...when the moon and stars are aligned and everything just falls into place. We survived ice storms and tornadoes, propane leaks and dark dead end roads to arrive in Branford, Florida at the Suwannee River Sheep Dog Trial.
Our always gracious hosts, Dick Williams and Cheryl Jagger-Williams, worked very hard and put on a wonderful trial, complete with Katahdin lambs and a UK judge, Welshman Aled Owen, who also worked hard for days sorting out the runs.
I ran relatively early with Craig, and scored a 97 out of 110, not bad but with enough small mistakes to leave the door open for someone. That someone was Mary Lou. Mary Lou and Dyna ran second last run of the day, and laid down a great run, worth 103 points and knocking my score out of first...Dyna rarely put a foot wrong and looked to be in prime form. Oh well, that meant Mary Lou was making drinks for all of us that night!
Day 2 saw me running first dog of the day with Craig, looking straight into the blazing Florida sunrise. Although it was beautiful, I had to ask the judge, to let me know when the sheep were out. We managed to have tidy run, with Craig taking a spectacular collared single in the shedding ring and saving my butt on a very small gap.
My score of 94 stood all day and by the time Mary Lou and Dyna were to run, they were the only ones left able to beat my combined score for the overall. Never fazed, steady Dyna shepherded her sheep around the course beautifully. Although my day score stood the test for Craig to win the Open trial for the day, Mary Lou and Dyna scored a 91, enough to win the overall title and capture second place day money.
As an added bonus, Dick and Cheryl ran a double lift, a great chance for the dogs to do a look back on another field. Mary Lou and Dyna were once again the top team, and Craig and I coming in third. Sheepdog trialing is usually a test of perseverance and perspective, and rarely such a story of success, so we are enjoying the moment as another day can be a very different story.
Now we are off to Georgia, to compete at the Lazy J sheepdog trial next weekend and see if the sheepdog gods continue to be so kind. This week we will get to work with Aled Owen at a clinic, and I'm sure the two-time World champion will be a treasure of information. Stay tuned!
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