Again, sorry for the cluster updates! Since I am home now (and am wide awake at 3 am!) internet is widely available!
Monday September 15, 2008
So, yesterday I spoke with Mr. A Ll Jones of Bala. He came 2nd at the International with his split faced bitch, Bet. I asked him about the sire of Bet, Sweep, as a potential for Tap. Here’s the scoop:
Sweep has been on the Welsh team several times, and has sired several “great dogs”
He was qualified to run at the World’s (and to make the Welsh team was VERY difficult) but didn’t – not sure why. Never got round to asking…
Sweep is a son of Bobby Dalziel’s Jim and the Jones’ lines go back 50 years, with doses of Bwlch Taff and (of course) loads of Wiston Cap. (Apparently, Wiston Cap would be outside the pub while his master had a few and many people secretly brought their bitches to him as he was unsupervised! The old timers here say there is even MORE Wiston Cap out there than the ISDS stud books ever recorded.)
Anyways, didn’t get much else for now. Eyes are clear, but they don’t test for hips, unless they are exporting to us fearful North Americans…That doesn’t bother me much. If you saw the hills that these dogs had to work…Well, no dog with bad hips would last a day. And Sweep is 9 years old and still working the hills, apparently.
I also spoke with the 27 year old Kevin Evans with Mirk and Spot (a refresher: Mirk is the 2008 Supreme Ch., Spot is a littermate). Kevin got both of these dogs into the Finals yesterday but didn’t have winning runs that day.
I know nothing about these lines…He told me they were “very well bred”, with “a bit of Wisp in there” as well as Stuart Davidson’s Hope and Merion Jones’ stuff (It was very difficult understanding the accent over the phone !) However, several people told me they have been eyeballing Kevin's dogs for years, and the sire, Jaff almost won the Supreme - I think he needed a one point shed, but he gripped a testy ewe and was DQ'd in the shedding ring. But all who I spoke too said it was an amazing run.
The other factor is that our new friend Hywel (the farmer from the North) is taking his hill farm bitch to Mirk, so he really sees something in the dog. Generally, farmers don't like "Trial Dogs" as they tend to be "weak"... He also mentioned that Sweep might be a bit “hot” and I did see Bet (daughter) come off the field after her 2nd place run in the Finals at the Supreme looking for a scrap - she was definitely a hot little thing!
I really want to meet both before I make ANY decision, but time is against us – Tap is on day 15 of her heat today and we leave on Wednesday morning. Sweep is 4-5 drive hours north and Mirk is about 40 minutes.
Tap, you are making my life complicated!
A HUGE thank you to our sponsors!
- Thank you to Abbie Tamber for her kind and generous donation, we were surprised by some additional fees bringing the dogs home, so this helps tremendously!
- Nan Keder and the late Bill Gignac for their tremendously generous sponsorship check - I am moved to tears by the generousity of my friends near and far. In Bill's memory, I will be sure to "Go have fun with my dogs" - this was always his and Nan's advice before any competition and it will surely help me keep everything in perspective. Again THANK YOU!!!
- Thanks to everyone at Liko North America for participating in the 50/50 draw. Over $200 was raised!
- Thank you to Julie Daniels and White Mountain Agility for donating proceeds from the equipment auction held at Instructor's Camp !
- Megan and Creekside Fynn for their generous contribution to our fundraising efforts!
- Jane and Mike Buckley of Ottawa for their very generous cash donation!
- Dave and Mary Ellen Young for donating the lamb used for the Argentenian Lamb Roast benefit dinner at the Sherbrooke Int'l Sheepdog Trials. The dinner was a HUGE success - thanks also to Dr. Herten Graeven (my dentist) for cooking!
- Nancy Phillips and the Mad River Sheepdog Trial for donating a portion of their profits to our fundraising campaign.
- The Ottawa Valley Border Collie Club for awarding me one of their very generous grants to help club members who are representing Canada with their dogs at a world championship in any dog sport.
- Caroline McKinney, a NOMAD member for her generous donation!
- Creekside's M.D. "Doc" and his fur-parents Jimmy and Sandy Cody for their generous sponsorship donation!
- To Val Henry and her brother for designing and making the great T-shirts - all of which were donated! 28 shirts were sold in one weekend at the CATS/NOMAD trial! Wow!
- EVERYONE who so generously donated items or services for the Silent Auction - it was a huge success! Thanks to all who placed bids and showed so much support! The Northeast agility community is AWESOME!
- Waggers Pet Products for their VERY generous and VERY appreciated sponsorship check!
- Val Henry for her very generous monetary sponsorship! THANK YOU! I hope Jus' mom and sis can do you proud!
- Rose Redick & Kensa, Woody, Abbie, Rodney and Fawn for their very generous monetary donation! Thank you so very much!
- Emily Adham (future owner of Tap x Chip puppy) for sending in much more than she "bet" in the puppy wager. Thank you so much!
- Del and Fred Waters (and Haggis and Ghillie) for their generous monetary sponsorship ! Wow! I have great friends!
- Guides Canins for their generous monetary sponsorship - Guides Canins is the best training center around!
- Thanks to EVERYONE who took part in the Puppy Wager! For a complete list, please visit the puppy blog.
- Mom and Dad for a wonderfully generous donation to the dog's "Executive Class" ticket!
- Avid Canada for providing a few items that might be used in a raffle.
- Creekside Cait and David for their TRULY generous donation. We hope mom and sis will make you proud!
- Sasha's Blend Canada - Will keep Pat supplied with the only joint support supplement that REALLY works!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
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