October 15, 2007: Trials, Trials and more Trials.
Autumn is here - although the warm weather of late belies that very fact. The trees are showing their splendid colours, although the sobering thought of winter is not far from one's mind as the leaves are also falling to the ground. The blessed thing about autumn and winter, though, is the end of the Open trial season and start of Nurseries. We are so spoilt for choice when it comes to trials.

On Monday and Tuesday, we went to two trials at Bobby Dalziel's place, and we could have gone Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as well had we had time. Bobby puts on 2 weeks of trials - one every day, Monday to Friday. Along with that, he ran a judging seminar AND spent all week expertly setting out sheep for the participants in his trials (except for himself, of course). One would be hard-pressed to find a more dedicated worker than he - and with such an unassuming and humourous disposition!

On Saturday we travelled over to Northumberland (about 3 hours away) with some friends to go to the Alwinton Show, which includes a sheepdog trial. The trip over was quite an experience as we navigated our way through a military firing range which dissects the remote Coquet Valley of the Cheviot Hills of Northumberland. The road here is narrow and steep! Goodness only knows how one gets on when the snow flies in the winter, never mind the fact there is no mains electricity in any of the homes there. Our friend, Stewart, was like a human satellite navigation system as he alerted us to every impending sharp corner, narrow bridge, and slippery cattle grid. Having spent 20 years shepherding in the Coquet Valley, Stewart knew the road like the inside of a whiskey dram.

The Alwinton Show is something else. There are oodles of things to see and do, along with the usual stands full of homemade goodies and merchandise. There were terrier races, a puppy show, Cumberland and Westmoreland Wrestling demonstrations, Highland bands, tug-of-war, vegetable and baking contests, and a hill race (running), among other things. Kelvin did the "double" - first the sheepdog trial, and then the hill run. He was much more successful in the running event finishing 3rd overall; first old fella to the finish line.The prizes are far more spectacular in the running event so he was duly appointed to buy the fish and chips on the way home.

Our neighbour, Gwen, took home the honours of the best performance in the trial in our friendly neighbourhood rivalry with a smart run around the course, and an almost textbook pen and shed. She also won a carload of prizes in the baking contest - including two placings in the gingerbread category. Just to tease her, though, she also won first and third placings in the "Baking Gone Wrong" category. We are all now enjoying the fruits of her labour with tins of baking delivered to our doorstep this morning...on the quad bike, border collie onboard.

The Alwinton Show was charming in its simplicity, and its celebration of rural life and values. People flocked from small towns and villages near and far. Old friends, who perhaps only see each other once a year at this show, swapped stories and shared a few laughs. Young and old mingled. And, pets were allowed everywhere! One particularly humourous chap on the gate even offered to "stamp" Bailey (our pet dog) so she could reenter the show at her leisure. We had visions of her making a beeline for the treats at the pet tent - at least we would know where to find her if she wandered off on her own!

We will definitely go back to Alwinton next year. The trial was well organized, the people friendly and the sheep were kind!

Sunday saw us off to our "local" sheepdog trial at Sanquhar - about a 15 minute drive from home. The trial field here was in a magnificent setting, made that much more beautiful by the colours of the trees and the weak sunlight hitting the tops of the hills beyond. Many of the "big" names in Scottish trialling attend this event...and the big names certainly deserved their reputations with some very fine runs. It is such a treat to be able to watch top-class handling! Gilbert Marshall scooped first and second prizes with Scott and Ben, respectively, with terrific runs both times. He is quite possibly one of the quietest handlers we have ever seen.

The Sanquhar trial has been going for something like 64 years! There were many old-timers there who are amazing for their passion of sheepdogs and trialling. The course director has been the same person since the first year. This man started shepherding at the age of 12 when his father died. Another man we talked to goes to many trials and makes notes about every single competitor's run - good (and bad)! He has a big book packed full of notes. It is humbling to be among such fine handlers and such avid sheepdog enthusiasts. The Sanquhar trial was part sheepdog trial and part history lesson. We'll be back there next year too.

Today we are back off to the second week of Bobby Dalziel's trials. Another week of trialling begins...yippee!

Archives:

October 2, 2007: Back to Work.

September 17, 2007: The International Sheepdog Trial, Ireland

September 12, 2007: Foot and Mouth Again

September 4, 2007: Blackies go to the Beauty Salon

August 25, 2007: Sheep Spa and Nationals

August 14, 2007: Roy goes Gathering for the First Time

August 7, 2007 Foot and Mouth Scare

August 3, 2007 Country bumpkins go to London

July 28, 2007 Whales and Wales

July 21, 2007 Blood sampling ewes.

July 16, 2007 A week of gathering sheep