Avondale Arena. Jun 20th - 23rd.

Avondale discovery farm in Beverly is a lovely setting for a trial.  The area is fairly green but the grass was short and the ground dusty, due to lack of rain.

The sheep were a mix of  two and three year old dry ewes and their behaviour was a bit dependent on what age ewes you got in your draw. The three year olds were inclined to stand up to the dog whereas the two year olds were more inclined to gallop all over the ground. 

So there were not a lot of scores.  

On the Saturday for the open event they were definitely at their worst, almost unworkable. The wind had sprung up and this may have been the reason.

They settled a little on the Sunday for the completion of the Open event and the finals, but were still tricky enough to keep scores fairly low.

Some of them were also quite woolly, bordering on wool blind, which made it difficult for them to clearly see the dog unless it was right in front of them.

They also did not like to stand quietly once they were let out, some of them racing down the fence before the dog was anywhere near them. It caused a few problems for the judges making decisions on when to let the dogs go.

The weather was quite mild on the Thursday and Friday but a very cold wind sprung up on Saturday morning, and everyone dug out their warmest clothes. The nights were typical for the area, almost freezing, but we escaped the crunching frosts of last year.

The novice event had 53 entries and 17 scores, in the Improver there were 57entries and 18 scores. The open saw 68 entries and 25 scores. The 50 point ring off was also used.

Results.

Encourage. Judged by Greg Dorrell. 

1st. Di Cosh and Dougie.

Novice, Judged by Rick Janitz.

1st. Dave Lacey. Akoonah Henry. 78.

2nd. Ivan Solomon. K.M.H. Kim. 77.

3rd. Allen Dunn. Walgrove Tess 2nd. 74.

4th. Glenice Webb. Davids Nina.72.

5th. Marianne Rogers. Ramulam Tara. 63. (Kelpie)

6th. Greg Dorrell. Ramulam Emma. 57.

=7th. Colin Cosh. Tippers Sting. 52.

=7th. Colin Cosh Tui. 52.

9th. Frank Sutherland. Rocky Nikki. 51.

=10th. Germaine Seymour. Somerville Zoe. 50.

=10th. Jenny Palm. Badgingarra Gem. 50. (Kelpie)

Improver, Judged by Karyn Buller

This event saw a tie, but the winner was decided in a run off.

1st. Ken Atherton. Ramulam Jock. 83+30=113. (Kelpie)

2nd. Grant Cooke. Grassvalley Tess. 83+X=83.

3rd. Tony Boyle. Boylee Burnie. 69

=4th. Jenny Whitelock. Jandoree Kinta. 68.

=4th Colin Cosh. Avalon Icy. 68

6th. Jenny Whitelock. Boylee Sugar. 67.

7th. Germaine Seymour. Somerville Zoe. 65.

8th. Peter Doherty. Ramulam Willy. 61.

9th. Jenny Palm. Badgingarra Lisa. 57.

10th Greg Dorrell. Ramulam Emma. 56.

Open. Judged by Malcolm Seymour.

1st. Ivan Solomon. Perengary Jill. 81+87=168.

2nd. Tony Boyle. Bellview Dale. 84+69=153.

3rd. Ken Atherton. Olboa Merle. 74+75=149.

4th. Grant Cooke. Grassvally Moss. 82+64=146.

5th. Gordon Curtis. Binnaburra Tuff. 87+57=144. (Kelpie)

6th. Gordon Curtis. Binnaburra Sasha. 72+60=132 (Kelpie)

7th. Ivan Solomon. Perengary Mac. 84+37=131.

8th. Ivan Solomon. Perengary Sasha. 69+61=130.

9th. Peter Gorman. Princes Sally.76+49=125.

10th. Peter Gorman. Grassvally Floss. 66+51=117.

11th. Allen Dunn. Walgrove Tess 2nd. 81+35=116.

12th. Glenice Webb. Morillo Doff. 61+42=103.

Marianne Rogers and Belview Obie at the pen, Karyn Buller judging.

Jenny Whitelock's Boylee Judy.

Colin Cosh's Avalon Icy.

Greg Dorrell and Ramulam Emma, facing a recalcitrant ewe.

Allen Dunn's Dunn's Ice.

Andrew Gorton's Boylee Ella, in the dust.

Three trialling gentlemen, having an in-depth discussion.

Grant Cookes Grassvalley Tess, trying to head a runaway.

Gibb  Mcdonald's Boylee Poppy.

Photos and article by Nan Lloyd