By Sue Moore
The first OBCC sanctioned trial of the 2023 season was held at Handy Dog farm July 8 and 9, hosted by Victoria Lamont and John Straube. It gave many handlers an opportunity to see where they are in their training with all the lessons and clinics they have attended this spring. Viki Kidd provided the sheep which were good and even the entire weekend. Scores can be found on the OBCC facebook page.
Novice classes were held in the morning on the training field. John Palmer judged the Ranch/Nursery class. The first ranch runs showed that the dogs had to be right: too pushy or not pushy enough, the sheep would split. We saw some great runs from the young nursery dogs. On Saturday and Sunday, Marilyn Terpstra with Euchre won the nursery class.
Pro novice was next with Patrick Gosselin as our judge. The great runs continued with excellent out work and driving. Saturday, there was a tie for first place between Mary Thompson with Rain and Marilyn Terpstra with Euchre so to break the tie they ran the outwork. Both dogs again were almost perfect but Mary Thompson was first, then Marilyn and in 3rd Kelly Morrow with Ginny. Sunday, the excellent runs continued. But there was a casualty - the pen gate. The repair crew of Pamela Hall, Kelly Morrow, Judge Patrick and Victoria Lamont were quick with the repair. Sunday winners were Viki Kidd with Townes, Marilyn with Euchre and Pamela Hall with Fenn.
Mary Thompson judged one of the largest Nov/Nov classes for OBCC with 20 dogs. Saturday, I was working the pens so got to see the runs from the top. Handlers did an excellent job and it was nice to see them leave the post when their dog needed help. Top 3 runs were Mike Rember with Nan, James Shaw with Brier and Maureen Gibbons with Finn. Before Sunday’s runs, judge Mary reminded handlers that the drive score was based on the position of the sheep, not dog or handler. Great advice and scores reflected it. Mike Rember with Nan was first again, followed by Rachel Duncan with Buck and Felicia Pynes with Cove.
After a short lunch break, the sheep were moved to the big hay field for the Open class with judge Cynthia Palmer. The rolling hills and long grass made it challenging for many of the dogs. If your dog went wide, you lost sight of your dog and the dog lost sight of the sheep, speaking from experience. The late afternoon rain kept the temperature down. We saw some near perfect runs with Tracy with Lad, John Palmer with Mara and Kevan Gretton with Cash were the top three. For Sunday’s runs, set out was moved so it was easier for the dogs to see the sheep on their outrun. However, strangely, there were “dead” zones in the field making it difficult for the dogs to hear whistles or voice commands, the worst being at the cross drive panels. But teams stepped up to the challenge. John Palmer with Mara, Tracy Hinton with Lad and Marilyn Terpstra with Olive were the top three winners.
With rain on Saturday evening, Victoria and John graciously moved the pot luck into their home. John manned the barbecue. Salads and desserts this year were exceptional. Saturday prizes given out were beautiful custom Handy Dog leashes and novice first place embroidered blanket. Overall winners, NN Mike Rember with Nan, PN Marilyn Terpstra with Euchre and Open Tracy Hinton with Lad also received a coveted blanket.
Thank you to all the volunteers who helped in the pens, setting, scribing and exhausting as well as those who helped before and after the trial. It truly does take a village. And of course a huge thank you to Victoria, Viki and John for hosting another excellent trial. See you next year.
