Sheep Dog Trials

Southland Times, Issue 19552, 5 May 1905, Page 4

Sheep Dog Trials

(From Our Own Correspondent)

The third sheep dog trials utaer the auspices of the Gore Fanciers Club was held on the racecourse there on Wednesday and Thursday. The weather was perfect both days but, as is usual, there were very few onlookers, dog trials not being of much interest to any one except those interested in sheep. 3he number of entries ho waver was m-ij: large, the four events bringing forth 77. In the matter of judging the committee this year departed from the usual method and had three Judges, placed some distance from each other, the number of points allowed by them to the competitors then Icing added together and divided Ly three, and the prizes given to those competitors having the highest average. This method seems to have given the greatest satisfaction. It is quite a common thing • o hear a vast amount of grumbling, after a - dog trial, at the judge's decisions, but this time not a whisper has bcm heard with regard to the awards. A great deal of work of a v,-ry high order was done by many - J the competing dogs, and also a lot of very inferior work. Especially was this latter noticeable in the maiden events, but it is by attending and competing at trials such as this that' dog owners discover wherein their collies are deficient, and learn what

is required to teach to the dogs to reach the standard of the ready fine work exhibited by those that carry off the prizes. Much credit is due to the committee and secretary for the excellent manner in which all details were carried through—no delay, no trouble, not a hitch anywhere. Class I—(Maiden) head pull and yard : 450 yards ; prizes £4, £3, £2 and £l—F. Stalker’s Singo 30 J points ; James McGill’s Hoy 26J points ; J. Byer’s Clyde >•’(> 1.-3rd points ;R. Kerr's Gyp 25 1 3rd

points. Class 2—Long Full : -lead, full and hold in- the ring ; -150 yards : prizes £lO, £6, £3 and £l. —GKerr’s May 33| points ; J. layers’ Clyde 31 l-3rd points; J. Johnston’S Black 30 2-3rd points : B. McLeod’s Don 28 l-3rd points. Class 3.—(A11-comers : Head, pull and yard ; 450 yards ; priz.-s £5. £3, £2, £l—J. Purdue’s Jack, 34 5-6th points ; R. R. Pollock’s Little Pearl, 32 l-6th points ; R. B. Pollock’s Gift, 32 l-6th points . IL Kerr’s May, 31-j points. May’s total was 34|, but she was penalised 3 points for winning in Class 2. Consolation ; prizes £3, £2, £l.— A. Cruickshank’s Gore, 34 points : IV. Scott’s Wylie, 33 points; A. King’s Ned, 29 2-3rd points; R. R. Pollock’s Gift, 29 2-3rd points.