At the end of the DRIVE is the free working area 10 metres from the MALTESE CROSS. Here the fun really begins, if the Competitor has only ever worked under Australian Rules. In this area the Competitor may move about to assist and work their dog in completing the MALTESE COSS. It must be entered and exited from the direction of the GAP, then entered and exited in the direction of the BRIDGE. Plenty of scope for problems here, where do the Kiwis come up with these ideas?
0 Comments
Once you have walked through the GAP you have "crossed the ditch" and are on NZ rules. This Section to the MALTESE CROSS is called the DRIVE and is now a 15 metre wide course. The Competitor and the dog must move the sheep directly towards the obstacle, without getting in front of the sheep. The Competitor may move freely within the course to assist with moving the sheep, but should not run around or over assist the dog. If the sheep break back the competitor can not go back but must get the dog to bring the sheep forward again. The DRIVE ends when the sheep enter the free working area of the MALTESE CROSS. The Judges will have expected to see free flowing work.
The Carry from the Post to the Gap is consistent with the Australian Rules. There is a 9 metre corridor which the sheep must travel within. The Competitor walks on the line on the left hand side and must not stop or vary their pace. Points are lost if the sheep move outside of the corridor . When the sheep, dog and Competitor arrive at the GAP the Competitor must stand in the ring to work the sheep through the GAP. Once that has happened the Competitor MUST WALK THROUGH THE GAP to start the next section.
The POST is the starting point for the Trail. The Competitor walks to towards the post and positions the dog and steps into the ring ready to start. When the bell rings the dog is CAST to the left or right to the head of the sheep. The dog should move into a position of control the sheep and then bring them is a steady manner and a direct a line as possible to the post where the competitor is standing. In the Trans Tasman the sheep must have passed around the Competitor on the left hand side before the competitor can set off towards the GAP.
One of the wonderful things about Trialling is, if you have a trained registered working dog and know how to drive it you can compete. Age, gender or experience are no barrier to having a go. You can compete alongside the best in the country and will often be given a few handy hints to help you improve.
This years competitors come from all over NSW and are a real mix. Some manage huge properties with the dogs having a busy working life, some are urbanites, with working sheepdogs their passion and others are small blockies with a few sheep to train their dogs. Wherever you come from, you are welcome. The Dogs that compete in the Trans Tasman Trial are mainly working Border Collies with a small number of Kelpies and the occasional Koolie. Three sheep trials are dominated by Border Collies and Yard Dog Trials by Kelpies.
All dogs need to be registered with the Working Dog Association for their State. Most dogs at this trial are registered with the NSW Working Sheepdog Association. This Association keeps a register of working dogs and their bloodlines as well as talented working dogs of unregistered parents who are listed as "Station Bred". This year we have 136 dogs having a run, up from last year. The area at the far end of the field , where the sheep are is know as the LETOUT (for obvious reasons). This is where each group of three sheep is released onto the field when the Judge raises his flag. The sheep must be released in a calm manner and encouraged to move quietly away from the let-out fence. This is to give the dog plenty of room to move around behind the sheep on the CAST. When the sheep are correctly positioned the Judge lowers his flag, the bell rings and the trial has begun.
The Sheep for the Trans Tasman Trial at Bungendore are supplied by Paul Darmody. He also supplies the sheep for our training days.
They are always in very good condition and are familiar with being worked by dogs, this makes for excellent competition as the sheep are more relaxed. The sheep are trucked in each morning and returned to their paddock each evening with plenty of feed and water. At Bungendore we are proud of striving to provide a high standard of animal welfare and well prepared sheep are a big part of this. The sheep are the reason trialling exists, in the days before motor and quad bikes there was only a shepherd and their well trained dog to manage sheep in all terrains and situations on farms. Trialling maintains that heritage and the breeding and skills needed by both shepherd and dog. When the Trialer/Competitor walks to the Starting Peg they have 100 points. The Judge is there to apply the rules of the Trial, such as fitness of the sheep and to deduct point from the Competitor as required. The Trans Tasman this year will have three Judges, Paul Darmody, John Perry and Mick Hudson who are all successful and experienced Competitors in their own right. There will be two Judges scoring at any one time and the two scores are added together and halved to give the Competitors score. The System of the rotating Judges allows the judges to also compete in the trial. The Trans Tasman is judged in sections with the following Scale of Points Cast/draw Section: 25 Peg to Gap 15 Gap to Cross 15 Cross to Bridge 15 Bridge to pen 30 TOTAL 100 Competitors may only lose the maximum points allowed for each section. John Perry - Winner of the Greg Prince Memorial National Sheepdog Trial 2018 at Hall ACT. One of our three judges.
Only 19 days till our Trans Tasman Trial at Bungendore starts (Yipee). The Club is very busy with planning everything. Special attention is being paid to the Canteen, we want it to be the best around with plenty of winter warmers, early mornings at the grounds can be frosty and foggy.
Everyone has been training their dogs on the different obstacles, the Maltese cross and the gap, as well as training ourselves to remember to walk through the gap after the sheep and how to use the free working areas. These are very different from the usual courses and reflect the New Zealand influence. This year the Novice section with be the Barb Stitt Memorial in acknowledgement of her dedication to the Club and the Trial. We are very pleased daughter will be coming on Saturday to present the Novice prizes. |
Details
Club.Our Sheepdog club is for working sheepdog breeds and hold regular training days to assist people with training their dogs. We also organise and run the Trans Tasman Trial at Bungendore. Archives
December 2019
Categories |