Bran. They had a good outfield run apart from missing the cross-drive hurdle which was a difficult one to judge. Bran’s sheep were quite stubborn at the pen and he had to back them in.

On completion of the single, his score of 81 held the lead until George Bonsall and Tim went to the post at 25.

After a good left-hand gather Tim had controlled outfield work. He had slight difficulty at the pen and then struggled to get the single where half of his points were lost. Scoring 82 he won the trial with a single point advantage.

Tim was bred in August 2004 by T. Williams of Llangedwyn out of Jess and sired by Alastair Gilchrist’s Mac.

In the afternoon Tim Foster judged the entry of 39. At 11, Frank Cleary went ahead scoring 81 with Dan. However, the winning run came at 24, Pennant Williams with Sweep.

After lifting his sheep gently, five-year-old Sweep was in control and kept good lines, although he turned his hoggs just before the first drive obstacle. A clean pen was followed by a good single and with 86, he won by five points.

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