DOVEDALE SHEEP DOG TRIALS 2023 RESULTS
TUESDAY 15 AUGUST
CLASS 1 - LOCAL NURSERY CLASS
Sally Varney, Kilburn - Jack - 63 (of 90 pts)
Steven Allen, Biggin - Ruby - 59
Colin Pickford, Rainow - Nap - 59 (OLF)
Anthony Sayer, Hilderstone - Ewan Valley Don - 58
“COMMENTS FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX”
This time last year I was writing about Sally Varney from Kilburn winning her first trial at Dovedale with her home trained bitch Ruby to provide her with her maiden trials victory. This year my comments on the Nursery Class are again about Sally and another of her home trained pups, this time a dog called Jack. In short, he repeated Ruby’s feat of last year and won the Nursery Class for Sally with 63 points (of 90pts), ahead of more experienced handlers Steven Allen of Biggin and Colin Pickford of Rainow. The big question is whether Sally can repeat these two successes to make it three in a row in 2024.
CLASS 2 - LOCAL NOVICE CLASS
Ian Cantrill, Alkmonton - Sweep - 43 (of 100pts)
“COMMENTS FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX”
Having reinstated the Novice Class this year just one entry was disappointing. Hopefully, more handlers with novice dogs will decide to enter in 2024.
CLASS 3 - LOCAL OPEN CLASS
Steven Allen, Biggin - Tanhill Max - 86 (of 100pts)
Richard Saxon, Blackshaw Moor - Don - 83
Colin Pickford, Rainow - Peg - 68
Colin Pickford, Rainow - Liz - 66
Jonny Elkin, Hilderstone - Elan Valley Sally - 52
Chelsea Elkin, Hilderstone - Mirk - 52 (OLF)
“COMMENTS FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX”
In this class the running was not particularly exciting until runs 13 and 14, namely those of Richard Saxon of Leek and Steven Allen of Biggin. Richard’s Don produced the best run to that point by 15 points when he scored 83, only to be beaten by Steven’s last run in the class with Tanhill Max and a score of 86 points. Both went on to the Championship as the top two from this class.
CLASS 4 – OPEN SINGLES
James Gilman, Bosley - Jim - 85 (of 100pts)
George Bonsall, Slindon - Jake - 84
Bob Powell, Cold Ashby - Blake - 83
Arthur Temple, Holmrook - Jan - 81
James Gilman, Bosley - Belle - 80
Bob Powell, Cold Ashby - Mirk - 77
“COMMENTS FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX”
Tuesday afternoon’s Open Singles produced a few runs of note, albeit not one outstanding one. It also produced 12 retirements from the 21 dogs forward. At the top of the leaderboard was James Gilman from Bosley, who had judged the local classes in the morning, with his dog Jim scoring 85 points to Course Director George Bonsall’s dog Jake on 84 points. In third place was the ever popular “owd stager” Bob Powell from Cold Ashby with his dog Blake on 83 points. As can be seen the top five places, all of whom progressed to the Championship of the Dales, were separated by just five points.
WEDNESDAY 16 AUGUST
CLASS 5 – OPEN SINGLES
Steven Allen, Biggin - Tanhill Max - 89 (of 100pts)
Thomas Longton, Quernmore - Castor - 83
Will Hurley, Macclesfield Forest - Joe - 79
Stephen Duckworth, Haslingden - Pete - 78
Colin Pickford, Rainow - Liz - 76
Colin Pickford, Rainow - Peg - 76 (OLF)
“COMMENTS FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX”
And so to Wednesday morning and the second of the Open Singles classes. Steven Allen had been drawn to take the first run of the day and he had a really good one, again with Tanhill Max, this time scoring 89 points. He was not headed throughout the day and won by six points from Thomas Longton, of Quernmore, with Castor on 83 points. As always with Thomas a run well worth watching for his quiet, unflustered, handling and the skill on display. In third place was Will Hurley from Macclesfield Forest with Joe on 79 pts one point ahead of Stephen Duckworth from Haslingden with Pete on 78 and in fifth and sixth came Colin Pickford of Rainow. The top five qualified for the Championship to join the top two from the local singles, and top five from Tuesday’s Open Singles. As Steven had already qualified Tanhill Max this meant that Colin’s sixth placed dog, Peg, went into the Championship as Steven’s dog could not run twice.
CLASS 6 – OPEN DOUBLES
[As there was only one handler forward the run was a demonstration but still scored by judge George Bonsall of Slindon as if it were a competition trial]
Thomas Longton, Quernmore - Lucy and Tiff - 108 (of 150pts)
“COMMENTS FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX”
It was very disappointing that a number of doubles teams did not enter because the competition at the English National Trials was to take place in Yorkshire on the 20 August, two days later, and so handlers did not wish to put their teams through two competitions so close together. Hopefully, those teams, or at least some of them, will be at Dovedale in 2024. Anyway, Thomas gave a good demonstration of doubles handling much appreciated by the good crowd which had grown well during the day.
CLASS 7 – BEST CONDITIONED CLASSES
As a result of timing issues these classes were not held in 2023.
CLASS 8 – CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE DALES
Winner: Richard Saxon, Blackshaw Moor - Dan - 131 (of 150pts)
Runner Up: Will Hurley, Macclesfield Forest - Joe - 130
“COMMENTS FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX”
This was quite a class with real quality from start to finish. Arthur Temple of Holmrook with Jan was first to run and scored 118 points which saw him finish in 5th place. He was followed by George Bonsall of Slindon and Jake who scored 108, then Colin Pickford of Rainow and Liz who scored 105 before Bob Powell of Cold Ashby and Blake came to the post and provided an excellent run which seemed almost to be in slow motion with the relaxed style that Bob has. He scored 123pts, and finished fourth. Will Hurley then came to post with Joe and provided a really good run to score 130pts and move into the lead. James Gilman and Jim scored 115pts and Steven Allen and Tanhill Max could not quite produce the magic again scoring 117 pts before Richard Saxon of Leek and Don came to the post and provided the winning round, and what a round it was. He scored 131 pts, beating his friend and fellow Macclesfield Forest club member, by just one point. Of the remaining four runs Thomas Longton and Castor scored 106pts, Colin Pickford and Peg, 124 pts, coming third, and James Gilman with Belle and Steven Duckworth with Pete both retired. And so another great Championship of the Dales came to an end and the prizes were awarded by the Society’s President, Robert Shields DL of Parwich Hall, whose company, Longcliffe Quarries, had generously sponsored the Championship. Earlier in the day Mr Shields had also hosted a lunch for some 140 guests.
Last, but by no means least, was the Ladies Prize which was awarded to Cathy Cassie, Aiketgate, Cumbria with her bitch, Fellside Pip, with 75 (of 100pts).
Nigel Davis
Mob: 07968 178634