DOVEDALE SHEEP DOG TRIALS 2024

THE RESULTS

TUESDAY 20 AUGUST     

LOCAL NURSERY

1       Jonny Elkin, Hilderstone                Moss                   72 (of 90 points)

2       Tony Sayer, Hilderstone                 Tyrbanc Todd     54

 

“COMMENTS FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX”

On a cool windy morning, with a small class and only two of four entries troubling the judge, the few hardy supporters present at 7am did not have a great deal to applaud and keep their hands warm. The Nursery was soon completed. That said, Jonny Elkin’s Moss was the exception and showed some good work and could well be one to follow in the future.

 LOCAL NOVICE

1       Tony Sayer, Hilderstone                 Elan Valley Don 74 (of 100 points)

2       Sally Varney, Kilburn             Bosley Gem        72

3       Sally Varney, Kilburn                    Jack           70

4       Tony Sayer, Hilderstone               Tynygraig Nan    54

5       Jane Gilman, Bosley                     Rita            51

 

“COMMENTS FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX”

 The strong wind prevailed during the running of this class and was joined by some very heavy squally showers which made watching thoroughly unpleasant for the growing number of spectators. All three dogs with points in the 70’s showed some good work and are all definitely works in progress. With 74 points, Tony Sayer won this class running his dog Elan Valley Don just ahead of Sally Varney’s two runners Gem and Jack on 72 and 70 points respectively. Tony Sayer scored 54 points again in this class with his fourth placed bitch Nan, as he had with Todd in the Nursery Class. The first of three coincidences which occurred during the two days trialling.

Jane Gilman, who was one half of the commentary team again this year, came fifth with Rita on 51.

 

LOCAL OPEN

1       Richard Saxon, Blackshaw Moor  Don            90 (of 100 points)

2       James Gilman, Bosley                             Bosley Jim 89

3       Steven Allen, Biggin                       Tanhill Max         86

4       Ben White, Pilsley                                  Jan             81

5       Wayne Allen, Butterton                         Sally           80

 

“COMMENTS FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX”

The rain continued during the early runs but the quality of running improved as the class progressed and the weather started to brighten up. This was reflected in the points scored. There was little to chose between the top two, old rivals, Richard Saxon and James Gilman but on this occasion Richard prevailed with Don on 90 points over James’ Jim on 89, - both of them many times winners. Close behind was Steven Allen with Tanhill Max on 86 with Chatsworth shepherd, Ben White on 81, in fourth with Jan, and Steven Allen’s father, Wayne, with Sally in fifth place on 80. There were 15 entries in this class and all were forward.          

The top two in this class, Richard with Don, and James with Jim, went forward to the Championship of the Dales on Wednesday.

 

OPEN SINGLES

1       Simon Cottrell, Congleton    Grosfaen Lace   92 (of 100 points)

2       George Bonsall, Slindon                Jake           91

3       David Wood, Bamford                  Jon             88

4       Bob Powell, Cold Ashby               Blake                  86

5       Simon Cottrell, Congleton          Sweep       78

[6      David Wood, Bamford                Polly           71]

 

“COMMENTS FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX”

Of the original 29 entries in this class 25 actually ran, with there being very little to chose between the top four. After a steady start, the quality of the running improved markedly with David Wood, Bamford, at run 10 with Jon scoring 88 points. He was followed by George Bonsall, Dovedale’s course director, with Jake, who scored an impressive 91 before eventual winner, Simon Cottrell, with Groesfaen Lace, scored what proved to be the winning run with 92 points. After Bob Powell at run 13 with Blake scored 86, the quality of running fell away with no less than eight retirements in the last thirteen runs.

The first five went forward to the Championship of the Dales on Wednesday but with David Wood and Polly, taking Bob Powell’s place as he unable to return from Cold Ashby to take his run.

WEDNESDAY 21 AUGUST

OPEN SINGLES

1       Nij Vyas, John O’Gaunt                           Cap  89 (of 100 points)

2       Nij Vyas, John O'Gaunt                           Kai   89 (OLF)

3       Emyr Jones, Holywell                     Sam  84

4       Brynley Williams. Holywell             Mot   84 (OLF)

5       Jonny Elkin, Hilderstone                         Sally 82

 

“COMMENTS FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX”

The weather on Wednesday morning was still breezy, but with some sunshine, as had been the case on Tuesday afternoon. Of the original 35 entries 29 ran in this class and it was definitely a good day for Nij Vyas of John O’Gaunt, Melton Mowbray. This is where the second coincidence occurs, because he won the class on 89 points with Cap who beat his other runner, Kai, with a better Outrun, Lift and Fetch.

Emyr Jones came third with Sam on 84 points, and here is the third coincidence, he beat his travelling companion from Holywell in North Wales, Brynley William’s, Mot, also on 84 points, with a better Outrun, Lift and Fetch.

The fifth, and final, qualifier was Jonny Elkin from Hilderstone with Sally on 82 points to follow up his winning of the Nursery Class with Moss.

Also competing in this class was Jonny’s daughter Chelsea, aged 13, who ran Mirk, by far the youngest among all the other much older, and more experienced, handlers. She scored 69 points, and the committee decided she should receive the Albert Keeling Memorial Trophy, despite not qualifying for the Championship, because she was the highest scoring young handler in any of the open classes. She is undoubtedly a very talented young handler.

OPEN DOUBLES

1       James Gilman, Bosley                   Harry & Moss     104 (of 150 pts)

2       Nij Vyas, John O’Gaunt               Pip & Cap           94

3       Jacquie L’Etang, Falkirk              Heathgate Mac & Ben      93

 “COMMENTS FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX”

There were just three runners forward for George Bonsall to judge in the Doubles Class, where James Gilman prevailed with Harry & Moss on 104 points from Nij Vyas with Pip & Cap and Jacquie L’Etang with Heathgate Mac & Ben.

 BEST CONDITIONED CLASSES

COMPETING DOG

Cathy Cassie, Aiketgate                                    Baw Sean

COMPETING BITCH

Jane Gilman, Bosley                                         Rita

 

“COMMENTS FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX”

President Ben Kidd’s wife, Edna, chose Cathy Cassie’s dog Sean and Jane Gilman’s bitch Rita as winners of these two classes which were open to all dogs and bitches competing in the trials over the two days.

CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE DALES

CHAMPION

Nij Vyas, John O’Gaunt                                     Cap            138 (of 150pts)

RESERVE CHAMPION

David Wood, Bamford                             Jon             136

Other qualifiers

George Bonsall, Slindon                         Jake           132

Brynley Williams, Holywell                       Mot            130

James Gilman, Bosley                                      Jim             123

 

“COMMENTS FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX”

The Championship of the Dales brought together the top two runners in the Local Open, and the top five runners in each of the two Open Classes. There was a good deal of quality running from the 12 dogs in this year’s event, which is to be expected from the best dogs over the two days, and little to chose between the top four, but it was Nij Vyas who prevailed with Cap on 138 points over David Wood’s Jon on 136. Not far behind came George Bonsall’s Jake and Brynley Williams’ Mot, on his first visit to Dovedale.

YOUNG HANDLERS TROPHY

Chelsea Elkin, Hilderstone                      Mirk            69 (of 100 pts)

LADIES PRIZE

Cathy Cassie, Aiketgate                           Baw Sean 73 (of 100pts)