Amanda: The Canadian Finals

Something in Heather’s interblog caught my attention “for those of you green with envy” Don’t be envious. The trip I am on is brute. I have covered 5000 kilometers. I have been tired and run down. I try to focus on my dogs and running them, which is what I am here to do. However, I started a course of prednisone for some runaway poison ivy, last Friday night. It is a very harsh drug to take. An addling drug.

The drive from Bowman North Dakota was about 17 hours. I rode I95 Until I tucked north on the west side Glacier National Park. The scenery was breathtaking under normal circumstances but the turquoise lakes and rivers had a hard time rising above my road weariness and generating some enthusiasm. When I crossed the border, into my home and native land, it felt like nowhere was home. Feist was restless. All the other dogs were fatigued and indifferent. I tried to stop in Cranbrook for some supplies but my rig was hopeless on the streets, (it is so big) I gave up and headed out to the trial site.



What a fantastic setting. I am now embarrassed to say it took me until the next morning to see the extreme beauty. Chemistry can be a bitch.

The rockies are draped all around us in a steady backdrop of picturesque. We are comfortably parked on an irrigated alfalfa field which some thoughtful person has recently irrigated to make less dust for us. Us. The sheepdog obsessive compulsives. The surrounding ground is honey coloured pasture, that supports Hereford cattle. There are beautiful walks in many directions that loosen up tension ridden dogs and people. Every day, when these people get up, they must hug themselves for the beauty that greets their morning



The sheep were remarkably consistent, mostly Columbian, yearling finewools. They have made a good test, demanding dogs to take them everywhere on the unfamiliar course and asking to be put in the pen, never just going. They push dogs everywhere, enforcer required. They came from a Hutterite colony in Alberta, so not a straight forward undertaking by any means. The field is about a four hundred yard outrun with 150 yards drives. The turn at the post is tight to the spectator fence, causing problems. Those who had trouble with them will be rethinking their interest in moving on to the big trials down south, in Utah and Colorado, where the sheep will be similar, but moreso.



The Gellings lead the first trial go through, Jean, with her dependable Star and husband Dennis taking up the second spot with Jan. Roz was called for grip at the pen. Clive continues to be in with a good go around the course. Beverly is still happening with at least Hemp and maybe Awel. The open running continues in the morning. All the open dogs were run yesterday. This morning hald the second open run was done, followed by the first go of the Nursery. Dorey leads the Nursery by three points. She was her gorgeous self. The balance of the open dogs will run tomorrow morning, deciding who runs in the double lift. And the second go of the Nursery will decide the Nursery champion. Sunday is our championship double lift day.