Amanda: Solider Hollow, Double Lift

I went down to the trial field early, with Beverly to look at the fetches. Trees, those olympic relics of which I have spoken, dot the hill side and are a frustration to the dog runners. If your dog gets behind them, the sheep lose the feel of the dog and take liberties. If the sheep get into them, they can try to stay for shade from the hot afternoon sun, for instance, or just plain old fashioned cover. I wish they would cut some of them down and offer them to Salt Lake City for Christmas trees. I am handy with a chain saw and could help. Some of them have already been marauded for Christmas–tops cut off. Why not take down most of them?

Ron Enzeroth set the pace for the day with a near flawless run, save a missed first fetch panel for a 149, with his admirable Mick. I didn’t see Scot Glen’s winner with Bliss as I was off to get my dog. Monty went around the course not quite so smoothly as I would like with trouble on the first fetch, some of it from the trees. His finish was very good, which is the last taste anyone will have of his run, so always a good idea to finish well

Bev and Joe went a little after me. Joe was somewhat hot headed–not as hot headed as Bev claimed he was later. He went around the course reasonably well. Things got a little hairy in the shedding ring but Bev got through. The pen was terminal. Joe didn’t like the sheep bouncing about and eventually let one have it in a dramatic collision

Dorey was little star. She ran out well. The first fetch was once again, the source of the trouble with sheep rolling into the trees and if Dorey went in to get them, they exploded out. I can hardly remember what happened there, it was so fast, and their track obscured from view, by the spruces. But they came through the first fetch hard and passed the drop point. While she went back well, it was too far down the field. Cost, cost cost. After that, her run was quite good, putting her in third place behind the Texan, Ron Enzeroth.

After her run, her fans asked for pictures with her. Dorey likes to pose, so no problem.

I have started for Meeker, stopping at Vernal, Utah for the night. Dogs are ready to run well in the big trial. And I cant wait to see my Meeker friends (old home week), and Haley and Michele Howard are joining me for a couple of days. Colorado!