Good luck to everyone heading to the benefit trial. We, or at least I expect to read about trial reports toute suite- ESPECIALLY you, you know who!!

You know who can give her own report. I'll just say that it was a gorgeous day, the sheep were tough for nursery and ranch (we used a different flock and more sheep per set for P/N and N/N) and the food was awesome. Speaking for myself, I'm exhausted. Twist worked a good part of the day, but apparently her fat reserves kept her going! Wish I could say the same about my fat reserves....

Oh, the only thing I can really brag about is that Denise Wall and I did a demo of a double lift (while Joan explained what is involved in a double lift trials for the spectators), using Robin's dorset cross sheep (the trial sheep were hair sheep). That was a blast. Twist and I have never formally done a double lift, so I was very pleased with her blind outrun to the right to pick up the first set and then her lovely turn back to the left for the second set of sheep. She also did the rest of the course in pretty good style and capped it all off with a fine shed.

Although the sheep managed to best some teams (there were just two scores in ranch and maybe three or so in nursery), we can proudly say that no sheep went swimming in the pond, so Twist and Jet, the water rescue dogs, were not put to the test this time around.

Best of all, I think we raised a good amount of money (final tally not yet completed) for Joan Stout's team for the 6th Annual Gail Parkins Memorial Ovarian Cancer Awareness Walk, which takes place next Saturday.

Now I'm taking the puppers and heading for bed soon. Tomorrow is apple butter making day, which will probably be another long one.

J.

Sounds like a fun day. Congrats on the successful demo! And great news that you raised a lot of money for a great cause.

I'm looking forward to more stories of the trial...and maybe some pictures?

Hey Sherri,
I think Becca took some pictures. I know she took some of the double lift demo, but not sure about anything else because I was mostly at the top of the field setting sheep. I'm sure she'll post any photos she has and that she and Laura will add to this thread with their own views of the trial. (When you set sheep, you don't always get an opportunity to really see the runs, so I can't report much on that end of things, but I'm hoping they can.)

J.

It was a very fun day! I was pretty exhausted last night and didn't even turn on the computer, so I'm a tad slow getting over here. After I ran Nick early in Nursery I switched out with Julie and Nick & I set out for the rest of Nursery, and then helped push out for Ranch. So I pretty much missed most of the morning runs. The sheep in Nursery and Ranch were not very forgiving, and the terrain on that field is deceptively tough, so there weren't a whole lot of scores in the earlier classes.

I have to say that the perspective watching dogs lift up top is really interesting. I think of the Nursery dogs Pip came in about the nicest that I saw. We enjoyed setting out - and I was a little nervous going into it, but once we got our groove on Nick and I did just fine.

I did, however, get to see most of pro-novice and novice/novice, and thought the sheep (a different flock) were a good bit more cooperative. There were a good many more scores (only a few retires, actually) in pn and nn.

Julie and Tony did a fabulous job of setting out, and Julie & Twist laid down a BEAUTIFUL double lift in the demo. The food was absolutely wonderful (although like Julie I didn't get a huge chance to eat in the Am, which I suppose is just as good. I made up for it after I came back down), and so were the people. It was quite a good time. I don;t think we could have asked for better weather, and with all of the help breaking down we wound up finishing up in good form.

Nick wound up first in Nursery and Pro-Novice. We struggled in Nursery some, but I was super pleased with his pro-novice run. I thought after all that he'd be tired, but when I pulled him out later for a few things he was all kinds of full of himself. One of these days before here too long I'm seriously going to put some flank whistles on my dog.

I'm sure Becca will tell you guys about Ted, but I was stupid proud of them!

Wasn't this past weekend the NEBCA novice finals? I'd love to hear about some of that.

Sounds like a GREAT day for everyone! I loved hearing all about it. Congrats, Laura and Nick! Way to go. Would have loved to have seen the double lift demo, sounds like Twist and Julie were superstars!

Oh, NEBCA novice finals, too? Let's hear about it!

Woohoooo You guys are supastahs!

Nebca Finals? What? Where? Oh, wait. Lucy and I were there. I would have to say the sheep pretty much won...

Here's my report- I am just back, and all I have to show are memories (mostly bad) and I lost the card of the photographer- double drat.

The sheep were what I call "real" sheep, and sorted the dogs out with aplomb. There weren't any "in the bag runs". Not the least of which were ours...

Field was hilly. Sheep tested dogs. Don't really like penning, and really love the exhaust. Some sheep really stood to dogs- wish we had some open runs to break them a bit.

Today, sheep loved the exhaust even more- only 7 out of 16 runs in novice finished. The worst part was the gentleman at the exhaust was injured as a sheep ran pell mell over him to get into the exhaust.

Like I said, the sheep won. But, in the end, a trial is a test, and we certainly were tested.

Congratulations Noodle Team! Sounds like a fabulous weekend for both of you.

Julie, I'm sorry you and Lucy didn't have a better time of it at your trial. Really sucks that you lost the photog's card.

Now I can't wait to hear about Ted....

I've been going and going for three days straight now and just got back from church (first day taking the youth class - whew!), and then running errands put off for the last three or four days.

First on the schedule is a NAP and then I'll post pics and videos. I got a few, mostly hubby and I this time (sorry others) but the videos of Julie's double lift gather and the pics of pen and shed came out well. And some others just of the general activities.

We had a great time! The double lift was really awesome to watch. Julie's Twist did a lovely job on her first "official" look back. And all us nervous novices were grateful for her usual highly competant job setting and holding. Patrick is really glad for Tony's help on that fun run - woo!

Laura and Nick cleaned it all up as usual! The sheep were a smidge squirrelly but Nick handled it well. And they did a great job setting out. They are well on their way to being contendahs and also a team that can be relied on to get stuff done at a trial.

Julie's youngsters got a bit more experience with "trial jitters" - the sheep were putting tons and tons of pressure on all the young dogs. Pip laid down a couple of impressive lifts and fetches that I saw. Phoebe - well, just not a great day in PhoebeLand, but she was in very good company Saturday.

Really, I was impressed at the good group of youngsters that were there and how they handled situations that were not absolutely ideal (although I love how it was perfect for throwing in just a little more pressure, but still being fair - savvy but not sour sheep, challenging terrain without it being impossible.

I was just thrilled with Ted. A week ago he had NO outrun (the part where they cast out and get the sheep). We haven't really been working on outruns per se, just one time at Robin's. Then a few days ago all of a sudden he "got it." Actually, he's even throwing himself off a bit too far, really - but he's two so if he levels off right now he'll stay perfect to just a bit wide.

I thought the timing was too good to be true so I pretty much kept my mouth shut. But, at the trial he went out just as pretty as you please - for two runs! I forgot to check the scores for our "real" run, but I think he landed just a bit short and started the sheep off crooked (I need to look at the video). I'm positive that happened the second "fun" run - so some room for improvement definitely.

The other thing that made me happy was that he took my flanks (directions) while he was bringing me the sheep - they didn't start straight and he let me move him so that I could point the sheep back on the right "line." We've had our acts together on pace and such for a while, so no surprises but it was still nice to feel relaxed at that point and just worry about getting the sheep where they needed to be.

And, great fun - Patrick made his first trial appearance ever with Gus! Patrick needs to do a bit of homework - he said afterwards that he'd totally forgotten how to do trial stuff - it's very different from his usual brand of "git 'er done" farm work. I told him he'd either have to commit to practicing or just pay attention to the little things when he worked chores. I think at least, what I'll gain out of this, is that Patrick will not fuss at me for stopping in the middle of getting something done and working Ted through a problem he's having.