News & Events
Sheepdog Training Online, The MacRae Way
Clinics:
June 9 & 10: Polly Simpson's Farm, New Richmond, WI, private lessons to follow; contact: Polly Simpson
pollywac@frontiernet.net
Clinics:
June 9 & 10: Polly Simpson's Farm, New Richmond, WI, private lessons to follow; contact: Polly Simpson
pollywac@frontiernet.net
October 6 & 7: Sue
& George MacDonald, Whilibey Island, Washington, lessons to follow,
contact Sue MacDonald
gmacdonald@harbornet.com
October 13 & 14: Lee Lumb, Coldstream, BC, lessons to follow, contact Kristi Oikawa
gmacdonald@harbornet.com
October 13 & 14: Lee Lumb, Coldstream, BC, lessons to follow, contact Kristi Oikawa
koikawa@gmail.com
Lessons:
June 23, 24 & June 29, 30 ,July 1, Squire Ranch, Parker, Colorado, All levels welcome, contact: Patricia MacRae
amacrae@earthlink.net
For directions please contact Susan Squires:
ssnsquires@yahoo.com
Lessons:
June 23, 24 & June 29, 30 ,July 1, Squire Ranch, Parker, Colorado, All levels welcome, contact: Patricia MacRae
amacrae@earthlink.net
For directions please contact Susan Squires:
ssnsquires@yahoo.com
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06/01/12:
Christmas In June
As to how he got this around his neck....perhaps the elves???!
05/20/12: Bluegrass, The Finale:
Another brilliant Bluegrass, thank you to all the dedicated contributors. Putting on a trial of this magnitude is a ton of work and we are so grateful!
I thought I had pictures. Unfortunately, it appears I took video?? Alasdair loves these new phones and uses them handily while I struggle daily
-given his lack of acumen with anything that does not bark or eat grass, this leaves me shamed!
Congratulations to Roy Taber & Craig, Bluegrass Champions!
Much as the scores were lower in the qualifying, so were they in the final. Last year the top 3 places were all in the 140's. This year the top 3 scores were, 133, 121, 108.5 - a marked difference.
It was tough sledding. The heat was certainly a factor mid day with little to no breeze and dogs experienced at turning back even on this field struggled including our own. In fact only a very few dogs turned back clean and most were early. Only 4 dogs finished the course and they were the top 4 runs:
Roy Taber, Bruce Fogt, Alasdair & Hubert Bailey.
The trial we felt was likely to be won in the cool of the morning and so it was.
Alasdair ran 19th with his nursery dog from last year. It cooled a bit from mid day and they had a great drive. It was a very difficult shed with determined sheep. He & Li got the ribboned sheep off with 48 seconds to pen. It was a tremendous crowd pleaser and they were the only team to finish in the afternoon! They were 3rd after Bruce Fogt & Cam, who had a very nice shed.
Cap & I ran in the heat of the day, with no wind at 12th. He ran not so bad around the course, however, having turned back clean the last two years on this field I was surprised when he did not take his first turn back. He crossed and although old enough to know bette,r having not practiced in a year, that one is on me. He was pushy but we made all of the gates and managed a good drive (one sheep slipped round at the cross drive). I lost concentration in the ring and left myself with one plain sheep--a rule I should not have broken.
He was one of the very few dogs to leave the course unwinded but one of the many to leave the course unfinished, we placed 6th.
Alasdair's wee nursery dog, Queen who performed far above expectations in the qualifying, was well over her head in the Final. Alasdair got her back to the second lot of sheep and rather than risk any negative impact especially given the heat, retired after gathering the two lots.
We did not know until the Monday before the trial started if we would be attending the trial this year for personal reasons. We would not have been able to do so without the kindness and support of many. We would like to thank:
Dr. David Grinstead, Denise Wall, Christine Koval, Annemarie & Vergil Holland, Connie Brannen, Jeanene Teassari, Dee & Jerry Alleyne, also to Laura & Mike Hanley and Annie O'toole.
Bluegrass, Top 20:
Bluegrass,
Leader Board:
The day began with a good run by Don Whittington and Hector and they are the current Open II leader on a 78.5. The evening concluded much as it began, on a high note 2nd place for the day with Maureen Robinson & Newt with a 76. Notable other runs, Hubert Bailey & Jim and Vergil Holland with Brooke. The heat was certainly a factor rising temperatures expected for tomorrow. A tough challenge complimented with excellent sheep, organization and hospitality!
05/19/12: Bluegrass, 2012, Friday Afternoon:
Open field, Chuck Riley & Nan
scores are lower than in recent years and overall tough sledding. An 83 won open I (S. Glen & Don) and Alasdair was second with an 80 and his nursery dog, Queen, a Star X Don. This was very exciting as this was just her 2nd trial!
Alasdair moved Queen up to Open after running her in the OR at the Bluegrass. Perfectly illustrating the nature of young dogs, Queen struggled with the outrun on the small field (150 yards) and nailed the 400 yard open! It is always a challenge with young dogs to put together 2 good runs but she will have another try tomorrow & we are thrilled with her!
Li & Max had similar runs Open I with a 74 & 70, and a shot to qualify for Sunday. I ran Max early this morning. While he was not running well, the sheep were quite good and to the shed the run was not so bad. We singled without much difficulty. After they called the single, I turned my back to head for the pen and Max got very close to the sheep. We regathered and had a clean pen. I found out afterwards while one judge had me on a 78, I was DQ by the other judge. (thus halving my score)
By letting Max get close to the sheep, I put it in the hands of the judges and it cost me what may be last Bluegrass with Max, a lesson learned the hard way, I will not soon forget!
Alasdair ran Li about 2 hours later and while he was not listening well, he earned a 72 and I think it will be enough for the Final. Currently Carla King is in 1st place overall with Alasdair & Li 2nd. Too early to predict what it will take to qualify for the Final but guesses are 130-145 range. Through half of Friday notable runs include, Carla King & Emma and Don Whittington & Hector.
03/08/12:
Li, Alasdair and a 'Bear behind'!
Always the
Character, Jim came bounding up at 7:00 am looking like this......
Santa has Nothing on Jim!
As to how he got this around his neck....perhaps the elves???!
05/20/12: Bluegrass, The Finale:
Another brilliant Bluegrass, thank you to all the dedicated contributors. Putting on a trial of this magnitude is a ton of work and we are so grateful!
I thought I had pictures. Unfortunately, it appears I took video?? Alasdair loves these new phones and uses them handily while I struggle daily
-given his lack of acumen with anything that does not bark or eat grass, this leaves me shamed!
Congratulations to Roy Taber & Craig, Bluegrass Champions!
Much as the scores were lower in the qualifying, so were they in the final. Last year the top 3 places were all in the 140's. This year the top 3 scores were, 133, 121, 108.5 - a marked difference.
It was tough sledding. The heat was certainly a factor mid day with little to no breeze and dogs experienced at turning back even on this field struggled including our own. In fact only a very few dogs turned back clean and most were early. Only 4 dogs finished the course and they were the top 4 runs:
Roy Taber, Bruce Fogt, Alasdair & Hubert Bailey.
The trial we felt was likely to be won in the cool of the morning and so it was.
Alasdair ran 19th with his nursery dog from last year. It cooled a bit from mid day and they had a great drive. It was a very difficult shed with determined sheep. He & Li got the ribboned sheep off with 48 seconds to pen. It was a tremendous crowd pleaser and they were the only team to finish in the afternoon! They were 3rd after Bruce Fogt & Cam, who had a very nice shed.
Cap & I ran in the heat of the day, with no wind at 12th. He ran not so bad around the course, however, having turned back clean the last two years on this field I was surprised when he did not take his first turn back. He crossed and although old enough to know bette,r having not practiced in a year, that one is on me. He was pushy but we made all of the gates and managed a good drive (one sheep slipped round at the cross drive). I lost concentration in the ring and left myself with one plain sheep--a rule I should not have broken.
He was one of the very few dogs to leave the course unwinded but one of the many to leave the course unfinished, we placed 6th.
Alasdair's wee nursery dog, Queen who performed far above expectations in the qualifying, was well over her head in the Final. Alasdair got her back to the second lot of sheep and rather than risk any negative impact especially given the heat, retired after gathering the two lots.
We did not know until the Monday before the trial started if we would be attending the trial this year for personal reasons. We would not have been able to do so without the kindness and support of many. We would like to thank:
Dr. David Grinstead, Denise Wall, Christine Koval, Annemarie & Vergil Holland, Connie Brannen, Jeanene Teassari, Dee & Jerry Alleyne, also to Laura & Mike Hanley and Annie O'toole.
Bluegrass, Top 20:
Special Awards:
Maureen Robinson, Best Gather
Bryan White & Scoop, Best Shed
Ronnie Bingham & Breck, Best Lift
Bob Washer, Best Drive
Dee Penatzer, Best Pen
Polly Simpson, Amateur Nursery Award
Dee Alleyne, Linda Wright Award (Exceptional dedication by a volunteer)
*Open II winner, Roy Taber
#20 on Finals Board, Dawn Boyce (apologies for cutting off photo!)
Maureen Robinson, Best Gather
Bryan White & Scoop, Best Shed
Ronnie Bingham & Breck, Best Lift
Bob Washer, Best Drive
Dee Penatzer, Best Pen
Polly Simpson, Amateur Nursery Award
Dee Alleyne, Linda Wright Award (Exceptional dedication by a volunteer)
*Open II winner, Roy Taber
#20 on Finals Board, Dawn Boyce (apologies for cutting off photo!)
The day began with a good run by Don Whittington and Hector and they are the current Open II leader on a 78.5. The evening concluded much as it began, on a high note 2nd place for the day with Maureen Robinson & Newt with a 76. Notable other runs, Hubert Bailey & Jim and Vergil Holland with Brooke. The heat was certainly a factor rising temperatures expected for tomorrow. A tough challenge complimented with excellent sheep, organization and hospitality!
Overall
Scores as of Friday evening.....Top 20 to the Final
Mareen Robinson & Newt
05/19/12: Bluegrass, 2012, Friday Afternoon:
Open field, Chuck Riley & Nan
Another year
of excellent sheep and a spectacular field. A huge thank you to
all those that make this amazing trial possible! With too many
volunteers to list by name, please know each of you is greatly
appreciated.
The sheep are sheared, healthy Suffolk cross yearlings and generally do not tolerate pressure or over flanking well from the dogs. They must also be convinced, and as always it is a very good test of the dogs.
Two significant changes this year:
1. the novice field has fresh range sheep. The day before the trial they were worked by the set out dogs but not by the open handlers. As there is not a dogged flock for the novice classes, they will run those last this year, after numerous times of being worked by the nursery and OR dogs.
2. In the Open, a single judge may DQ you (they do this by texting the course director), however, if the other judge does not DQ you, will receive the other judges points and because it is the average of 2 judges, those points will be halved. The handler is unaware of this and stays for the duration of their time as the other judge is still tallying points. If both judges DQ the handler, the handler is called off the field.
Results can be found at :
http://www.dogtrialentry.com/The sheep are sheared, healthy Suffolk cross yearlings and generally do not tolerate pressure or over flanking well from the dogs. They must also be convinced, and as always it is a very good test of the dogs.
Two significant changes this year:
1. the novice field has fresh range sheep. The day before the trial they were worked by the set out dogs but not by the open handlers. As there is not a dogged flock for the novice classes, they will run those last this year, after numerous times of being worked by the nursery and OR dogs.
2. In the Open, a single judge may DQ you (they do this by texting the course director), however, if the other judge does not DQ you, will receive the other judges points and because it is the average of 2 judges, those points will be halved. The handler is unaware of this and stays for the duration of their time as the other judge is still tallying points. If both judges DQ the handler, the handler is called off the field.
Results can be found at :
scores are lower than in recent years and overall tough sledding. An 83 won open I (S. Glen & Don) and Alasdair was second with an 80 and his nursery dog, Queen, a Star X Don. This was very exciting as this was just her 2nd trial!
Alasdair moved Queen up to Open after running her in the OR at the Bluegrass. Perfectly illustrating the nature of young dogs, Queen struggled with the outrun on the small field (150 yards) and nailed the 400 yard open! It is always a challenge with young dogs to put together 2 good runs but she will have another try tomorrow & we are thrilled with her!
Li & Max had similar runs Open I with a 74 & 70, and a shot to qualify for Sunday. I ran Max early this morning. While he was not running well, the sheep were quite good and to the shed the run was not so bad. We singled without much difficulty. After they called the single, I turned my back to head for the pen and Max got very close to the sheep. We regathered and had a clean pen. I found out afterwards while one judge had me on a 78, I was DQ by the other judge. (thus halving my score)
By letting Max get close to the sheep, I put it in the hands of the judges and it cost me what may be last Bluegrass with Max, a lesson learned the hard way, I will not soon forget!
Alasdair ran Li about 2 hours later and while he was not listening well, he earned a 72 and I think it will be enough for the Final. Currently Carla King is in 1st place overall with Alasdair & Li 2nd. Too early to predict what it will take to qualify for the Final but guesses are 130-145 range. Through half of Friday notable runs include, Carla King & Emma and Don Whittington & Hector.
