Close call at Glamorgan where just a solitary point decides two trials

The Novice Class in that trial was won by Malcolm Ellis with Bob on 10 points, closely chased by Colin Gordon with Meg, on 11 points.

These trials were hosted by David Millichap, who provided a good course with an outrun of 300 yards. The first drive was to the right and for some reason dogs tended to rush the Suffolk and Texel cross ewe lambs in the cross drive.

A week later, the trials moved to David Howells’ farm, and, on a flat field with an outrun of 300 yards, the ewe lambs worked well but could be tricky at the pen.

On what was a fine day Mike Edwards headed the list with Jill on 24 points with Malcolm Ellis and Bob on 25. Again there was only a single point in the Novice trial between Gareth Davies with Sam on 21 points and Dennis Griffiths, who took second place with Sally on the OLF rule.

Breconshire

With the only run of the day in single points Kevin Evans won the Breconshire Nursery with Roy on six points, with Yvonne Abrey and Polly on 11.

The Novice was won by Roy Jones with Wesley on 11 points, with Gethin Davies just two points adrift with Mac. Kevin was running on home ground, as was his father, David.

The field at Penclyn Farm, Modrydd, is quite often used for trials. The outrun was about 225 yards and the ground sloped away to the right.

It was the cross drive which proved the most difficult part of the course. There was a shed and pen and the sheep were an excellent and consistent challenge to the dogs.

Glos/Gwent is the only organisation running a Beginners’ Class and to their credit four dogs ran in this class, which was won by G. Mumford. The Nursery Class was won by Angie Blackmore with Floss on 11 points, from G. Jones and Nan on 15 points.

It was appropriate that Colin Evans, on whose farm at Coedkernew the trials were held, won the Novice class in which the scoring was very tight. Colin ran Dot to score 10 points, with Jeff Hudd on his heels with Tysswg Ben scoring 11.

John Davies with Moss won both the Nursery Class and the South Wales class at the Ceredigion Nursery, with Drift also taking the South Wales Puppy class.

It was one of those days when the intermittent and cold rain had its effect.

Dogs sent out to the right could be spotted by the sheep before having a chance to get behind them.

The sheep would then run up onto the hill on the right and then had the difficult downhill run to the fetch gates. Dogs sent to the right, and there were not very many, would disappear behind the hillock before reaching the lift. There was a shed before the ungated pen was attempted.