Playing catch up as always, the first weekend in July was the VBCA's Summer Trial held at Barbara Ray's beautiful farm. It was ridiculously hot that weekend with predicted temps over 100, so numerous adjustments were made to make it more amenable for all involved. The Open outrun was shortened to 350 yards and we started Friday evening to run a few Open dogs. Rae and I ran third on a course that I hadn't seen because I'd been the one who walked it for the others. It was still in the high 90s and very humid out there. We had a nice and smooth run, she handled well and was clean and steady around the course. The sheep were tricky to pen but we had a 10 point pen followed by a low-stress 10 point shed. After running maybe 8 dogs, the trial was called as an impending storm rolled in. That storm ended up being the famous "derecho" that laid down a massive path of destruction across the midwest and mid-Atlantic. With no other options, the 5 dogs and I braved the storm in my Suburban and waited anxiously for it to pass. I've never seen such an odd storm. The wind was indescribable, plenty of thunder and lightning, but little rain. I don't know if I've been that scared of the weather before, and though damage was sustained on the farm and to some campers, everyone came away unharmed.
Saturday morning at Big Bend Farm
The next morning we got started early to get going before the heat returned. We started with the Novice classes before resuming the Open. Rae and I worked up top doing set out and pushing out for PN. I came down to run Gabe in the Ranch, and we didn't do too badly. I wasn't happy with his top end, but otherwise he listened well. He ended up in 4th. Then I ran Spain in Open, poorly, because for half of her run I was giving her Rae's whistles!! Rae and I went back up to help push out for the rest of Open. We came back down the field to find that we had tied for first with an 86! So we had a run-off against Dee Penatzer. Since it was unbearably hot at this time, we ended up doing just a gather, but not a silent one. I had to go first, and Rae was great. It took her awhile to get out to her sheep, and she may have come in just a tad early up top, but otherwise she was right on. It was just beautiful to be there at the post seeing my 11 year old dog doing her best for me even though she was exhausted. The fetch was right down the pike until the very last second when we had a minor bobble in front of the post. One ewe scooted offline and we had to put her back just as they arrived at my feet. According to judge Tom Wilson, that was where we lost the run-off...by a single point. Oh well, I knew we nailed that run and in my mind we won it :)
Rae in the golf cart going upfield
Spain ended up 6th in the Open, I'm not sure how that happened considering I did SO terribly. We took a mid-day break while the heat was at it's worst and had a VBCA meeting with a phenomenal potluck lunch. Later in the afternoon we drove across the farm to run a second round of novice classes on a different field. They were unbroke lambs on a very small field with lots of pressure and few dogs were able to get them under control. Gabe came on to them too strongly and scared the heck out of them. I ended up retiring him on the cross-drive because I thought he was building a little too much steam.
Sunday I started with Gabe's Ranch run on the regular trial field with the 300yd outrun. He listened SO WELL and ended up winning the class. Our first Ranch win!! I scratched Rae's run and so went to work up at the top end with her. I ran Spain at the end of the class and we didn't really have it together. When we went over to the small field I made sure to really keep my thumb on Gabe. He listened very well and was one of very few dogs to be able to control those lambs. The turn at the post was the downfall for most runs, as the lambs went in 3 directions to break over the dog. Gabe worked his heart out to cover and contain them, and then was able to push them correctly to get them moving on without continuing to split. I was tremendously pleased with his work and we got all the way to the pen, but after ringing the pen 2 or 3 times with no hope of getting them settled, I called it quits. Very pleased with his effort, though.
Rae bringing the next Open set
Even though the weather was about as terrible as you can imagine for a summer trial, everyone pitched in to make it an enjoyable experience. We had a very nice time, but were definitely happy to get out of the heat back home.
Gabe and Livy swimming in the Cowpasture River
Spain couldn't be convinced to get in, but still had fun
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