BevLive: Meeker, the Semi-Finals

Long day and very difficult. The judge announced at the handler’s meeting he would tolerate no grips. He wasn’t kidding. He had anything that startled a sheep off. This made us all super cautious. He further had a new wrinkle on the marked shed, requiring that the collared ewe on the single was to be taken on the head as the last sheep. This difficult task was balanced by his not caring what we shed in the first shed so long as it was the last sheep.

Jean Gellings and Star ran second and had a nearly perfect run that stood against all comers all day. The only one to even come close was Ron Enzeroth and Mick. Ron Burkey had two good goes to be the only handler with two dogs in the final. Barb Ross and Trim delighted us all with a good run and a slot on Sunday.

Amanda and Dorey were called for a grip near the second drive gate with a very nice run. Bruce Fogt and Jill as well as several other top hands met similar fates.

Nan and I ran early and our run was too rough to make the cut. Joe fared a bit better. In spite of a tremendous fight at the pen we prevailed, just barely, and made the final. Barb Ray and Stella along with Shauna Gourley had great runs in the middle of the day, proving that success was always possible for the right dogs.

The sheep were heavy, stubborn and determined. They seemed more reluctant to pen than they were in the preliminary round. Go figure.