September 16, 2009: To Cumbria and Back
What an exciting week. My friend Rona and I decided we just could not miss the International this year so at 4 in the morning on Friday we set off for the Lowther Estate and what we hoped would be an exciting weekend. Oh my goodness, what a weekend. The weather was absolutely perfect - bordering on hot, actually. We had hopefully, but wisely, packed the sunscreen and yes, we even used it and shared it liberally with others. The International was superbly organized and in a fantastic location. The sheep were amazing! They were in good condition and ran well all weekend long. The set out people did an fantastic job and the folks taking the sheep off the field were just as superb. Wow, for organization - an A++ all around. The course was nothing short of MAGNIFICENT! There are few venues as spectacular as the Lowther Estate and a very fitting venue for the prestigious International. A good testing course and nice and big. This was the type of course we all hope one day to have a go at !

Ok, I'll give you the abridged version of the event. The first day the running was good. The sheep were a little heavy to lift but otherwise they ran beautifully around the course. Richard Millichap and Jen were unlucky to get the last run of the day on ravenously hungry sheep. These sheep wanted only to graze and despite all of Richard's incredible talent, they refused to be penned. James McGee had a super run with Becca. He made those sheep just flow around the course. Very pretty to watch. Michael Gallagher had a very good run with Cap. I liked Cap a lot and in fact I thought he was one of the best dogs at the competition. His 6th placing overall was well deserved.

Day two was eagerly anticipated! The sheep seemed to be a younger group compared to the day before. They were a little more fleet of foot and a bit more touchy. Still, they ran well all day long. I was looking forward to seeing Bobby run Joe. Joe had a terrific run and showed his class well and truly. He has been a favourite of mine for two years now and it was nice to see him finish with the best score of the day by nearly 20 points, and qualifying for the final with the third highest points overall. He was my favourite dog overall. I will confess that I totally adore this dog and as many of you know if you are blog readers, I have had the opportunity to go gathering with Bobby and Joe in Scotland and have seen Joe working first hand in the rugged terrain. He is quite something at work and on the trial field.

The final was thrilling. The course was BIG. As I looked up to the set out posts on both sides, I was thinking about whether my dogs - and I - could successfully navigate a course this big. The answer was obvious - no! (not yet?). I have never seen a course this big but looking at it, you quickly get the idea of the training required on a dog to run a course this big, the qualities of the dog to be considered 'International' class, and the handling skills such a course demanded. What an eye opener!

OK, the running was good. No-one was perfect. Mistakes were made but what impressed me was how the finalists handled these mistakes and carried on with the job at hand. It was thrilling to see Richard and Tweed sneak away with the win. Richard's handling was something else - magic! What a deserving winner. Hope I get an invite to his celebratory party! Most of you know that I like Tweed because his photo is often on my site. (Yes, he will be added to the Notable Dogs Photo Gallery soon). James McGee's shed was beautiful to watch. He had the luck of the Irish on his side as the uncollared sheep just seemed to magically separate from the collared sheep. His shed was almost perfect. I think, but I'm not 100% sure, that he crossed on the final part of the shed which might be the reason why the judges took 8 points off. Still ONLY 8 points lost in the shed and the fastest shed in the history of the International. Wow. I was eagerly awaiting Joe's run with Bobby. I thought this was the team to beat...but hopes were dashed when Joe crossed on the second outrun after getting confused with a whistle given after he was turned back for the second set of sheep. Hopes of a win were dashed at that point but what a run that dog had. He was under a lot of pressure in the shedding ring and he handled it all. He is still my favourite.

Rona and I had a fantastic time and we talked all the way home, arriving home after 1am on Monday morning. Next year we'll be off to Ireland, that's for sure.

Now, we got to stay with Mike and Nora, and Ifor Page's wife, Mary. Mary has been going to the International since 1959 but this was the first year without Ifor. Sadly, Ifor died earlier this year. Mike and Nora were determined to include Mary in the trip that had been planned almost a year in advance. We all stayed at Tirrill Farm Cottages, which is where Kelvin and I stayed over 3 years ago on one of our first visits to the UK. The place was delightful. We had good company. Michael Longton stayed there too and some other Welsh friends. The cottages are fantastic. We had a terrific time staying with Mike and Nora. Breakfast time was quite amusing as I learnt that Mike and Nora only eat cornflakes with milk that is at room temperature. No having milk right out of the fridge. Oh no! The milk had to be taken out of the fridge at least an hour before breakfast. Talk about fussy! I got it right the second day by getting up at the crack of dawn, taking the milk out of the fridge, and then secretly warming it a bit more in the microwave. Mary arrived down for breakfast every morning with a beautifully pressed (and maybe even starched) white apron over her immaculate blouse and skirt. I made the mistake of inquiring as to whether she was the cook. Most certainly not, I was told with indignance! I quickly served her a cup of tea and cornflakes before I got myself into further trouble. The apron was to keep the blouse and skirt clean from any marauding cornflake. My breakfast faux pas was quickly forgotten by nightfall with the help of a bottle of wine and a dram (or two) of whiskey.

Other than the International excursion, this week the weather has been fantastic so the dogs have all been out. Also, I got a lesson on how to make chocolates from Christina who is here from Denmark. I confess, I licked the bowl...alright, alright, I ate so much chocolate that I almost cured my chocoholism (is that a word?). Groan, I still feel sick. Christina is a good teacher.

Here we are making the chocolates. Must get a picture of the final product. Spectacular!

Christina, Rene and I also went off to the Goyallt Trial near Tregaron today. We planned to run the morning session of the trial and then head home. We managed to get some early runs and then relaxed to watch the rest of the morning runs. I introduced Rene and Christina to bacon rolls. You can't come to Wales and not at least try a bacon roll! We had a good trial. Sioux and I managed to steal away with the winning Rossette (and it's a super rossette too!) and I was also 4th with Jamie. Rene finished 8th with his dog Tag. A good day for the girls as Rona got in the money too as did our friend Jane! Another well organized trial.

The 'paparazzi' from the local newspaper were there. Embarrassing! Notice how Jamie and Sioux are only interested in the sheep being moved.

One last pic for you. Christina secretly took this picture of me and 'my girls.' That's Sioux on the left, young Steffi just behind her trying to get as close to me as possible, Meg with her head on my arms, and Bee pushing her head up under my hand for a pat. I sure love my girls! The boys, well, I can't sit down without being well and truly mobbed. It's moments like these that remind me just why we have border collies. I'll never be a Richard Millichap, Gywn Jones, Bobby Dalziel, James McGee, Kevin Evans, Michael Galllagher, Michael Longton, Aled Owen etc etc, but I get just as much enjoyment out of my dogs. The little trial successes along the way are nice but it's the quiet moments we have sitting on the grass at home on the farm that make life what it is. Superb!