Amanda: Soldier Hollow, Day One

The trial started off with no fanfare. Scot Glen laid one down early and it held for the day. Norm Close nearly caught him with a good run and Don Helsley pushed the envelope. The sheep were difficult all day. Monty started well, being gentlemanly with his sheep, perhaps so much, they took advantage of him at the fetch panel and slipped around the side blinded for me by those infernal spruce trees, relics of cross country ski Olympic fantasy land, not native to here at all. They ought to go. The rest was ok. He was stellar at the pen where he kept some difficult ones in his grasp, and patiently persuaded them to go in after all. The pressure was high and he met it with marvellous sureness. I like that.

His score did not keep him on the board. He was nudged out by my friend Beverly Lambert and Nan, who had a belting run. Her pen was the most remarkable feature of her run. Bev likes to take over at the pen and put them in herself. The astute student of her technique can enjoy her dogs doing a canine version of WTF, when she demands of them to be more active participants. Nan cowgirled up and made a few good saves at the pen for Beverly without asking too many questions of her handler. It was fun to watch.

Running with Bev turned one of Nan’s brown eyes blue.

We had a cookout here, with rib eyes form Whole Foods, roasted fingerling spuds, and contraband tomato salad (from an eastern Ontario gardener) , with basil and bocconcini and light garlic olive oil. Everyone said it was good. The wine was good too. Closson Chase Chardonnay, and and Marlborough Pinot, The Pass.

Dorey is up first in the morning. She watched a few runs late this afternoon in preparation and seems excited about the day. I have no photos except this one of Roz, which my home vet Heather Sims, requested. Roz had a radical mastectomy and a spay about a week before we left, (a bad biopsy) so she can’t run on this western tour this but she is a keen spectator. Mary Minor is supervising her care.