Laura got to Dr. Ben's NC State Championship trial on Sunday and one of the first things she said to me was that she was thinking of moving him out of novice and into pro-novice, and that's what she did! It turns out the other novice person didn't show up, so she could have won novice, but I want to say kudos to Laura for recognizing that Nick was ready for P/N even if she wasn't quite so.

The lower classes ran on Monday, with P/N after nursery and open ranch. P/N was the largest class besides open, and honestly in some ways it was the toughest course because the sheep were tired and knew where the exhaust was (and wanted to go there). The set out pen was on the same side of the field as the exhaust, basically doubling the draw to that direction. And the P/N course is just short enough to leave little time for making corrections to your lines. The sheep were set about halfway up the field (even with the fetch panels for the open class) but off the the handler's left. The drive for P/N was the same drive away panel as was used for nursery and ranch--a pretty long drive for inexperienced dogs. After making or missing the drive panel, you had to turn the sheep back into the field (toward the draw) and then bring them to the pen.

The sheep had been largely difficult to pen all weekend. Handlers would lay down gorgeous runs only to be defeated by one uncooperative sheep who refused to pen, running out the clock while the handler-dog teams did their best to get them in.

Anyway, Laura and Nick were the last ones to run in P/N. She headed out to the field without her stock stick (which might have helped at the pen), since it makes Nick nervous, and sent him on a beautiful outrun. He was kicked out nicely and landed nice and deep behind his sheep, lifting them straight. There were a few wobbles on the top end of the fetch, but Nick showed a lot of natural by tucking the sheep back onto the line and bringing them straight to Laura without Laura having to do much in the way of directing him. Their turn around the post was a bit wide, with the result that the drive started out way off line, and it took a little bit of time for Laura and Nick to get the sheep back online. The drive was a bit wobbly throughout, but they made the drive panels and had a decent turn back to the pen.

Laura had the misfortune of a set of sheep with one who had learned over the weekend that she need not go in. She would walk up with the other three as if she were going, and then you'd see the slightest hesitation and twitch of an ear, and next thing you know, she would scoot up the right side of the pen. Laura and Nick did some beautiful teamwork trying to get them in--Nick flanked off nicely when asked, stopped on a dime, and walked up quietly. There was just no getting that one sheep in. Laura was clearly enjoying herself, with a grin the size of Alaska. Finally time was called and the run was over.

They did not have a high score (the judge Amanda Milliken from Ontario is a stickler for straight lines and tight turns, and many handlers paid the price for being offline or wobbling--most of the scores were in the 30s and 40s), BUT Laura was rightfully proud of their first P/N run (and only their second trial). To top it all off, Amanda came down from the judge's box and complimented Laura on what a nice natural dog she had, especially commenting on his nice outrun (high praise indeed given that Amanda hit people quite hard all weekend for outruns she deemed less than acceptable)!

The cool thing is that Nick actually goes back to Amanda's breeding on his dam's side. We're talking five or six generations back, but it's still neat that Amanda liked him.

So here's a big congratulations to Laura and Nick! I think they're destined to be a great team and I hope we'll see them out there trialing more now that they have successfully completed their maiden voyage in P/N!

J.

Wow, congratulations Laura and Nick! What a fabulous result, given the circumstances. I'm really glad Julie told us about it, because I'm sure Laura would downplay how fantastic she and Nick were.

I really hope someone was taking pictures. I haven't seen a Nicky pic in what feels like ages and he looks so great in working pics.

Awesome! Sounds like a lot of hard work paid off very well I hope someone got pictures!!

Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures--I was running in the same class with Pip and Lark and didn't have time for photos....

J.

YAY!!! Thanks for the awesome update on our long lost Crazies. I got a great mental image of Laura's "smile as big as Alaska" and Nick's run. How cool. It seems like only yesterday he was a tall skinny puppy.

Very cool, thanks for the detailed report!

Congrats, Laura & Nick!

Heh, heh. Well, my prediction that Laura would be either first or second place did not come true - serve me right for being such a smartie pants. I knew there was only one other entry in NN.

That was totally the classy thing to do (GEt it? Classy?), moving up into the next level. I wish I could have been there. Next time girl! And I hope with Ted!

Big congrats and hugs to Laura and Nicky! I knew they'd do great. Thanks for the report, Julie. I guess Ms. Modesty didn't want to brag on herself?

That's awesome about Laura and Nick - where is LaLaura anyways?

That's awesome! Thanks for letting us know. Hopefully she'll be off cloud nine at some point and can check in here, too.

I think Laura has been really busy at work and so hasn't had as much time to visit forums.

J.

Hi y'all! I'm here! Julie's right - its been insanely busy here at work. In my business it's either feast or famine, and it's definately feast around here at the moment. Given the fact that I rarely touch my computer in the evenings it makes my being able to post a little more of a challenge. Sorry!

Thank you Julie for the nice write up - and the kind words. I had an absolute ball, and I'm so glad we went.

Thank you so much everyone!

It was a lot of fun - and I really felt a sense of pride in tackling something I didn't think that *I* was ready for. I felt like Nick was ready for it, and he did in fact take good care of us. I wish you guys could have seen the look on his face - he was quite proud of himself also. I know I was grinning like a fool, and so was he. If I can get some pics this weekend just goofing off I'll try to. My camera didn't really have enough umph to either video or take stills at that trial - it's a huge field, and the spectation area is WAY too far away.

And since I know Julie won't toot her own horn either... She and Kat tied for first on Saturday (I unfortunately wasn't there yet) and wound up second in open after the run off. I hear they kicked some serious bootie.

So busy with work eh? is that what they're calling it these days?

Congratulations Julie! Boy I wish I could come watch you guys.

Way to team!!

Well, I'm certainly busy with work when I'm AT work. hah

Yay! Way to go, Julie and Kat.

Congratulations Julie and Kat! Wow, sounds like a great weekend all around for ODO folks.