Wagin trials are run in conjuction with a huge Agricultural show, so there is a lot of noise and people. The sheep this year were fairly typical. Tough and strong and able to chase the weaker dogs off the ground.
They worked quite well in the novice event but got worse as the trial wore on and by the last day were fairly difficult to work.
Thankfully the weather was quite pleaseant, it is usually extremely hot at Wagin
Due to huge trial entries in WA lately, the club decided to run the improver and open event together, so whatever you scored was your score for both events, and they ran a final for each event as well.
I suppose this worked ok but it meant you lost a run. So instead of nine runs I only had six.
Caleb had his first run in a three sheep event and went ok. His novice run was unlucky. After a reasonable cast he stopped when I told him but a sheep ran behind him so it was a cross. He had his back to an obstacle so could not cover it.
His next run was better. We had the last run of the day in near dark. He worked the sheep ok and we got through the first obstacle. I then retired as It was getting darker and the sheep wanted to head back to the let outs.
Angel is not the best on sticky sheep, she tied them up both times but still did some nice work.
Rio is hopeless at trials where are combined with a show. She does not like the noises and people. She got quite stressed after her novice run so I scratched her from the improver.
Driftz looks in pup so I did not run her.
Wayne Halls Hudsons Tash, who placed in the open event, inviting a sheep to 'make her day'
Frank Sutherland with Rocky Judy, Balto's full sister, at her second trial, and going very well indeed.
It is always entertaining watching dogs deal with difficult sheep. There was some great work from the good dogs.
Sam Weaver showed how it was done. With a new baby in a sling in front of her and a dog (Boylee Bill) that has hardly seen sheep since last year, she put in a lovely run for a second in the novice.
Not something we can all try but it was good to see.
And for a bit of fun a number of us entered in the dog high jump. I put in Jake and Caleb.
Caleb did quite well but Jake went one better and placed 2nd in the Fri event, jumping 1.94mt I think it was. The Sat entries were much stronger though and we got left behind.
It was won by a dog that has won it 8 years in a row.
Jake, up and over.
On the home front, it has been very dry and hot, so we were pleased when it cooled down nicely for the Wagin trials.
Not too much happening, just feeding sheep. I go out sometimes and muster up the ewes and rams and check on them but otherwise the dogs are getting a bit of a rest. Balto is getting some training on and off. It has been too hot to do much.
I put Blizzard in with sheep for the first time and she was fairly full on as she is in everything she does.
Here a Blizzard has hit the bathroom.
She is also water mad. She flies into the dam and paws the water then tries to bite the splashes, very funny to watch.
Next trials are at Kendenup. I have entered, but Driftz's pups are due at the same time so I dont know if I will make it or not.
We will see.
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