BevLive: Soldier Hollow, Day Three

10:00 which as those who know me know is past my bedtime. Just got back from the handler's dinner. Very nice as always.

Was a very tense day for many of us who had not qualified for the final. Only five spots left and about 40 dogs trying for them. Morning got off to a rocky start for me as Mirk had drawn up 6th which I thought would be a good time before the wind and heat. No luck though as his sheep were stubborn and very heavy and he gripped off at the first drive. He had a lot of good company through the day. The sheep were very heavy all day with a few notable exceptions and quite a few good dogs lost patience and DQed.

Amanda and Clive had a good go with a misjudged fetch panel for a 78 which alas just missed being in. Dennis Gellingsand Jake had a good morning run with an 86 that stood until quite late in the day when Haley Howard and Ross had a near perfect run to win the day with a 89. I missed Wilda Barr's 85 but she was third.

Nel and I ran late in the day when it had gotten fairly warm though not as cooking as Friday. The wind was not consistently strong but intermittently very blustery. Nel was a very good girl. She had a much better outrun then yesterday but stopped short. Her sheep were really heavy on the drive. She is pretty brave and good about walking into them when they are facing her but doesn't really know how to keep them going when the are facing away and just won't walk which was the problem for much of the long cross drive. She gave a jump at them after the first panel that got them going for a while and then she dove into them again just before the second gate causing two of them to miss it but motivating all of them to get a move on. She got them around and into the shedding area where she wasn't much help. She loves coming through the gap but sure isn't much help creating it as she's constantly heading the sheep. But we finally managed and got the pen gate closed on them with seconds to spare. It was a real cliff hanger for me but our 82 managed to hang on for 4th just ahead of a great run by Lavon Calzacorta and Tess an 81.

So we made the double lift. I drew up tenth but as the weather is supposed to be cool tomorrow the only danger of the afternoon runs is wind. Still I'm delighted to be in especially with Nel as she is my hope for future success.

Amanda and Roz had a late run and no luck. Roz got off to a rough start on the fetch when her sheep broke hardand while they had a good drive they just couldn't make up enough points.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Making the cut for these double lift finals is very tense but they are a great deal of fun if you are lucky enough to make it. Nel is still very young and as a team we don't have the experience I think to win this, not that we won't try, but it will be a great learning opportunity for us.