Herding dogs were put to the test at the Third Annual Sandhill Lea Sheepdog Trial near 100 Mile House recently.
Organizer Lorne Landry says the event – which saw close to 40 competitors and their dogs navigate an international sheep dog style course Aug. 31- Sept. 1 – attracted a couple hundred visitors and was very successful.
“We had great weather and quite a few spectators. Everything went smoothly.”
The competitors were divided into three categories, which include novice/novice (beginner handlers and beginner dogs); pro-novice (dogs and handlers who have moved up from novice/novice, or for practiced handlers who are running a beginning dog); and open class (any dog and any handler), which held separate trials each day.
Results first through third were as follows:
Novice/Novice class:
Lindsay Ibbotson and Zeus (Vancouver); Nancy Barker and Gwen (Chilliwack); and Sandra Hurst and Koda (Coquitlam).
Pro-Novice class:
Carol Nelson and Kale (Pink Mountain); Brian Nelson and Jake (Aldergrove); and Pam Boring and Sophie (Pink Mountain).
Open Class (Aug. 31):
C. Nelson and Taff (Pink Mountain); Gayle Cochlan and Leah (Loon Lake); and C. Nelson and Jess (Pink Mountain).
Open class (Sept. 1):
C. Nelson and Jess (Pink Mountain); Cochlan and Meg (Loon Lake); 3. B. Nelson and Pleat (Aldergrove).
Landry says he plans to host the trial again next year on Labour Day weekend at his property on Abel Lake Road, located 10 kilometres west of 105 Mile.
