Seeing double...

Double letters (Welsh language), double vision (cross-eyed from jet lag) doubling back (getting lost), running doubles (JR's brace work)...double seems to be a theme of the trip so far. Unfortunately double lift has not yet been a part, but hopefully at some point.

Today we competed at two trials, one being near Bala, one of the birthplaces of sheepdog trialing. Both trials featured Welsh mountain sheep, and run after run there were sheep in three corners of the field and a score involving letters instead of numbers. The sheep at both trials only saw dogs a few times a year, and saw quad bikes more often than dogs. Three sheep were let out at the top of the field, and you picked them up wherever they landed. More often than not, one sheep would sprint for an adjacent field before the dog got there, but re-runs were rare and you just had to make do. That feels a lot easier when you haven't driven 12 hours to a trial (okay, we flew over 5000 kilometres, but who's counting).

Mary Lou's Dyna ran well in the morning, settling her group nicely. Craig and I tried to do a demonstration in point and shoot sheep herding, but it didn't come off as well as I hoped. We even almost managed a point and shoot into the pen, but alas, I was as shocked as Craig (and the sheep) when they shot into the pen instead of around it and failed to take advantage of the microsecond I had to swing the door shut. Although I wasn't thrilled, staying on the field was an accomplishment of its own and Craig gave me his all. Linda and Bet got one of the wiley runner sheep in their group, and never had a chance to start.

The afternoon saw a bit of a reversal, with Craig settling his group well, and Dyna working a group that exploded off the top, but managed to work them with great finesse into the pen. Linda's Bet is making adjustments to the speed of these sheep, an adjustment for all of us. Penning is a great challenge for everyone, and only a handful of sheep are penned at any of these trials. 

We've worked dogs every evening as well so the dogs are good and tired. Tomorrow, we get to be sheepdog tourists and watch some nursery dogs run. Can't wait!