SHEEP DOG NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3112, 5 November 1913, Page 30

SHEEP DOG NOTES.

The report of the International Sheep Dog Trials (taken from the North British Agriculturist of September 4 last, and of which a summary is reproduced below) as of more than usual interest to us in -New Zealand, because the winner (Mr T. Brown’s dog) is litter brother to Mr Lilico’s dog Lammermor Dan, and Mr Lilico now also owns the dam of Snux, the record prizewinner—Lammermoor Queen. Mr Lilico considers himself to bo in luck just now, four of his imported bitches having whelped recently a total of 30 pups (all sold), and he, expects anything up to 30 more before the year is out. When Mr Lilico restarted his dog-breeding business some five years back he had little idea that by importing Border Bees he was launching into transactions such as now face him, involving, os it docs, periodical journeys to the Quarantine Island at Lyttelton, where he has dogs almost continually. and the maintenance of some 70 to 80 dogs at Lbchicl.

The, scored of success in th's instance is. of course, that Mr Lilico has imported and maintains only the best class of dogs—clever workers beyond dispute,—their work at sheep trials showing that they pcssece the working instinct strongly inherent. The dog Jimmy Lilico, which won the Federal Trials at Geelong in August, beating the Sydney champion, has since won firsts at Ballarat and Coke. This dog was sired bv Bagshaw’s Moss, and imported by Mr Lilico a year ago.

Bagshaw’s Moss Mr Lilico expects' to land here before the year is out. INTERNATIONAL SHEEP-DOG TRIALS. —Exciting Scenes at Morpeth.— On Saturday, August 30, the premierworking sheep-dog contest of the year, held in connection with the International Sheepdog Trials Society, took place in the Olympic Gounds, Morpeth. The leading dogmen in the kingdom -were there; voluble theorists, contemptuous of Nature and all her ways, Were there; “experts,” who sometimes mistake a collie for a- pointer, were there'; past-heroes, whoso great dogs are, unfortunately, all dead, were there ; miners, deeply learned in “whippet” comparisons, were there; and ladies, rich in autumn tints, and /representatives of many grades of society, were there. At half-past 10 o’clock the judges—Messrs Isaac Herdman, John Kirk, and John Dickson—took their place, while Mr Alexander Swanston, course director, in stentorian tones summoned, in real field-marshal fashion, the first competitor. Thte was Mr Adam- Tclfor, Fairnley, Cambo, Morpeth, with Kept Without the coat, the famous veteran stepped briskly up to the startingpost; and, after carefully surveying the ground, let Kep go. The outrun (or hauld) being extremely short and easy (not more than 240 yards, the ground eloping with coaxing convenience to the very startingpoint), Kep quickly took command of the four white-faced gimmers which waited his directions. Through between two poles, placed midway in direct lino with the point of opening, and about 10 yards apart, he brought his charges, but not without a little zigzagging, which resulted in one of the four outstepping the space Limit. Having accomplished the drive-away (the distance being about 60 yards) in easy and graceful fashion, he flanked powerfully, and took Nos. l and 2 goal posts with fine precision. The hurdles (erected after the fashion of a dipper-entrance), the shed, penning, and single sheep—these items he skilfully and adroitly compassed, taking 13 minutes to complete the course. The applause which punctuated the close of the run testified to •the high standard which the opening performance had asserted. Then came Mr W. Wallace, East Otterburn, Otterburn, and Moss. The outrun, negotiating the first poles, And driving away wore simply faultless; but, in rounding up for the goal posts he swept through between his master and sheep, and thus flanked’ on the wrong side. After _ this ho worked superbly up to the effecting of the shed, which test, however, revealed a slight lack of initiative and dash. On the single sheep he revealed all the powers of a master; athough wo cannot commend Mr Wallace’s method of delivering a staggering turn, and then forcing the sheep into a state of utterbewilderment. It is bad for the sheep; nor docs it prove high capacity in the dog. Time, 11 minutes. Mr John B. Bagshaw and Jed, from Whiston Manor, Yorkshire, followed. This thoughtful-looking little bitch opened beautifully, her style being full of suggestion and strength; but she was unfortunate at the shod, and still more unfortunate on the single sheep. She drew on time to the extent of 17 minutes. 'When Mr Thomas Gilhokn and Leader (East Fortoun, Dreni) took the turf there were hints of a truly forceful exhibition; but, somehow, Leader abruptly changed his mind (doubtless, the heat had much to do with it), and became so deliberate and cautious that 19 minutes had elapsed before terms had been fixed with the single sheep. Mr Bagshaw now- ran Moss, a rare fellow, with the look and manner of a canine philosopher. The opemng was a trifle tardy, not from want of instinct, but from want, of practice. Once in the swing of the course — and this he realised quickly—we were treated to one of the most fascinating and kindly displays of the whole day. All felt lie and Kep stood well -up to Otterburn Moss. Time, 15i minutes. “Now for the Lammermoors,’ ’ said somebody; and when we had all taken our original “positions, Mr T. P. Brown, Tollishiil, Oxton. was seen at the starting post with Don. The run out was sweeping and sweet; but the poles were lost, then driving away, one sheep took the outside of the first flag; which slight mishap was followed by a circular move at the No. 1 goal posts. The second goal having been perfectly negotiated, the hurdles were then

duly honoured; but the shed, though fairly good, was slow. On the single sheep he worked well, but made an unfortunate tailturn, which slip, along with others, precluded (it was thought) the possibility of his rivalling Fairnley Kep and Yorkshire Moss. Time, 15 njinutes. In quick succession came Mr Andrew Brown, Soorhope, Oxton, with Meg, a regular little needle, capable of large things. Up to the threading of the goal posts she was bidding fair for the cup ; but here, and after (with the exception of the perming, which was smartly accomplished) she had to bear up against a tide of misfortune. Her time was 16 minutes. After this Mr T. P. Brown entered the lists with his leading dog, Lad, which is known as the Lammermoor Star. He took the course strongly; rounded on his sheep with a show of real purpose; but on being asked by his director to make a gentle flank for the first poles he decided it was quite unnecessary, and so made never a move. Still, the obliging four took the poles decently and in order, a fact which we cannot, however, put to the credit of Lad. - In driving away, negotiating the goal posts, and at the hurdles, ho showed himself at his highest. Having forced a shed right pluckily, and made an arresting pen, strong excitement became manifest, since it was felt that he was running Moss hard for the cup. But Mr Brown, having determined to economise in the matter of time, forced a trial on the single sheep when the scarcity of space ought to have suggested imminent danger. The result was a “let-go” after three vigorous turns. But the judges, apparently unconscious of the far-reaching significance of the precedent they were so rashly creating, ordered a second “try.” This proved more disastrous than the first, in that Lad turned; tail twice before bringing hia sheep to bay. Despite this, it was generally felt that, though he could lay no claim on the cup, he. at this stage, stood well in the prize-list. Hearty cheers followed Mr Brown and Lad to the exhausted pen. Time, 15 minutes. Then came Mr Bagshaw with Fly, a sweet little genius, but hopelessly lame through .the result of an accident the previous day. In 16 minutes she covered the course, showing at certain points a' wealth of power and tact that amazed and charmed everybody. If a prize had been given for real determination, under the most trying circumstances. Fly truly deserved it.

There now approached the starting-post, in easy shepherd style, the most closelyobserved man of the whole field —the great Scottish trainer Mr Alexander Millar, Burnfoot, Darvel. Though not exactly his first appearance on English soil, competitors and spectators alike jostled each other for positions that they might hear his every word and follow his every gesture. Not less interesting was the somewhat prpud and expectant attitude of his countrymen. They seemed to trust him implicitly, and realised to the full the grand superiority of their genial champion. The sheep placed, and the signal given, Mr, Millar slightly raised his hand, and, like a liberated swallow. Mux—a pretty little dog with a fine head, and so formed as to suggest a maximum of'power and speed —took the ground with a. will and resolution that drew the soul of appreciation into the eye of every beholder. Assuming command perfectly, he moved his charges through between the poles, and up to the feet of his master with an case and grace that reminded us of Old Kep at his highest. Quickly and gently he reversed his course; but whirl a fire we now saw flaming in the little fellow’s eye. “Steady, Muxy, steady,” said Mr Millar, in a low, oouthy tone, to which Mux responded with the veriest semblance of a smile. The drive-away and winning of the goal posts, together with the hurdles and shed having been faultlessly performed, the excitement of the spectators became intense as he proceeded towards the pen. By a marvellously clever and commanding movement on the flank, followed up by an irresistible “urge,” Mux literally rolled them into the pen before they quite knew what had happened. Wisely the people held their enthusiasm in check; for Mux had yet to operate on the single sheep —a test of superlative importance, and not infrequently fraught with the greatest difficulty. Soon his metal was tried; and consistent with his whole run, the display was so powerful and brilliant that the electrified crowd gave full scope to both heart and lungs, and cheered, and cheered, and cheered again. It was a great moment for Mr Millar and Mux, but a still greater for those who believe in the infinite potentialities of the collie. Time. 13 minutes. Fan, from Calcroft, Windyhaugh, Rothbury (Mr Charles Oliver), followed, and, but for a “cross” in the outrun and a slight hitch at the goal posts caused by the impatience of her master, she, both by reason of her style and keen, unerring instinct, should have demanded a front place. After this wo had Mr Alexander Millar and Risp—the most suceesful dog of the year. . But the sheep, now hungry and restless, “ took the hill ” before it was possible for Risp to effect a command. This necessitated a great deal of manoeuvring among the brackens, which, though well done, brought Risp to the very point of exhaustion. The heat was scorching, and no water being available, Mr Millar honoured his humane instincts by retiring-

Mr Wallace now entered the lists with his young dog, Rap. Opening with' much promise—for surely enough this puppy will yet do great things,—all wont well until the first goal pests were reached. Mistakes now compelled extra running, and, the sun being still merciless, William and Rap had, before completing the course, to proceed to the exhausted pen. Mr Charles Oliver now “laid on” Moss; and Moss, all through, showed himself in delightful temper and form. A front-rank dog, he gave a. notable exhibition, erring, however, at the first goal posts, and procrastinating too much at the shed. Time, 12 minutes. Then came the holder of the cup, Sweep, close at the heel of his master, Mr Thomas Armstrong, Greenchesters, Otterburn. The question on every lip was. “ Can ho eclipse the effort of Mux?” “If he does,” said somebody, “ Tom will deserve for wife the best girl in the county.” “Ay,” soliloquised Tom, “ I know only too well that Mux will take an awful amount of beating.” “ Now then,” said the rotund course director, which simple but pregnant words put Tom all on edge. Promptly obedient to his master, Sweep Jed off in fine, insinuating style; took command and the poles perfectly; but. when reversed for the drive-away, a peculiar dullness crept over him; and ho forthwith gave signs of sulking. Though he recovered himself quickly, and showed wonderful promptitude in his responses when No. 1 goal posts were reached he missed these, and had consequently to double back. The same fate awaited him at goal No. 2. At the hurdles, however, he was pawky and fascinating;

but, iu negotiating a shed, he revealed, a distinct lack of canine character, his wavy surrenders, which -always provoke opposition on the part of the sheep, removing him entirely from the list of possible winners. At the pen and on the single sheep he seemed to partially redeem himself; and his time was 12 minutes.

The last dog of the day to run nowentered the lists—Don, owned and directed by Mr T. Armstrong. The run-out challenged even the best of his rivals-; but the poles were hard to win, and the goal posts several degrees harder. After describing one or two circular turns, and allowing one sheep to throw contempt on goal No. 1, he swept the hurdles, forced a shed, and penned strongly. On the single sheep he made a great and memorable exhibition; but his time was not less than 19 minutes. Still, the public evinced no sign of weariness, for they cheered Mr Armstrong and Don at the close right heartily. The judges having "seriously deliberated for about 10 minutes, the fateful list, on being finally ' fixed, was handed to Mr Alexander Swanson, course director, who, in a loud dear tone, declared it as follows:—1, Mr T.- P. Brown—Lad ; 2, Mr Alexander Millar —Mux; 3, Mr William Wallace—Moss; 4, Mr T. Armstrong— Sweep; 5, Mr T. P. Brown —Don. ' From what we have already said it is almost superfluous to observe that the. announcement of the awards produced a feeling of disappointment, which, when a few long breaths had been drawn, expressed itself generally and freely in terms of considerable dissent. Mux was so clearly first, and Mr Wallace’s Moss so obviously secoiid, that the public could not understand it at all, and thought that some mistake had been made with the numbers. With the first and second dogs the difference of opinion did not end, for how Sweep and Don got in front of such dogs as Teller's Kep, Bagshaw’s Moss, and Oliver’s Fan was a mystery which no one could understand. Indeed, the whole judgment was . dumbfoundering to expert as well as to popular opinion. Had open point judging been arranged for, the bewilderment could not possibly have happened.

WAITAKI COLLIE DOG CLUB. There was a fair attendance of members ah the annual meeting of the Waitaki Collie Dog Club, held at Hakataramea, when the chair was occupied by Mr R. W. Trotter. The balance sheet, which showed a substantial surplus, was adopted. Mr Hayes wrote stating he did not wish to be nominated as president, but the meeting thought he should reconsider the matter and accept the position, and the secretary was instructed to notify him to that effect. The remaining officers were again re-elected, and a few members added to the committee. It was decided to have the three usual classes, and the meeting voted £IOO for the same, being a.n increase of £25 on the previous trials. A;n additional item has been added to the effect that the first 10, dogs in the yarding event shall bo given a short null and yarding contest on the afternoon of the second day, as an exhibition for the benefit of the public. / Time, smm. Prize, a trophy. Correspondence dealt with included a circular from the Taieri Club, asking for. a delegate to be appointed for a meeting to ho held during Dunedin Summer Show Week to consider the matter of holding an Otago and Southland championship meeting, but the meeting decided to take' no action.