Novice Novice Champion – John McKay and Sue
Novice Novice Reserve Champion - John McKay and Roy

Pro-Novice Champion – Carol Guy & Roy
Pro-Novice Reserve Champion – John McKay and Maximus

Open Champion – Amanda Milliken & Bart
Open Reserve Champion – Amanda Milliken & Ethel

Other Years’ Champions
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

To have your trial sanctioned by the OBCC please send an email to trials@ontariobordercollieclub.comand we will gladly provide you with the information you will need.

Trial Guidelines
Points schedule

Amanda Milliken & Ethel – 2005 Open Reserve Champions

Sheepdogging brings me the only really lyrical side of my life, with dogs and sheep affording moments of beauty, confused with a dream. So many things go awry, dwelling upon the beauty can be difficult. This year, both my dogs have made it easy.

They both ran better after Roddy MacDiarmid was here. He marched along behind me every morning for a week with suggestions, reprimands and a fresh eye for things I had let go. While I went to work during the day, he remained my coach, developing solutions for things that had become problematic in my dog running. He was full of ideas, the next day. I hope he’ll come back next year.

Thereafter, my running slowly improved. Ethel’s qualifying runs at Grass Creek were lack luster. But I will never forget the moment of perfect tension, the convergence of faith and confidence, where we left our final single shed sheep at the edge of the shedding ring, and proceeded to a good pen. I loved that. Ethel continued to run well out west, struggling at Soldier Hollow which is understandable—it is 7000 feet above sea. But that trial warmed her up for Meeker (6400 feet), where she lead the qualifying and her final double lift was very good, only a point behind Scot Glen’s winning score.

Bart was always running as her clear younger brother. I cannot deny I was disappointed not to be running Ethel on the final day of the US National Championships—she was running so wonderfully well. Some one asked me what I thought of my chances the night before and I said “Well, my dog is a good gatherer and his way with his sheep is good. Maybe gathering will win it.” Over the three years the finals were held in Sturgis, no one ever penned on the final day. I am shakey on this detail but maybe no one ever shed, too. In effect, gathering has won it. Thirty minutes was allocated to each run at the finals. No one came to the ring with more than six minutes remaining, making it very difficult for them to finish shedding. The exception was Bart. He gathered and drove in fifteen minutes, his good way with his sheep and efficient outrunning gave us a luxuriant fifteen minutes in the ring and his shed was extremely good. I run with a crowd of sheep dog hands who all aspire to winning the US National Championships. I am lucky to be me.

Ontario Championships lead the way there. Our community of triallists provides a setting where hands and dogs can cut their sport teeth in an environment of excellence. Our difficult sheep, our big fields, our good judges, our lively competitions engender the sort of hand who can be successfully exported, with an eye to win. Running with good handlers raises the bar and schools us in detail. While I am proud to have won the US National Championships, I am more proud of my dogs and I being brought there, by twenty years of Ontario Border Collie Club activity.

The two are same way bred—out of my Grace and sired by Stuart Davidson’s wonderful Craig (1995 International winner). Bart and Ethel have been great dogs with whom to run. Having so many good dogs, as I have had, in one sheep dog career, is unusual. These two, came to me from the great dogs that preceded them, Bart (1985 Ontario Novice Champion), Waifer (1987 Ontario Novice Champion, 1988 Pro-Novice Champion), Hazel (many times Ontario Champion), Boy (1994), Grace (2002), all Ontario Champions at one time or another. These are all goals worth pursuing; standards worth upholding; a community worth enriching. While I may be its most colourful current benefactor, I will not be its last.

Amanda Milliken & Bart – 2005 Open Champions

Sheepdogging brings me the only really lyrical side of my life, with dogs and sheep affording moments of beauty, confused with a dream. So many things go awry, dwelling upon the beauty can be difficult. This year, both my dogs have made it easy.

They both ran better after Roddy MacDiarmid was here. He marched along behind me every morning for a week with suggestions, reprimands and a fresh eye for things I had let go. While I went to work during the day, he remained my coach, developing solutions for things that had become problematic in my dog running. He was full of ideas, the next day. I hope he’ll come back next year.

Thereafter, my running slowly improved. Ethel’s qualifying runs at Grass Creek were lack luster. But I will never forget the moment of perfect tension, the convergence of faith and confidence, where we left our final single shed sheep at the edge of the shedding ring, and proceeded to a good pen. I loved that. Ethel continued to run well out west, struggling at Soldier Hollow which is understandable—it is 7000 feet above sea. But that trial warmed her up for Meeker (6400 feet), where she lead the qualifying and her final double lift was very good, only a point behind Scot Glen’s winning score.

Bart was always running as her clear younger brother. I cannot deny I was disappointed not to be running Ethel on the final day of the US National Championships—she was running so wonderfully well. Some one asked me what I thought of my chances the night before and I said “Well, my dog is a good gatherer and his way with his sheep is good. Maybe gathering will win it.” Over the three years the finals were held in Sturgis, no one ever penned on the final day. I am shakey on this detail but maybe no one ever shed, too. In effect, gathering has won it. Thirty minutes was allocated to each run at the finals. No one came to the ring with more than six minutes remaining, making it very difficult for them to finish shedding. The exception was Bart. He gathered and drove in fifteen minutes, his good way with his sheep and efficient outrunning gave us a luxuriant fifteen minutes in the ring and his shed was extremely good. I run with a crowd of sheep dog hands who all aspire to winning the US National Championships. I am lucky to be me.

Ontario Championships lead the way there. Our community of triallists provides a setting where hands and dogs can cut their sport teeth in an environment of excellence. Our difficult sheep, our big fields, our good judges, our lively competitions engender the sort of hand who can be successfully exported, with an eye to win. Running with good handlers raises the bar and schools us in detail. While I am proud to have won the US National Championships, I am more proud of my dogs and I being brought there, by twenty years of Ontario Border Collie Club activity.

The two are same way bred—out of my Grace and sired by Stuart Davidson’s wonderful Craig (1995 International winner). Bart and Ethel have been great dogs with whom to run. Having so many good dogs, as I have had, in one sheep dog career, is unusual. These two, came to me from the great dogs that preceded them, Bart (1985 Ontario Novice Champion), Waifer (1987 Ontario Novice Champion, 1988 Pro-Novice Champion), Hazel (many times Ontario Champion), Boy (1994), Grace (2002), all Ontario Champions at one time or another. These are all goals worth pursuing; standards worth upholding; a community worth enriching. While I may be its most colourful current benefactor, I will not be its last.

John McKay and Max – 2005 Pro-Novice Reserve Champions

Maximus is of our own breeding, out of Jill by Chase. Max has a steady upright working style, has very little “eye” and has always been willing to speed up or slow down when asked. He travels well and is easy to please. Max started working late; up until 15 months of age, he didn’t even look at the sheep. He started all at once and has been businesslike on the sheep ever since. Max is trustworthy with the stock, biddable, predictable on the trial field and is not afraid of his sheep.

I learned a great deal through the mistakes I made training my first dog (Max’s sire Chase) and I am learning as much watching the results of choosing a very different training style with Max. Still, I am quite fearful of making novice mistakes and I have a hard time knowing what to improve on in our training versus what is working well enough.

I was very proud of Maximus when he won the PN at Grass Creek this year; it was the highlight of my trial career. Max stayed calm despite his handler botching the whistles on the cross drive and using sketchy tactics at the pen. Max and I will work on penning, shedding and cross driving over the winter in preparation for the Open class

Carol Guy and Roy – 2005 Pro-Novice Champions

Roy and I met on a very rainy day in May 2003. I was attending Werner’s relocated Spring trial at Amanda Milliken’s farm -she had asked that I let a puppy out of the stable. The pup followed me around the dooryard and into the house and when I tried to drive away he ran down the lane after me – every day for three days. Needless to say this Mabel/Moss offspring came home with me and life with Roy began.

Roy turned on to sheep at about nine months but had no interest in really ‘working’. He was more interested in being with me and the other dogs doing chores and watching them work. I encouraged any interest he had in working sheep. Several months past until quite unexpectedly I sent Piper out to bring the flock and Roy ran on a parallel outrun and fetch.

This event kick-started his schooling and we’ve not looked back. Roy is eager to please, has a wonderful way with the sheep and takes correction pretty well. I was very nervous about the entire thing because for the first time I was truly training a sheepdog on my own. Viki wasn’t there to answer my questions or provide encouragement each time we had a new challenge. I kept thinking that I was REALLY going mess this up. Roy progressed quickly to various aspects of sheep work and we advanced.

Roy’s goofy posture and ‘gawly-gee’ manner have matured and he has turned into a fine partner. I particularly enjoyed the friendly rivalry among the competitors in this class this season. Roy and I are very much looking forward to competing in Open after a thoroughly fun first run this fall. Thanks to all of you, Pete and my friend, George, who continue to encourage me throughout the year. Good luck to all in the future!!!

John McKay and Roy – 2005 Novice Novice Reserve Champions

Roy is bred the same way as Maximus, but from a different litter. Roy spent puppy-hood with Lynn, doing chores and driving the ewes out to pasture on a daily basis. He slept on our bed and wrestled with the guardian dogs in amongst the sheep. I despaired of his future as a herding dog, but I think he learned a fair bit after all and seems to understand that he has a job to do.

Roy has moderate eye and paces himself on the sheep. He will speed up when asked, is very biddable, and is not afraid of his stock. He was only a year old when we started trialing last year so I tried to make sure he had fun on the trial field and that he had lots of successes at home. Like Sue, Roy is learning to drive over the winter and seems to be catching on quickly. Roy loves to travel and to socialize. His working style suits my handling and training abilities and I am looking forward to testing the PN waters with him this year.

John McKay and Sue – 2005 Novice Novice Champions

Sue is an import from Wales. She has been keen to herd since she could walk and at eleven weeks was herding Llamas after slipping through the wire fence. Sue has a fair bit of eye and although she does not give ground on her flanks, has a tendency, at times to be wide, a trait that is new for me. Still she comes in on her sheep when asked and they move well for her. Sue was very consistent and predictable on the novice courses this year.

Sue is a nervous traveller and loves to socialize. She is wicked quick, probably the fastest dog in our kennel. We are presently working on our driving and Sue is starting to hold her lines and her inside flanks are coming along well. I look forward to running Sue on the larger PN courses this year.

Novice Novice Champion – Ann Brown and Ash
Novice Novice Reserve Champion – Janet Fahey and Jock

Pro-Novice Champion – Mary Thompson and Rio
Pro-Novice Reserve Champion – Amanda Milliken and Clive

Open Champion – Amanda Milliken and Bart
Open Reserve Champion – Amanda Milliken and Ethel

Other Years’ Champions
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

To have your trial sanctioned by the OBCC please send an email to trials@ontariobordercollieclub.com and we will gladly provide you with the information you will need.

Trial Guidelines

Points schedule

Mary Thompson & Diamon Rio – 2006 Pro-Novice Champions

They say a picture is worth a thousand wors, … and that was whay sly Ivan was counting on when he slipped the photo of puppy Rio under my nose at the Hillydale trial the summer of 2004. I was in the market for a well bred, dark coloured bitch to add to my breeding base and she “fit the bill”. My first glimpse of her was a little fur ball running madly across the handler parking area at Milton with Lorna in hot pursuit. Having agreed to transport her, Lorna had already blessed her withthe nickname Lil Mary! That name stuck for a while even though I had quickly changed it to Diamond Rio. Jan warned me that she was a tough little nut as a pup, dragging a male cousin around by his ear and making him yelp. Yup, she came with an attitude that at the age of 12 weeks, garnered her a stormy confrontation with the boss that resulted in an adjustment to her listening skills. After that she became the perfect student, it was such a pleasure to start this pup. As per H. Glyn Jones book “A Way of Life”, she did what every handler hopes for; chase the sheep and split them all up, grab some wook and hang on for a swing, then stop… take a look round with the realization that they should all be put back together again and taken to the boss. I marvelled at her natural balance and the strong desire to keep the sheep pinned to my knees, automatically lying down and not pushing them past me. The outrun was a little more work, she was tight and very pushy at the top, and worst yet did not want to flank on the fetch. This fault would prove to be the hardes to correct and in the early trials we missed many fetch panels. However,….she’s a driving machine giving me push, pace and timely downs. Inside, outside flanks no problem… she does not resist any commands and does not seem to have any issues with pressure. The one thing that I like and admire the most is her grit and determination to move sheep… if gripping is what is reququired… she’s ready to deliver.

I came out this spring fully expecting Rio to be my high placing, competitive, consisten PN entry with Coal running in her shadow. Well, imagine my surprise when the 1st half of the season revealed her having a reluctance to lift the sheep off the set out person, a costly hesitation, resulting in her placing behind her kennel mate Coal! Thankfully she regained her wequilibrium and came onstrong through the 2nd half. I’m extremely pleased with her performace to date and feel that she will make an outstanding Open dog. I’m looking forward to putting on the final polish and seeing the gleam that shines on my Diamond in the Ruff.

Thanks to all the Ontario trial managers that make the year-end awards happen!

Janet Fahey & Jock – 2006 Novice Novice Reserve Champions

I took up sheepdog trialing rather unexpectedly five years ago. Even though I had always had a keen interest in dogs, I had never actuallly owned one. So it was a bit of a surprise to my friends and family when, somewhat out of the blue, I suddenly owned three dogs and had developed a new ‘habit’

As a child, I spent many hours looking after my neighbours’ dogs, including a pack of hunting beagles and a litter of rough collies. I had always felt a strong bond with dogs, and as an adult, missed having them in my life. So the story goes kind of like this; I started a dog-walking business. A friend at High Park told me about an all-breed herding workshop, so I borrowed a dog to take part. Ibought an Australian Shepherd, caught the herding bug, then realized i needed a border collie, and bought my first dog Jim (CBCA #1786).

Eye Spy Jock (CBCA #3431) is the son of my Texas-born Jim, from Weir-perry Kennels, and Spy (CBCA #610) from the Milliken Eucher/Craig line. Jock was a very easy puppy to raise; obedient, good-natured and very adaptable. He took the changes in his early months in stride (City-living, noisy renovations, moving house) and thanks to training near a military base, I can honestly claim he is bomb proof!

I started him on sheep at 7 months, and he was earning consistently high scores by the end of his first trial season in 2005. through the off-season he began to gain confidence, and by the start of the 2006 season, the ‘no problem, I can do this’ attitude appeared. This translated into lots of push on the trial field and made for some fast fetches and challenges at the pen. However, he is always very kind to his sheep, and as he matures, is developing more patience and becoming a helpful partner. This year I also saw clearly what my job was as a handler, and I have worked very hard to improve my skills. to get a trophy at the end is a great reward. I still have plenty to learn, but then that’s what makes sheepdog trialing a great and rewarding hobby.

I was pleased to see both Jock’s great-great-grandfather, Rambo (ABC#64753) and his uncle Kip (CBCA#?) were both previous winners of the Novice-Novice Reserve Championship. I think that says a lot about the CBCA breeders’ success in preserving the herding lines.

As a city-dweller with no ‘official; dog training or dog sport experience, I was blissfully unaware of the commitment sheepdog training and trialing involved. Suddenly I found myself having to learn about training methods, dog breeding, sheep breeds and agricultural practices, not to mention learning all about extreme-weather camping, towing trailers and navigating the wilds of Pennsylvania. What a learning curve!

I would like to thank a few people for their help in getting me to this point….to Lorna Savage and Mary Thompson for their ongoing support, trialing tips and specialty coffee; to Joyce Geier for giving me a well-timed shove in the right direction training-wise; to Sylvia Forster for teaching me some of the ‘agricultural facts of life’, and particularly to Shona Talbot for her friendship and making me laugh when I needed to lighten up. I’d also like to thank all the trialers who’ve helped me out over the last four years by lending tools, heaters, showers and bits of useful advice. Lastly, I’l like to thank all the farmers, trial managers and participants who’ve kept the trialing tradition alive over the years — I could never have enjoyed this experience without you.