Page 20 - 2018 WT Almanac

barn with a makeshift kitchen - thank you, quiet, and then 8 barks; the handler then re-
ladies. turned to their dog. Normal pace heelwork
My super steward, Joan Snowden, put then took them to the start of the sendaway,
out all the squares with perfect precision which was straight out to the far boundary,
and without an instruction manual!! It with a call back and then a right redirect,
was hard work walking about in rape and which could be done on the move or after
mud for two days, but she made certain first stopping the dog. Slow pace heelwork
that each and every square was laid as I’d then took the dog and handler to the agil-
asked. Her help setting up and stewarding ity, with the clear, long and scale. All the
my C/A round and putting the handlers at teams completed the round with a great at-
ease made my job so much easier. Thank titude and professionalism, a pleasure to
you so much for all your help and great judge and to watch them all work.
company, it was very much appreciated. 1st Pat Herbert with
Tracking was on very well grown rape, WTCh GLENALPINE FEN,
knee deep in some places! But consistent
across all the fields, giving all the competi-
tors the same conditions. The weather was
better than expected and we were spared
the full force of ‘Storm Brian’. Thurs-
day started off damp and foggy but turned
into a lovely day with a light breeze and
some sunshine, making for nice tracking
conditions. There was heavy rain during
Thursday night and Friday morning, but it 213, Q TDEx. A super round from start to
stopped by the time the tracks were laid, finish. Fen tracked on Friday in the wind
but it left the ground very muddy and it was and made it look easy; a perfect square
extremely windy and cold, which made the put them in joint first place going into the
tracking conditions difficult. control round. Only losing 2 points on the
Despite the weather forecast being for high control gave them a well-deserved win. A
winds and heavy rain on the Saturday, it pleasure to watch. Congratulations and
stayed dry for the C/A round, making for a best wishes for 2018. Track 95/30, Square
super morning watching some great teams 35, Control 33, Agility 20.
work. I set my round up to try and show-
case what trials dogs are capable of, so 2nd Andy Baker with
spectators could see what was happening RIGHT THEN SONNY JIM,
and, hopefully, so the competitors could
relax and show their dogs at their best.
We began the day with the down stays,
which, as expected, all the dogs completed
with full marks. Then the control round
commenced with fast paced heelwork to
a windbreak, where the dog was then left
tethered, and the handler walked away
out of sight with the steward, to stand by
a pole and then ask the dogs for 5 barks,
20