I think the pictures say it all.
Nancy O
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
The Rain in Spain.....................
While the rain in Spain may stay mainly on the plain, the rain in Wales is everywhere and almost all the time!
A very wet Nick
Here I am with Deb Jones. It was pouring rain, thank goodness for goretex!
Sheets of rain blowing across field during my run at Penybont
The mud at the International
The mud at the World Trial. Most cars were towed out by the tractors. Our Volvo AWD went through the mud without any problems.
But there is always a rainbow at the end of the day.
Nancy O
A very wet Nick
Here I am with Deb Jones. It was pouring rain, thank goodness for goretex!
Sheets of rain blowing across field during my run at Penybont
The mud at the International
The mud at the World Trial. Most cars were towed out by the tractors. Our Volvo AWD went through the mud without any problems.
But there is always a rainbow at the end of the day.
Nancy O
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
The Town of Llandeilo turns out in Grand style for the World Trial
The town of Llandeilo hosted a parade of all the countries participating in the
Worl Trial. The streets of Llandeilo were packed with people to cheer for the handlers and dogs participating in the World Trial. The school children came out in force, waving flags of all the countries represented at the World Trial. It was pouring rain that evening, but it didn't dampen the spirits of the crowd or the participants.
Each country's Team Captain proudly carried the home flag, our flag was carried by Alasdair
Members of the US Team wearing our team jackets.
After the parade a party was held in our honor at the town hall. A good time was had by all.
The shops in town had windows decorated with sheepdogs and crooks.
Though it wasn't in town, Nancy M loved the Land Rover display of Shaun the Sheep
Thank you Llandeilo for your wonderful hospitality.
Nancy O
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Jack Chamberlain
Nancy and I initially met Jack Chamberlain a few years ago when he did 2 clinics in the US at Steve Paxton-Hill's farm. Jack impressed us with his quiet ways with dogs. Jack lives about an hour from where the World trial was held. When we got down to the World trial, we tried to contact Jack, but no matter how I changed the phone number I had for him, I could not contact him.
By accident, we met up with Jack at one of the trials held just before the World trial, where he was also running a dog. It was great talking with Jack. Jack remembered Nick from when he was a 9 month old pup, and that Nick was fondly called Nick-Nick, which I told Jack he's stilled called by that to this day. When I called Nick-Nick to Nick, he happily turned to me and jumped up for a pet.
Jack watched with Nancy while I ran Nick and he made 2 suggestions to improve my runs. The first was to follow the sheep around the post, so I had a better view of the first leg of the drive, and second to "slam the gate" when I penned the sheep. I told him if I "slammed the gate" at home, I might be DQ'd, he assured me that is how it was done in Wales.
Since we had signed up for the 2nd trial that day, we headed back over to the trial at Penybont, where I was signed in for run #93! I got the correct way to dial Jack's number and he took my cell number.
Jack called us the next day and offered to have me work Nick at a friend's field on Wednesday before I ran Nick at the Worl trial. I happily agreed.
We met up with Jack and his wife Sheila in the middle of a town and followed Jack to his friend's field. Wide open field with hills and lots of sheep. Jack shed off a few sheep for Nick to work, and Sheila played the dog, keeping the rest of the flock in a corner of the field!
Here is Nick working sheep on the hill
Discussing Nick with Jack
After watching Nick work, Jack suggested I slow Nick up even more on his drive, as the flighty sheep don't like a pushy dog, and when shedding to initially stop Nick a good distance off the sheep and then bring him in to setup the shed, this was to keep the flighty sheep calm. He also discussed that very few people shed the last sheep on the head, as the flighty sheep will very likely jump over a dog. I did think of this when we took the last sheep on the head when we did the single the next day at the World trial, but Nick worked hard and held that sheep, we got the full 20 points (10 pts per judge) on the single!
Jack, Sheila and me.
Thank you Jack for your hospitality and suggestions!
Nancy O
By accident, we met up with Jack at one of the trials held just before the World trial, where he was also running a dog. It was great talking with Jack. Jack remembered Nick from when he was a 9 month old pup, and that Nick was fondly called Nick-Nick, which I told Jack he's stilled called by that to this day. When I called Nick-Nick to Nick, he happily turned to me and jumped up for a pet.
Jack watched with Nancy while I ran Nick and he made 2 suggestions to improve my runs. The first was to follow the sheep around the post, so I had a better view of the first leg of the drive, and second to "slam the gate" when I penned the sheep. I told him if I "slammed the gate" at home, I might be DQ'd, he assured me that is how it was done in Wales.
Since we had signed up for the 2nd trial that day, we headed back over to the trial at Penybont, where I was signed in for run #93! I got the correct way to dial Jack's number and he took my cell number.
Jack called us the next day and offered to have me work Nick at a friend's field on Wednesday before I ran Nick at the Worl trial. I happily agreed.
We met up with Jack and his wife Sheila in the middle of a town and followed Jack to his friend's field. Wide open field with hills and lots of sheep. Jack shed off a few sheep for Nick to work, and Sheila played the dog, keeping the rest of the flock in a corner of the field!
Here is Nick working sheep on the hill
Discussing Nick with Jack
After watching Nick work, Jack suggested I slow Nick up even more on his drive, as the flighty sheep don't like a pushy dog, and when shedding to initially stop Nick a good distance off the sheep and then bring him in to setup the shed, this was to keep the flighty sheep calm. He also discussed that very few people shed the last sheep on the head, as the flighty sheep will very likely jump over a dog. I did think of this when we took the last sheep on the head when we did the single the next day at the World trial, but Nick worked hard and held that sheep, we got the full 20 points (10 pts per judge) on the single!
Jack, Sheila and me.
Thank you Jack for your hospitality and suggestions!
Nancy O
The Photographer
My faithful travelling companion, Nancy M, was the expert photographer for most of the trip. Here is a picture by Deb Jones, of Nancy M doing her thing. You can thank most of these wonderful pictures to Nancy M's great photography skills.
Nancy O
Nancy O
Monday, September 22, 2008
Nick the TV Star!
Deb Jones sent me this video clip of Nick, that was shown on Welsh TV.
Deb says "the voice-over (in Welsh) says about the animal health 'paperwork' and how the microchip is used to I.D the dog and that for Nick; flying is not stressful" I'll have to take her word for the translation. This clip is part of the video shot by the Scottish TV station MNE.
Deb says "the voice-over (in Welsh) says about the animal health 'paperwork' and how the microchip is used to I.D the dog and that for Nick; flying is not stressful" I'll have to take her word for the translation. This clip is part of the video shot by the Scottish TV station MNE.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Castles and Countryside
Even in the rain, Wales is a beautiful country. The lush green grass, from all that rain of course, made for stunning scenery. And everywhere you looked there were sheep!
THE HILLS
AND VALLEYS
THE SHEEP
AND WORKING DOGS ON THE HILLS
THE CASTLES
Steps to the top level of the castle, I, wisely, did not traverse them, but Nancy M did!
The view from the top
THE ARCHITECTURE
Ty Beulah, the first cottage we stayed at
Except for going to and from the airport, our time was spent in the rural part of Wales, which seemed to incorporate much of the interior of Wales. The countryside was dotted with small towns and villages, that may or may not have a small food store. When we stopped at one of the villages, Nancy M was told " there are no toilets in the village" Now we are sure that is not exactly what they meant, as we were sure they had plumbing in thier homes! Actually neither Nancy nor I had ever seen such water pressure before! Of course we had not seen sooo much rain before either!
Nancy O
THE HILLS
AND VALLEYS
THE SHEEP
AND WORKING DOGS ON THE HILLS
THE CASTLES
Steps to the top level of the castle, I, wisely, did not traverse them, but Nancy M did!
The view from the top
THE ARCHITECTURE
Ty Beulah, the first cottage we stayed at
Except for going to and from the airport, our time was spent in the rural part of Wales, which seemed to incorporate much of the interior of Wales. The countryside was dotted with small towns and villages, that may or may not have a small food store. When we stopped at one of the villages, Nancy M was told " there are no toilets in the village" Now we are sure that is not exactly what they meant, as we were sure they had plumbing in thier homes! Actually neither Nancy nor I had ever seen such water pressure before! Of course we had not seen sooo much rain before either!
Nancy O
Trip to Deb Jones to work Nick
I "met" Deb Jones of Clever Collies on BC Boards, when there was a discussion about Aled Owen's newest training video, Time Well Spent, which I greatly recommend.
Since Deb lives about an hour away from where the International trial was being held in Wales, I contacted her to see if she could arrange some place for me to work Nick while we were up at the International trial.
She graciously arranged for me to work Nick at Aled Owen's brother's farm, next door to Aled.
Deb met us at the International and after Aled's run, we followed her back to her place, about an hours drive, for coffee and home made muffins.
Of course it was pouring rain the entire day!
Debbie has a wonderful sense of humor, which fit fine with Nancy and my sense of humor. Here is a picture of Deb and I outside of Aled's Ewephoria, where he hosts demonstrations of different types of sheep.
And the 2 Nancies, as we were mostly called while in Wales. (Do we look like we had a great time?)
Nick got to work all the different types of rams that Aled presents during his demonstrations
Nick didn't mind the rain
And truthfully, neither did I, OK except when I lifted my arms to cup my whistle and all the rain ran into the sleeve!
Thanks again Deb for making this trip very memorable! And thanks for the use of the extra dog crate for Nick in the car, it came in extremely handy!
Nancy O
some photos courtesy of Deb Jones
Since Deb lives about an hour away from where the International trial was being held in Wales, I contacted her to see if she could arrange some place for me to work Nick while we were up at the International trial.
She graciously arranged for me to work Nick at Aled Owen's brother's farm, next door to Aled.
Deb met us at the International and after Aled's run, we followed her back to her place, about an hours drive, for coffee and home made muffins.
Of course it was pouring rain the entire day!
Debbie has a wonderful sense of humor, which fit fine with Nancy and my sense of humor. Here is a picture of Deb and I outside of Aled's Ewephoria, where he hosts demonstrations of different types of sheep.
And the 2 Nancies, as we were mostly called while in Wales. (Do we look like we had a great time?)
Nick got to work all the different types of rams that Aled presents during his demonstrations
Nick didn't mind the rain
And truthfully, neither did I, OK except when I lifted my arms to cup my whistle and all the rain ran into the sleeve!
Thanks again Deb for making this trip very memorable! And thanks for the use of the extra dog crate for Nick in the car, it came in extremely handy!
Nancy O
some photos courtesy of Deb Jones
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