Spot does it again for Kevin Evans on a daunting course at Erwood

The in-bye work was on the bottom of the slope, in good view of all the spectators and the drives totalled some 200 metres and were not without difficulty to the competitors. Such was the challenge of the venue, handlers had travelled from Northampton, North Wales, Glamorgan, Bristol and all points West to compete.

While the packets of four pedigree Talybont Welsh ewes stood well at the lift, they did clearly not like being driven downhill. The first problem occurred at the fetch gates, where they had to be worked hard to be driven through.

The left hand turn round the handler caused further problems after which the sheep, as they do, wanted to escape back up the hill and had to be leant on to catch the drive gates.There being no shedding discipline, the handler could leave the post after the cross drive and go to the pen.

The line chosen to bring the sheep to the pen was critical; there being no back to the pen, it was of paramount importance to bring the sheep directly to the pen or they could not see their escape route into and through the opening. This is what Kevin Evans demonstrated on both his runs, which gave him his second eight point win following his success at Llangadog.

Harcourt Lloyd had all morning in the judge’s seat to calculate his strategy for the afternoon session which he won and took a further place. Aerwyn Price, Claire Ridge andYvonne Abrey made their mark in the Open class and it is good to see the ladies giving the men a run for their money.

Special thanks are due to the Morgan family of Noyadd Farm and the Griffiths family of Felindre Farm for kindly donating the sheep and the use of the field. A South Wales Style trial was held on Sunday

Jeff and Helen Hudd hosted the Wauntysswg trial in Glamorgan on Bank Holiday Monday. The weather was bright but very cold.

Sloping away from the handler, the undulating field permitted dogs, who had not seen their packet of four Glamorgan Welsh Ewes, to outrun very wide. The fetch, measuring 217 metres (235 yards) was well accomplished by most, but the crossdrive, a wide 170 metres (185 yards), following a right-hand turn in front of the handler, and a 100 yard (92 metres) away drive, did cause many problems due to the undulations in the field

Shedding was quite ably achieved but most had problems at the pen. The sheep would not take pressure too well from keen dogs and success was achieved by a steady pace and thoughtful handling.

Kevin Evans was well placed yet again, winning both the Open sessions with his Greg, but he only just beat Richard Montgomery in the morning. They both had clean outruns and lifts, lost four and five points on the drives respectively, one and two points in the shed and three and two at the pen.

For big fields one had to travel to Ystrad Meurig where Irwell Evans hosted the Gwnnws trial in Ceredigion. The outrun was 415 metres (450 yards) and dogs disappeared from view for a time, drives measured 320 metres (350 yards) and was left-handed.

There was no shedding, but there was a back to the pen, which meant that the sheep, a mixture of Mules and Welsh Mountain Ewes, had to be put in the pen. If the dogs did not lift the sheep carefully and upset them at the beginning of their nine minute run, handlers found success escaped them around the rest of the course.