How The West Was Won

So a leisurely morning was had for the day of the double lift at the Western Canadian Finals in Shaunovan.  After walking the dogs, there was breakfast for champions served at Jamie's  - this bed and breakfast has four stars (three when Earl from Vancouver leaves).  Chris got Jamie's horse Nickki all ready, since he was going to ride her and Rene LaBree was going to ride Dexter to help out with the double lift.  The morning started with the Nursery runs - and Cory Perry and Drift came out on top, with Louanne and Mack close on his heels for Reserve.  The wind was blasting from the west, and it would stay for the whole day.  Blast it anyways!  The morning started with Dale Montgomery and Zip laying down a 118 - placing the five collared girls in the pen.  His score would not be beat for a good part of the day - Chris Jobe and Fly, Jennifer Larivee and Mitch (who also ran nursery), Peter Gonnet and Jill (who apparently had a disaster according to the great announcer Art Unsworth - great going Art, Peter wanted to hang himself from a tree - but thankfully there were no trees around, so now he will take up quilting), Joanne Zoerb and Mick and Ian Zoerb and Freckles ran and it looked like Dale would blow (like the wind) the competition and win the Championships. During the day, I had popped into town to visit with Chris' Uncle Joe (whose real name is Francis, which causes slight confusion for those who know him as Francis - but he is not confused so that is all that matters) and asked him if he would like to come out and show off his new hip.  Regretfully he declined, not wanting to be showed up by Stormy Winters and his new hip.  I also stopped by the local pharmacy and picked up some medication for Louanne - guess she has acid problems since I picked up some gas reflux stuff for her - probably from the wine (okay, just joking, medication was for her dog - but I did she her pop a few pills that were meant for Meg - wonder if I should tell her they were for deworming?)  Another 50/50 raffle was done (Louanne and Norm had won the other two days) and the quilt was raffled off (now Cory will be very warm when has to sleep in the dog house).  Then there was Norm - my big buddy - Sommers and Lexi who came to the post and squeezed another point out of Joni Swanke the judge and got a 119 - after some defensive moves that maybe the Saskatchewan Roughriders should take note of at the shedding ring.  Then it was Gin and my turn.  Picture this, a wind blowing that could knock my butt over - now that is a wind!  After missing the fetch panels on the first lift (which was my fault - driver's error), Gin sort of did a swallow's tail - I think it was the wind that blew her off - and picked up the second lot of sheep - and missed those fetch panels as well.  In my head I knew it was over - but, I sure wasn't going to leave.  The drive was done (not too shabby) and the sort was to commence.  It did not sort out for me and Gin - there was a collared ewe that would rejoin several times with the others - and in our defence I will say it was because Gin couldn't hear me to cut than one off from the others, partly because of the wind, and partly because I had slightly lost my voice for yelling "Supper Time" the night before - at least that is the excuse I am making up.  Our run ended with us still at the shedding ring, and a resounding score of 90 - room to improve that is for sure.  Joann and Soot and Ian and Sam would finish off the day - and they would not be able to beat big buddy Norm and Lexi - they would win the whole kit (not kitten) and caboodle (and I have thus learned that this phrase came from the war time where the soldier would pack his whole kit and caboodle - thanks to Lisa Wright for this valuable information- but what the hell is a caboodle?).  Our score would put us in 7th position - guess it wasn't our time to peak - perhaps it will be Meeker?  Or maybe it would be during the Driving Competition - in which the provinces stack up their best driving dogs against one another.  It would be Jennifer Larivee and Mitch for BC, Joann Zoerb and Mik for Alberta and myself and Gin for Saskatchewan.  Once again, no peak for Gin and I - although a valiant effort was done - Joann and Mik took home the prize (but not literally since the trophy was still in BC in Nancy Stephens house).  Yes, hopefully our peak will be in a week's time - I guess there will be peaks of mountains to see.  Prizes were handed out and goodbyes said and the 2012 Western Canadian Finals/Shaunovan Classic was over.  Before we left Shaunovan, Chris and I went out for supper with the Zoerbs, Sommers, Harvey and Jamie, Chris Jobe, Courtney (who is now a new handler after buying Boone from Joann) and Earl...from Vancouver.  Chris and I headed off for home to McCord (not Neville, Art Unsworth, and her name is Joni, not Joanne).  This is Wendy....from McCord....signing off.  Stay tuned for the picture portion of the 2012 Western Canadian Finals.

Western Hospitality

After work on Wednesday, another dog trial was about to go down in the annals of history - the Shaunavon Sheepdog Classic/Western Canadian Finals.  After a busy day at work (okay, it may not be busy for some - working 9 to 2 - what a way to make a living - now I have an urge to put a big blond wig on and find Herbert Holmes and sing Islands in the Stream), Chris and I got things ready and set out west (1 1/2 hours) to go to Jamie VanRhyn's - our gracious host for the weekend.  Jamie had agreed to (with a little arm twisting from me) to host the Western Canadian Finals with her trial.  When we arrived to Jamie and her new fiance Harvey's place, they had steak and a bed ready for us.  A quick sleep was had, and the trial was to be on it's way.  We had talked to the border control people and they would allow Joni Swanke to come across the border to be the judge, and I would judge the lower classes - and Earl from Vancouver would allow us to park at the field without paying.  Chris and his sheep setting steed Dexter was to be busy setting all weekend with help from Russell (a volunteer for Jamie) at the set out.  Jamie had volunteers galore - 4-H group to feed us, a great field and good sheep. 
Now granted, it wasn't a huge trial as for numbers of dogs, but the trial was huge in its organization and fundraising.  Perhaps they were fundraising just in case I drank too much Jager and had to visit the local RCMP detachment - luckily Randy Dye did not come and lead me to the dark side and I was well behaved - relatively speaking that is.  For those that missed they trial - they missed a good one.
After running on the first day, in which 1. Gin and Floss ran not spectacular, but fair, 2. Mitch ran fairly fast without a care and 3. I judged pronovice looking for a pear (shaped outrun), there was a potluck at Jamie and Harvey's. The masses came to eat, some masses (Stormy Winters) drank - and we all were merry. Before we hit the hay, we did some dog remedial classes - ie.  you better listen  dog.  The next day there was another round of judging - I had offered to give a point per dollar spent for the pro-novice contestants, but everyone must of spent their dollars at the farmer's market that was there since I didn't get a dime.  There were no slashed tires on Dora, so I assumed that everyone was okay with how I placed the dogs in the pro-novice class.  The highlight was Louanne Twa and Craig winning the day (Craig had broken his leg about one year ago, and after a long recovery, and a green bandage, it looks like things will be fine - perhaps the green bandage came out of the Saskatchewan Roughriders medical kit).
The nursery was run again - trying to find the top five dogs that would run in the nursery finals on the final day.  Mitch ran his final run - he would rest for the rest of the trial since he finished in the bottom five - however, I was still quite happy with him.  Why you may ask?  I find the biggest complement for us is to have an offer to buy a dog.  A few people asked if he was for sale (maybe it was the booze talking, but I have been known to talk to booze so I listened).  Mitch's head wasn't on the chopping block, but if he ever is, I know who to go to.
Now, to get to play the final day in the double lift, it would be either 1. finish in the top three of each day, or 2. finish in the top four accumulative score.  I ran Gin early, and our 81 without a shed would get us third spot for the day (talking about by the skin of the teeth - and if you have skin on your teeth you should really brush). Floss was....how you say....fast.  Things were going south - the run... the sheep... the dog - and instead of Joni giving me 10 points, we retired - I was tired of that run.  About midway through the day, the hatches had to be batten (what is batten down the hatches anyway) since the weather turned right nasty. The big Pug was our protection as we watched sorry sods run in the rain.  After the runs were all done, I played Dracula (with the help of Bev Sommers) and took some blood for dogs for a CEA clinic (I made sure we had the right type of alcohol for the clinic - 99% proof).  We then had supper put on by the 4-H club and awards were given out.  How many trials can you say where 100% of the entry fees are paid back?  Fundraising was done by Jamie and her gang of merry men - and it had sounded like it was fun raising. The lucky ten dogs were announced for the double lift, and drawing of order of running were done.
An early night was done, plans were discussed how to run the double lift, and we put on our Saskatchewan Fascinators (they say pictures are worth a thousand words - the pictures will be in the next blog).  There was a little excitement as the sheep went on the lam - I guess they had a meeting and they said this trial thing was for the birds and they flew the coop.  They were soon found hiding behind a single tree.
Now this blog has been all done in the past tense - now I must write in the present tense.  It is 2:46 am in the morning and I can't sleep, so I have written this lengthy blog.  The last day of the trial will start in a few hours and Gin and I will be 8th to run.  Will this be the time we peak?  Time will tell, and if we don't peak - who cares!  It has been a great trial, and a great time was had!!

The Championships Were Champion

The Kingston Sheepdog Trials has always been an annual event for me - joining up with old friends, meeting new friends, and watching the dogs.  Not a year goes by without memories (as long as not too much liquor is consumed) are made.

This year was the 25th year that the handlers and dogs came to Grass Creek. 

We would celebrate this time in style.  A truly fascinating event would take place.

In the words of Dr. Seuss..."Do you like my hat?"

The fashion police came out.

But no tickets were written.

The men would have their attire as well - flashy hats and ties.

And the games would go on (this was just like the Olympics - Olympic village and everything).  The four days would be full of watching dogs..

..some watched really close...

...and the judges watched closer.

On the other side of the coin, we would run our dogs...

I thought Kristi had the fancy shoes to run Wick, but it was to run away from the fuzz after the car she and Lee Lumb were renting was part of a sting operation.

The parking police, tougher than the RCMP - they get their man.

But I digress.  I ran my dogs, hoping to do better than at 80 acres, and the first day showed promise.

Nearly a pen was done, but again, time would be a factor.  A 75 was the final outcome of Gin's run...and by the end, and 85 was what I would need to get into the Double Lift - and I was feeling confident.  That soon would crash to the ground.  Usually the morning runs are good, the sheep want to work well, it is cool, yada, yada.  I was first up with Gin, she had a perfect outrun and lift, and then the fetch...and in the group was a ewe that her own pair of running shoes.  Speedy made it around the post and then towards the drive panels she would go, missing them, taking her buddies, and then directly to the bush...where that would end our run.  Lady Luck must have slept in.

With Floss, I had retired the first day - her being her fast self brought the best (of the worst) in her lot.  The second run would be better.

Actually her run was going quite nicely, I had done the shed, and the two went over the hill, she brought back one.  I decided to take the three over the hill, hopefully to join up with the other and bring them all back...but only three came back.  By the time I realized it, the single had flocked off and went to the bush...yet another DQ...but I was pleased with Floss-there will be a lot more trials in her future.

The sheep always had a hand to deal. Some went into the judge's tent to inform the judge how many  marks he should take off.

Others would count themselves to sleep.

After a day of running, the evenings were filled with good friends, good food and good times.

We tipped the waiters well.

(Don't spend the Canadian Tire Money all in one place Andrew.)

There was dancing in the streets.

One night was full of announcements and presentations.

And after the presentations were over, the party would continue.

Some of us made an ass of ourselves. (Shame on you Kate Ash.)

During the trial, the police had to be in to control the crowds.

This was mostly because of the illegal gambling done on the race track.

I had bet on Porky to win this one.

Porky had his bacon fried.

The exhibitors market had something for everyone.

The last day would come and the double lift would be done - some in the torrential rains - but the fascinators held up.

Warren Mick showed us that chivalry is not dead.

As the day wore on, the sun would come out, and the spectators would fill up the park.

The sheep had their own fascinators.

Presentations were made to the judges - Colin Gordon and Patrick Shanahan.

By the end of the day, Amanda Milliken and Rozz would be crowned 2012 Canadian Champions (and Kevin Gretton would become $430 richer, yes Ontario Lottery Commission, that is Kevin Gretton).

The next day I would fly out, not having to rush, I spent the morning with the Hale Women.

A drive back to Ottawa, and the girls and I were on our way back to Saskatchewan.

Once again, the Kingston Sheepdog Trials were memorable, and a fun time was had.  For those that haven't experience, it you should.  You won't be disappointed - I surely haven't been!