R. M. Wilson wins dog trial again

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33693, 16 November 1974, Page 13

R. M. Wilson wins dog trial again

The noted Kirwee dog trial man, R. M. Wilson, won again when the final of the sheepdog trial was held in the ring — it being Mr Wilson’s seventeenth appearance in a Canterbury Show final.

This time he won with Queen, a four years and a half old bitch, which struck trouble at the bridge when the sheep already on the obstacle turned about and went off again—but she made a splendid recovery to go on to win. The sheep did not seem to move so easily this year, and each of the three competitors had some trouble with them. Mr J. G. Loe (Darfield), who judged the event, said that Queen’s run-out was good, as was also her pull. In spite of some very good work at the bridge, she still incurred a quite heavy penalty for a “turn tail” —but a lesser dog might not have succeeded in getting the sheep over after this experience. Her over-all run, however, was very good and progressive, Mr Loe said.

H. K. Barwell (North Loburn), with Jack, a two years and a half old dog, was second. It was Mr Barwell's third time in a final in the ring—and he has finished second at least twice. Jack won a maiden event at Cheviot earlier in the year. Mr Loe said that by crossheading Jack had incurred a penalty of half his run-out pointe, but the rest of his run had been very smooth and progressive. P. Newton’s Bonnie had also almost cross-headed so that she had incurred a penalty, but not such a severe one as Jack. The sheep had been a little bold for Bonnie, and she had had to ‘■dive at them” once or twice to keep them going, but by the time she had done about half her run she had mastered the situation.

Bonnie won the long-pull event at Lobum this year. Of the preliminary runs earlier in the week, Mr Leo said that the standard had generally been good; but there was an element of 1 luck in trials, and much depended on the sheep that a competitor drew. One or two competitors had not had much of a chance, as the sheep had failed to settle down.

Mr Loe said that a la-year-old girl, Miss Barbara Carmichael (Motunau), had been a competitor. She had completed the course and performed very well. The results of the final in the ring were: R. M. Wilson’s Queen, 90j points, 1; H. K. Barwell’s 8Q C \' a?* Hawton’s Bonnie,