Sunday Finals Day

Another good day weather wise – the organizers are thanking the sheepdog gods for the 3 days straight of sunny, warm weather – there were a ton of spectators over the weekend – and at 8 pounds ($16) to get a ticket to watch, I think they made a profit!

More hiking with the girls. Today we found a path to an old church and graveyard. Pat and Tap were more impressed with the quality of the grass than the old gravestones and buildings. They are in Veggie withdrawal, and ate a lot of lovely grass in the graveyard.

I have no idea how old this church is...It is not in use. The windows were all lead pane and the rain gutters were cast iron, the roof slate with lots of moss and even shrubs growing in between the shingles. it was a beautiful spot.

Tap waiting to confess her sins?

I bought all my ISDS paraphernalia today too…Grace, your cute picture of Click poking through the fence is in the 2007 calendar, and I bought you a copy.

Pat contemplating an empty Field 3. Possibly reflecting on her grip here 2 days ago.

So, you all probably know who has been crowned 2008 World Cahmpion already, but I am pretty happy to have some nice bragging rights:

Aled Owen and ##Roy won.

Roy also is the 2007 International Supreme Champion and is a son of Aled’s ##Bob. ##Bob is Fen’s (2008 Tap x Imp. Chip) granddad. ##Bob won the International Supreme in 2000 and the World’s in 2002.

Fen, it is all up to you now...

THE FINALS COURSE…

…Was a double gather, not as big as the International last week, but several dogs had trouble with either or both outruns. There were several missed fetches – mostly due to the draw from the first packet of sheep, which wandered up the field after they were dropped at the 1st fetch post. There were also several missed cross drive panels. We think there was possibly a dead spot in the field as we saw some dogs slow to take commands at this point. The international shed was generally well done, but there were lots of points lost here too. Aled and Roy lost only 2 points out of 80 on this phase! His pen only lost 1 point out of 40 as well. Nobody could touch Aled & Roy on the close work; it was the best I’ve ever seen.

I took videos of Kevin Evan’s Spot (littermate to the 2008 Supreme Champion, Mirk), Mirk’s first part (stopped tape after the fetch, which he unfortunately missed so I would have room for more runs) and my all time favorite dogs of both the International and World Trials, Becca. Maybe I can get my hands on a pup/dog from these Irish lines someday….Did I say how much I drooled over her? Anyway, I will not even attempt to upload the videos until I am home – look for them here (hopefully) by the weekend. Rumor has it I have a hellish 2 days of work ahead of me until then!

The closing ceremonies…Well we kind of missed them. Apparently we were supposed to show up with our flags and stand on the field while prizes were being given out. Oops. We went for another hike instead.

Finals Results (points out of 660):
1. Aled Owen and Roy (Wales) – 583 points and 2008 World Champion (son of Aled’s ##Bob, sire of Lynn Deschambeault’s Imp. Chip and granddad to the Tap x Chip litter) A spectacularly tidy run!
2. Ron Snoeck and Nell (Netherlands) – 583 points and 2008 Reserve (only 1 Merit point behind Roy!)
3. Stuart Davidson and Jim (Scotland) – 567 points
4. James McGee and Becca (Ireland) – 551 points* (My FAVORITE dog!)
5. Aiden Gallagher and Bill (Ireland) – 548 points
6. Merion Jones and Joe (Wales) – 544 points (Merion was the main organizer of this event – how he could keep his head on and run so well I have no idea!)
7. Karin Mattson and Sammie (Norway) – 533 points (the only female handler in the finals!) Another more loose eyed worker but totally obedient and biddable.
8. Tony Ottessen and Bob (Denmark) – 532 points
9. John Wood and Moe (England) – 527 points
10. Kevin Evans and Spot (Wales) – 519 points
11. Gethin Jones and Eira (Wales) – 514 points (This guy is only 23 years old!)
12. Kevin Evans and Mirk (Wales) – 484 points* (A missed fetch put him out of the top – bummer for Kevin)
13. Nigel Watkins and Floss (Wales) – 479 points
14. Richard Millichap and Taddymoor Cap (Wales) – 441 points
15. Ged Watson and Eryi Rock (England) – 375 points*
16. Jim Wilson and Tweed (New Zealand) – 332 points (very interesting style of work, more loose eyed and upright)

* Finalist at the 2008 International Supreme

There are probably LOADS of pics up on the internet already of the finalists and prize giving. Try the World Sheepdog Trial site, http://www.bordercollie.eu/ or the ISDS website...

Bye World Trial....See you again someday - as a spectator only !