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04 August 2024
Show trials...Winner to Judge next year?
  1. The above are messages exchanged between a competitor and RSDS secretary, and raises points that are not for Ryedale Sheepdog Society to rule on, but Egton Show committee. When a decision is confirmed it will be made public. 
  2. Stuart Walton Hi everyone I just want to confirm that I will be judging the sheepdog trial at Egton show this year. I have had a long and interesting conversation with Steve Cornforth from Egton show. He has informed me that it isn’t infact in the rules that the winner has to judge ? He agreed whole heartedly with me that the 3 open dogs and at least 1 nursery dog that I proposed to run would be more beneficial to the show and the trial than me judging. He just felt that from conversations he has had it would upset too many people if I didn’t judge. Political correctness gone mad. My thoughts and feelings are that these trials are getting less attendance year by year. One of the reasons for this is that if they don’t get the 25 open entries required for national qualification it is seen pointless to attend? Egton trial is a cracking trial with an atmosphere better than any other trial I have attended. I probably ran at it almost 40 years ago when it was across the road. This and many other shows and trials should be cherished and we should do all that we can to not only to keep them going but to make them as good as we can. As I have already said I am more than willing to judge it and will do so. Even though I have found a more than capable judge who is willing to take my place. It would be interesting to hear peoples thoughts on this especially the ones that might be upset and their reasons why.

        Thank you Steve for clarifying and Stuart for agreeing to  Judge.

When I got Stuart’s message, as Ryedale SDS secretary, I consulted 4 people. Bob Harland, one time president of Egton Show and a loyal worker for its sheepdog trial for over 60 years, with Steve’s father Dick, and then with Steve and Jackie Cook. The tradition has, to the very best of his, and therefor my knowledge, been that the winner judged the next year’s trial. If people couldn’t come and judge they sent some one else, but didn’t run. We also talked to Peter Turnbull, our RSDS chairman, and Vice chairman Graham Blyth, and our feeling was we would prefer to maintain that tradition, but the final decision was for Steve and Jackie. This is a show trial, not a Ryedale Sheepdog trial. Neither Bob or I am in a position to run dogs in trials at the moment, Peter and Graham are two competent, experienced handlers with realistic expectations of their chances of prizes. We have no personal interest in who runs, or judges. No one else was involved in our deliberations. We believe that Steve and Stuart have made the correct decision for this year, with, I suggest, the option that any one believing there is a need for change should approach Egton Show with their suggestions, and, in these regrettably modern times, clarify any resulting changes in writing.

 

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