Thank you for your feed back!

Mr A Beaton would like to bring up the use of a marker to help ensure sheep are turned out to a reasonable distance and conformity for gathering, especialy at Nursery trials. Also the use of a handler's post rather than standing at the pen to avoid confusing young dogs by asking them and the sheep to go round the pen for the start of the cross drive. 

J and T Simpson, and C Cutler have confirmed they will put on a trial at Windy Hill and at Easby in October. 

Mr J Atkinson has a proposal regarding show trials

"I will be unable to attend the AGM on the 17th September; but I will make sure I will be attending the Presentation Dinner.
 
However I do have a proposal for “Matters Arising”
 
Due to fact that 4 or 5 Show Trials are becoming of very little relevance ( other than a day out) as no National Points are being awarded.
 
I would like to propose that there are no Nursery classes during the Summer at any of the Show trials. All dogs have to be judged as Open and it is up to the person to decide if they want to run or not; and that “No prize” of any description should be awarded to any handler or dog that retires.
 
It’s not the “end of the world” if it’s not passed.  It’s just an idea; but it is for the benefit of Ryedale members. Thanks"

 

Consider

How many local Shows putting on trials as an added attraction for the public need the Nursery class to boost numbers?

The local Show trials need support from trialists, or the trial section will continue to decline.

Running high standard Nursery dogs at open trials may result in premature advancement into Open only dogs.  

Prizes can be avoided by retiring at any point in the trial.

Are National points valid when gained against Nursery level dogs, the best of which have been retired?

 How can entries from Open dogs be encouraged and increased at the smaller show trials?

 This was discussed but failed to gain support.

It was proposed that there should be some attempt for more uniformity in turning out of sheep, ie for a certain distance to a bucket or post, 30 yards, for easier lifting.

Also that handlers should stand at a post rather than at the pen to stop the sheep and dogs learning to go round the pen.

These were surpported.

The rule of thumb for judges at Nursery trials introduced last year to ease wear n tear on sheep who have reached the pen but defied so many efforts to put them in they could be said to have no pen points left was emphasised. A judge may blow the horn on a competitor at that point without loss of points already gained, so off the field, but still in the points. 

We are, as a society, responsible of the welfare of the sheep we use, often from fellow triallists but sometime just generous land owners.