Rock’s quicker early run earns a fourth novice title

Held at Hutton in the Forest, the mainly flat course saw most gathered left-handed as the dogs could run too wide to the right. Running was on Mule gimmer hoggs with all competitors having fresh sheep. Ann Armstrong judged the entry of 47.

David and Rock set the standard in the nursery class with run eight. After one point was lost from his left-hand gather and two from his lift, Rock dropped seven in total for line deviations. Throughout one sheep kept trying to break from the others but Rock managed it well.

This same sheep slipped around the pen costing two marks before she went in, giving a score of 78. At 13, Alec Baines and Tanhill Joe also earned 78 points, then at 24 Mike Beaty and Hemp gained the same score. Rock’s quicker time gave him the title, with Hemp second and Joe third.

From his four outings last season Rock gained one win.After winning at Grange, early in November, this was his second title this season. With the highest score of the day the novice title went to Derek and Zac running at 19.

After a clean gather, Zac dropped two marks from his lift, six for line deviations and two at the pen to score 80. At 27, Cath Flynn, who ran in the New Handler class last season, went second with Tarn on 76, but Andy Anderson and Nip, who matched the score in a quicker time, relegated her to third place. Joe Lowry was best New Handler running Sky, ahead of Michael Glasgow and Nap.

Fylde

The Fylde Society held its fourth trial of the season on Saturday at Rooten Brook Farm, Quernmore, where Colin Dewhirst judged an entry of 34.

As the usual nursery trial field was too wet, the course was set on a higher pasture rising to the lift with a fetch of about 180 metres (200 yards). All competitors had fresh, touchy, Swaledale ewes, which also hard to pen.

With the first run of the day, Richard Hutchinson set the standard with Sweep, gaining 64 points. However, the winning run came at 14 when Lesley Penswick went to the post with Lewis. After a faultless left-hand gather and lift, Lewis lost three marks from his fetch for deviations of line. In total 14 points were deducted over the drive where two sheep slipped at the last obstacle.

Although 12 competitors penned, none finished clean. Lewis lost eight of his 10 penning points, giving a score of 65, to give him his first nursery title.

At the Yorkshire nursery held at Blubberhouses, Barry Little judged an entry of 39.

Over a sizeable course, the running was on Swaledale ewes, which were good to manage over the outfield but hard to pen.

At five, James Howard set a good standard with Zac. With four points lost from his gather, one from his fetch and three from his driving, Zac’s score of 82 was not matched and he took the title four clear of runners-up John Palmer and Sly. James then travelled to the Ryedale trial where, with a single-point advantage, he and Zac took their second title of the day.

At the Tewitfield nursery, Norman Ireland judged the entry of 39 dogs as they worked Quessants, a French breed of miniature sheep, over a sizeable hillside course.

Although the sheep were extremely lively, James Burrow and Sam mastered them with an early run and were the clear winners on 82 points over runners-up Tim Longton and Kim on 76. After winning the previous week at Windermere, this was Sam’s second title.

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