Margaret River trial.

Margaret River unofficial Three sheep trial. October 21st-22nd 2011

The Margaret River trial has been run as an unofficial trial for many years and is always a relaxed enjoyable event.
In the novice event competitors are permitted to bring a more experienced person around with them to assist where required. This year, in a slightly different twist some of the novice handlers elected to walk around with an experienced worker to watch and learn how they handle their dogs. It was an excellent learning experience.

The weather was quite warm on the Friday but clouds rolled in Friday night creating a lot of humidity on the Saturday, but making it a little more pleasant than blazing sun. The trial finished about 5.30 pm, just as the rain started to fall. Some areas got up to 20 mls of welcome rain.

The sheep were Corriedale crosses, in good condition and fairly strong. Weaker dogs struggled to bring them down the ground, as they would constantly make a break back to the letouts. Those who managed to get them into the “D” then had trouble preventing them from heading back again, usually at top speed. Bringing them around the winding pegs to the first obstacle was also tricky as they wanted to lean on the dogs in an effort to head home. Such was their ‘homing’ instinct that a pulloff dog was rarely needed as they simply ran back on their own.
The bridge was the hoodoo obstacle, as once on it, some sheep just faced up to the dog and refused to turn around, so a number if people came unstuck here.

Despite this there were some great scores in the open with three people tying for first on 96.

Sheep like these provide plenty of entertainment for spectators and there was some brilliant work from some top dogs.
The photos below give a bit of an idea of how tough the sheep were.

Novice. Judged by Peter Doherty.

1st. Frank Sutherland and Rocky Judy. 84

=2nd. Simon Leaning and Marionvale Fang. Kelpie. 83 Hayden Harries and Olboa Ben. 83

=4th. Grant Cooke and Grassvalley Sky. 79 Frank Sutherland and Rocky Chick. 79

6th. Tony Boyle and Boylee Sugar. 75

7th. Nan LLoyd and Christies Driftz. 74

8th Dave Lacey and Akoonah Chopper. 73

9th, Peter Doherty and Ramulam Jen. 70.

10th. Nan LLoyd and Kumbark Caleb. Kelpie. 68.

Open. Judged by Colin Cosh.

=1st. Grant Cooke and Grassvalley Moss 96. Tony Boyle and Boylee Mustard. 96.

Ken Atherton and Ramulam Gus. 96

4th. Gordon Curtis and Binnaburra Jess. Kelpie. 95

5th. Ken Atherton and Ramulam Ladd. Kelpie. 94

6th. Dave Lacay and Akoonah Del. 92.

7th Gordon Curtis and Nolans Minnie. 91.

8th. Grant Cooke and Grassvalley Brooke. 90.

=9th. Simon Leaning and Boylee Barney. 87. Gordon Curtis and Binnaburra Tuff. Kelpie. 87.

Jenny Atherton's Badgingarra Tony, nose to nose with an unco-operative sheep.

Frank Sutherland and Rocky Judy, winner of the novice.

Nick Webb's Morrillo Bailey.

Simon Leanings Fleetfeet Axle.

Axle again forcing at the bridge.

Morrillo Toby

Andrew Gortons Boylee Ella.

Ella again, battling the sheep at the bridge.

Dave Lacy's Pendelup Blondie trying to head a runaway.

Jenny Palm's Badgingarra Lisa. Lisa actually walked two sheep of the bridge backward, tipping them over the edge.

While the trialing was going on, there was other entertainment else where. Karen Buller's Kumbark Monty was not impressed by the flying motor bikes however.