July 19th 2010

The final utility trial for the year was held at ‘Binnaburra’ in the eastern wheatbelt. Binnaburra is owned by Gordon and Sara Curtis who kindly allowed us to use their property. Gordon, along with Grant Cooke organised and ran the trial and it was a great success.

Utility trialling involves both yard and paddock work and in my opinion is the most difficult trial to be successful in. Not only do you need a dog that can force sheep through the yard but you also need them to be able to work the sheep through the obstacles in the paddock.

This was the state utility event and as usual proved very competitive with some close scores and some unfortunate bad luck for people. If the sheep go over the outside of the yard it is considered off course and is the end of your trial. So the dog must force the sheep into the race without allowing this to happen. Angel was one of the unfortunates in her novice yard run, one sheep jumped onto another and straight over the fence.

I had to watch Caleb in the yard section, the sheep don’t like him much, and he can have them piling up everywhere without really trying. Great for farm work but for trialling it does cause a few problems.

However he put in two great utility runs and I was more than pleased with him. He is casting well now, although when he was young I despaired of ever getting him to cast. He is working the obstacles better too and starting to listen. As he gets used to the trial course though he is starting to anticipate what comes next and in true kelpie style trying to jump the gun to the next element. So I need to work on his stay, but there is real hope.

Angel has never trialled at Binnaburra before so got a bit confused doing the yard work, as there is a truck to load and unload, and her novice runs were disappointing. However she got it together for her open utility run and did some lovely work. I have been working on her casting as I have had major problems with her sticking.

Poor Driftz is having some health problems but put her best paw forward to gain a fifth in the novice utility, being the first to pen for the day more than half way through the event. The sheep were difficult to pen all weekend and a few top runs came unstuck there. Drift penned both times but her open run was feral and we lost too many points.

I missed most of the open yard and the finals as I had a migraine and headed home midday Sat. The trail ran from Thur to Sun so it is a long time to be away from home.

Caleb, backing in the truck.

Caleb, working the race.

Jenny Palm, looking relaxed as Badgingarrra Lisa(Sunvale Brumby x Grassvalley Sam) puts her sheep into the yard section.

Karen Buller and Kumbark Monty. Karen has done well to get Monty onto the trial ground. Like his sister Yindi he is a very full on dog.

Gordon Curtis and Ramulam Sam (Binaburra Otis x Ramulam Dusty )They had a great run in the open to top score.

Competitors/spectators, braving the cold early morning. Joan Armstrong, Grant Cooke, Ken Atherton, Nigel Armstrong, Hayden Harries, and Neil Eastough.

More excited spectators. Karen Buller, Neil Kristiansen and Noel Hobbs.

Myself and Driftz loading the truck.

The weather was uncharacteristically warm during the day with chilly nights as expected at this time of the year.

Quite a sociable event and it was great to catch up with friends as this was the first trial for me since early April.

On the farming front it has been a very dry year with barely enough rain to get the grass growing. We had two inches in early July, the first real rain for the year. Hopefully more will come before the season finishes.

Our ewes have been crutched and drenched and have started lambing. We have some hoggets to drench shortly then no sheep work until lambmarking and more crutching in Aug-Sep.

Crutching the ewes.

The next trial is at Ballidu, a fair drive from here but I have never been there and am hoping to make it. We will see.