Seminar raises funds for 2011 Welsh National...

From the field gate, it may have looked like a typical sheepdog trial - white hurdles marking out the course, a shedding ring and pen - but south Wales trials enthusiasts were being put to a different test at Llanarthne last weekend.
Armed with pen and paper instead of whistle and crook, the emphasis for participants was on judging skills rather than dog handling prowess.
The judging seminar, held to raise funds for next year's Welsh National, gave competitors the chance to air their views on where marks should be lost at trials.
Each run was filmed by Richard Rees, of Telesgop Productions, and everyone had their own judging sheets to score the runs and make notes for later analysis.
Six dogs went to the post with young handler Iestyn Owen and Tim the first pair under scrutiny. They were followed by Lyn Jones and Cymro, Aurwen Price and Lyn, and John Bowen and Bell, who all ran an open course.
Working their dogs on the same course, but with the added test of a single were Kevin Evans running Greg and Eirian Morgan with Spot.
Once the runs had been completed it was off to Llanarthne village hall for refreshments and the video analysis, where the day's three official judges - Rob Lewis, Anna Lou Daybell and Emyr Lloyd - revealed their points.
Meirion Owen acted as the seminar's referee and had the latest copy of the ISDS rulebook - in case of any disputes.
While the three judges' marks varied in some cases, they all placed the runs in the same order.
Debates ranged from, where the outrun ends and the lift begins to what are the rules when not all the sheep are brought around the post?
While some points were agreed by the majority, once again it was clear that judging does come down to opinion and that there are many grey areas which will always be in dispute.
The 2011 Welsh National is being hosted in Pembrokeshire. The three-day trial will be held at Milton Farm, Llanteg, in July.
The Pembrokeshire committee is grateful to everyone who helped stage the judging seminar, in particular: Meirion Jones and Meirion Owen and their families for providing the venues and all their work beforehand and on the day; Richard Rees, of Telesgop Productions, for giving his time and expertise to film the event; and the official judges and competitors for taking part.

Also read the latest k9tales blog.