Blog Entries

Pre-judged?

idd@ff.com — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

One question that has been playing on my mind following the judging seminar is: Are we all guilty of pre-judging runs?

During his run, Kevin Evans was putting us all to the test - even if we hadn't realised it.

The intention of the seminar was to study the finer points of judging and encourage debate - and Kevin, taking on a devil's advocate role, provided plenty of opportunity for that.

It creates a conundrum about the future of sheepdog trials [...]

Power of puppy persuasion

idd@ff.com — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Oh dear.

It seems I now have a favourite in the litter of pups.

Things are not looking good in the resisting temptation stakes.

And should I really be preoccupied thinking about sheepdog names?

It's all the puppy's fault anyway. He's far too adorable and really shouldn't keep sitting on my [...]

No, the plane wasn't for me...

idd@ff.com — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Right, let's clear one thing up: No, the plane wasn't for me!
For anyone who wasn't at the International and hasn't got a clue what I'm talking about, let me explain.
On Saturday a plane flew over the trial field with a banner trailing behind it with the words: ‘Lisa I love you, will you marry me?'
And it flew over twice for good measure.
Since then people have been asking if it was meant for me.
But alas, no.
Lee had already asked me to marry him on C [...]

The patter of tiny paws

idd@ff.com — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

There are six new arrivals in the k9tales kennel and mother and babies are doing well.

Mum's red and white bitch Ruby whelped three weeks ago, producing five black and white dogs and one red and white bitch.

With eyes wide open the pups, by Kevin Evans' Mirk, are now exploring their surroundings and chomping on each other's tails.

Banking the holidays

idd@ff.com — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Things seem to be conspiring against me competing at sheepdog trials at the moment.

And this isn't doing me, or my dog, any good. I think we may both be going a little stir crazy.

With the Nationals, August has been and gone with lots to keep me busy on the k9tales site.

Unfortunately, being at the Welsh and Irish Nationals meant no trials for Corrie and I.

u2-030

Across the water

idd@ff.com — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

August, one of the busiest sheepdog trialling months, already seems to be flying by. The 2009 Irish National is over and I've returned home after a tiring and busy, but very enjoyable trip to Co. Tipperary.

The Scottish National is now in full swing and next week will be the turn of the Welsh. The final National will be the English, from August 21st-23rd, being held in north Devon.

Leading the home nations was Ireland. After a four-hour ferry trip at some ungodly hour and a two-an [...]

Ding-dong, the bells will ring...

idd@ff.com — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Many of the sheepdog trials fields on the South Wales circuit are held in quiet, rural locations, where the decibels rarely rise above that of the surrounding birdsong or a passing tractor - until someone starts having a bad run that is.

Mynyddislwyn trial field sits next to a pretty church and a shooting range. Out of the two you'd expect the disruption to come from the shooting range but this wasn't the case last weekend.