And The Western Canadian Finals Are Final

Well, the continuing saga of the Western Canadian Finals continue. I had a pretty good score with Fly going in, and needed another fair run to get in - but it wasn't in the cards (or sheep). They decided to go off course into the the camping section during the fetch, thus a disqualification. Fly did get them out of the camper's village and bring them back on course-funny how the year before there was a silent gather, in the same field, in the same direction, and she won it - could she be getting old? Gin had a pretty fair run, I missed the second set of drive panels because I wanted a close turn - and maybe if I would have got them, I would have been in the finals - we missed getting in by 6 points - close but no cigar!
I stayed in Maple Creek as long as I could, but since I had the kids with me, and they had to go home, I packed them up, and most of the dogs, and flew back home. I also had a wedding to go to of my neice's, which I missed, but planned to go to the reception. It was a quick trip home, and by the time I got to Calgary it was 9:30 - lost trying to find the Glencoe Golf Club. There I was - dressed up and nowhere to go. I thought, this has been a great anniversary for Chris and I today (17 years)-him setting sheep for the Western Canadians, and myself getting lost in Calgary for a reception. I turned around and went home and went to bed - a sleep I needed desperately. Maybe God was thinking about me, because as I was curled up on the couch watching Coronation Street, the top 10 in Maple Creek were wallowing in clay due to a storm that hit during the night. Tractors had to be used (I am told) to get campers out of the field.

Congratulations to the following.
1. Ian Zoerb and Freckles (also winner of Jean Walker Memorial Trophy and Driving Champion)
(he may have to increase the size of his truck for the large head he may have).
2. Dale Montgomery and Zip - Reserve Champion (and winner of Best Shed)
3. Joann Zoerb and Mik
4.Jennifer Larivee and Spot (something tells me this is her first double lift!)
5. Bob Stephens and Pete
6. Lee Lumb and Chica
7 Louanne Twa and Isla (her first double lift - way to go!!)
8George Stambulic and Kate
9 Chris Jobe and Fly
10 Milton Scott and Ben (Winner of Best Pen)

The winner of the Nursery Finals was Lee Lumb and Jeb, Reserve Champion was Donald Grant and (I believe) Brutus. This is Don's first trial season, and has done well. Lisa Wright was third with her new bitch (after a stellar run for the second run), and I was fourth with Creed.

Most of the handlers are going to Meeker, Soldier Hollow and such, and wish them good luck! I still wish I could go down as well, but I better become responsible, which is a hard thing to do. After 3 weeks though, Fly and Gin and I are going to travel with Corey Perry and Jill and tackle the USBCHA Finals in Virginia - maybe we are saving the best for last? Only time will tell.

The Challenge of Saskatchewan

Well, after EID, we loaded up the kids, dogs, horses and ourselves and went to the Shaunavon Classic. The sheep were a little tricky - very flighty at the pen, so there were only a few pens. Bob Stephenson was the judge, and in the end, Scott Glen's Don was the Big Weiner. Fly and Gin fared not too badly, but did not make any money (paid to top 4 spots, and then overall awards). It was a great, well run trial, and Jamie VanRyn and her group should be very proud of themselves. It sounds like the Shaunavon Classic may be Saskatchewan's Meeker with the town's support.
It was during this trial that Stormy Winters showed his prowess as a reproductive expert when he noticed my Creed had mastitis (and Scott Glen and Herbert Holmes almost lost all their drinks through their noses). Creed is my two year old male.
I am not sure what the travel gods are doing, but they always rear their ugly head on some of our trips. The clutch of our truck went, and Chris, the kids and the horses limped to Maple Creek for the Western Canadian Championship. Thanks to fellow handlers, my trialing family was saved, and brought to the trial field. We bunked down in several campers for the night, and I found out I am very partial to Fresca (and Vodka) - a delightful beverage.
We finished our first run at Maple Creek for the Western Canadian Championships - George Stambulic and Kate was first with 88, Fly is tied at 7/8 with a 75, and Gin, bless her heart, crossed over and spent 19 points - we ended up with a 55. We are thinking about a 150 to get into the double lift - which will be held on Sunday. Creed ran not too bad - finishing 3rd for the day, Floss had fun today - will definitely have to work on her drive.
On Saturday, I will run early, and then make a quick trip back to Calgary for a wedding, and take the kids back. Our truck will be ready on Monday (they say) and we will be able to come home. I will pray to the trial gods tonight - I definitely want to play again!

EID Classic's a Classic

Well, went to Ian and Joann Zoerb's trial - EID Classic - fifth year and running well. They had 85 dogs to run per day, and Herbert Holmes of Texas was the judge. He was the fellow who shaved my hair off in Oregon last year (there are pictures in a past post). Had a good time - got Fly into the double lift -we finished last, but someone has to be last right? Was trying to show off driving panels and it bit me in the butt. Oh well, still glad the old girl could hold her own and get in. Along with the multitude of dogs we have brought (7 jack russells, 15 border collies and 5 border collie puppies), also brought our 4 horses (Chris had set for EID and will be setting for Shaunovan and the Westerns), and our 2 nephews and 1 niece. The kids have been really good (auntie has the eye - they know when they have stepped out of turn). I really don't know how mothers handle it - I am exhausted. It is likely the little things that they say that make you laugh. I was telling a fellow handler I had wished I had got my shed and pen with Gin and Hanna, the three year old, piped up and said, "Me and Grandma can buy you a pen!" - and then found a nice pen in the truck for me. Joey, her brother, ran his dog Joy, and the last day we got up (which was 5 am every morning), it was a hard thing to get the sleep out of his eyes. I asked if this was too much, did he want to go home or do more dog trialing. His response - "I want to go to a dog trial." He is even critiquing other dogs now - I may have created a monster.

You would have thought the straw of the camel should have been this morning - we stayed over at the trial field and we slept in our stock trailer - the kids in the truck. The kids woke up happy, and we went on the road again. I have just struck "sleeping in a trailer" off my list of things I must do before I die. Who needs a bed and breakfast, where you get the fragrance of roses, when one can get the soft smell of horse manure all day after sleeping in a trailer?

Found a library in Shaunovan to write this blog, and once again, will have to do pictures at a later date. We are here for a couple of days for the Shaunovan Classic, and then back towards Maple Creek for the Western Finals. On the Saturday I have a wedding in Calgary to fly back to - I really must be crazy. But it is still fun.

Finally Pictures!!

Finally the internet has returned, so here are a few pictures from the trip to Kingston.

No trip to Kingston is complete without visiting the Kingston Penitentiary.

And then there are the big ships that can go through the seaway.

Kingston skyline.

A little history in Fort Henry can be found.
Our friends, Greg and Carolyn Hale who I stayed with, has a daughter who goes every summer with the cadets. When they graduate they show off their ability to do marching drills.


They were real troopers when there was a sudden downfall of rain. They only packed up when the lightening came.


Then there was the Kingston Trial of course - 110 dogs over 4 days.

Handlers names would be in lights for the crowds to watch. They expected 9 thousand people over the weekend to come for the dogs. I had actually ran into a couple from Didsbury, Alberta who had changed their annual flight back to see family in Ontario specifically to watch the dogs run.

There was crafts of every sort - weaving, pottery, clothing, dog related material. Honestly, everyone should experience it at least once.

The handlers are always treated to entertainment on the Saturday night before the double lift. This year, bellydancers graced the floor.

Notice how Dick Williams was front and center for the show.

This girl was quite good, and did amazing things with this sabre. No limbs were lost in her dance.

After the entertainment, the handlers were fed a great supper.

The day of the double lift, the crowds were treated to participant from Fort Henry.

Even though the day was full of rain, there was still a huge crown which came out just to watch the dogs.

Here Gin and I started out on our drive.

And then we did the shed.

It was slow going, but we got it accomplished with 3 points taken off.
I had about 3 1/2 minutes left when I got to the pen.

When we finally got the sheep in, we had about 1/2 minute left on the clock. The whole 25 minutes were needed in this course.

We got out of the rain to get the group pictures done.

The final scores.

Great times, great people, great trial.