Three Sisters SDT

We had a blast at the Three Sisters Land of Lincoln SDT the 2nd weekend in May! The weather was a range of really nice on Friday, crazy windy on Saturday and not so bad on Sunday. The trial ran smooth as usual, and there were a LOT of runs to get thru over the weekend...but we actually finished up around 2:00 on Sunday, so a tight schedule was kept for three days. Great job by the organizers and volunteers!!

Finding the sheep was challenging, as they were set out in a field adjacent to the main field, with different ground cover which was about the same color as the sheep. So, not only was it challenging to see the sheep, but it appeared to the dogs that the field ended in a waterway about 75 yds in front of the sheep. The cheviot-cross mule ewes were as clever as always, and did a great job of figuring out how to beat the dogs back to the set out pens which were to the side, but in line with the fetch, in front of the sheep set out post. Their commitment to rejoining their friends peaked on Sunday, when it seemed that half the Open teams retired or dq'd.

Luc and Sue, just starting their Open trialing segment of their career, did a great job of figuring out where the sheep were set, with my help on their first runs. Luc lost his sheep as they ran like mad to the set out, and his "ca-ca" to  keep a determined ewe from jumping the fence did not work. His second run showed how much he learned, as he neatly found the sheep, lifted and fetched them beautifully down the field. We timed out trying to pen a ewe who would not even look into the pen...but Luc did a great job of trying!

Sue did a wonderful job of lifting and fetching the sheep her first time out, with a nice drive, pen and shed. I was very proud of her -- her first Open run! On Sunday, she cast out well, lifted beautifully, then over-compensated for the strong pull to the set out pens by holding the sheep to the right of the fetch gates keeping them offline the entire fetch as she brought them at way too fast a pace and wouldn't take a lie down. The turn was challenging with Sue on the muscle and working hard not to let the sheep escape. I retired on the drive away, but was very happy with Sue's outrun and lift.

Maya had two good runs, handling the sheep and the course like an old pro, in spite of her tender age and relative lack of experience. She made the sheep and the course look easy! Her two good runs earned her the Open High in Trial award for the weekend -- a beautiful desk set with brass border collie and sheep. She got a special beef treat at home!

A great way to start the spring trial season!