BevLive: poised for glory

Bev and the dream team–Mirk is on the left, and Bill on the right

Long day, full of happiness and disappointment. Another day of perfect Colorado summer weather. Started out quite cool this morning and warmed to mid-70s by afternoon. There was a bit of wind off and on all day.

The great morning draws turned out to be very bad. Mountain lions got into the sheep at the ranch where they stay when we aren't running them and killed thirteen of the ewes. Today I believe we ran some of the witnesses. The early sheep were wild. The first five dogs were either DQed for grips or lost their sheep. Alas, Ethel ran first and was DQed in the shedding ring when she bumped a sheep.

Bill Berhow turned things around with a very good run in the sixth place slot, and the hopes of the semi-finalists began to pick up.

We ran five sheep with two collared for the semi-finals. After the drive, there was a shed of two uncollared sheep, a pen, and singleof a collared ewe, for a total possible score of 110. Bill Berhow was first and second when the dust settled, with a 91 and a 90. Ian Zoarb was third with an 89, and my Bill was forth with 84 (and the days dumbest outrun–he covered most of Colorado in an effort to make up for needing a re-direct on his first run).

Mirk ran well, but not quite good enough, ending up thirteenth: one point out of the finals.

At the conclusion of the running, we drew for tomorrow's running order. I am up first with Bill and Amanda is up sixth with Clive, the last run before the long lunch hour break.

Most of the top handlers got in with at least one dog, Dennis Gellings and Bill Berhow being the only two hands in with two.

Tonight there is a jackpot arena trial in town, but as this always runs very late, we are all hanging out here, and Amanda is creating another of her gourmet dinners for us. I fear I'm a awful freebooter, but I can't resist the great food.

I'm disappointed about Mirk, but after running 124 dogs and only taking twelve back to the finals, this trial is full of disappointed folks. 

I'm very pleased Bill got in, as he's my best shot at doing something in the finals.

People have begin pulling out for the drive up to Sturgis and the last trial of our little circuit. I'll leave some time tomorrow. It's an eight-hour drive, but because of deer and antelope you need to be careful about beginning driving at dawn and dusk until you get to the Interstate in Wyoming.