DOG TRIALS

Southland Times, Issue 22131, 27 September 1933, Page 16

DOG TRIALS

SCOTTISH NATIONAL RESULTS. NATIONAL CUP WON OUTRIGHT. It will be of interest to local dog trial enthusiasts to read the remarks of “Drumdog” in the latest issue of the North British Agriculturist and Farming News just to hand. This year’s Scottish National sheep dog trials were held in Gosford Park, Aberlady, on the last week of August. Ideal weather prevailed up till the afternoon of the final day when rain fell heavily. As a result the concluding work was somewhat spoiled and from the spectators point of view it was extremely disappointing. The first day was devoted to the hired shepherds’ class and to the doubles contest. In the former the Scottish Shepherds’ Cup was the principal award, while the Scottish “Brace” Shield was at stake in the latter. All the leading Scottish shepherds were present. The winner of the former prize, Mona, gave an all round good display. She gathered well, her forcing powers were there when needed, and she was in admirable command. Taken all over there was a vast improvement in the work seen in this class. Shepherds were coming on well. Their dogs showed a wonderful improvement to those of ten years ago. This was the result of good breeding and more careful training, both of which had been encouraged by the continuation of annual trials.

In the farmers’ class over thirty dogs competed, Mr J. M. Wilson’s Nicky annexing the prize by a narrow margin. It was her first time over a national course. In golfing parlance she simply “burned it up.” A great sweeping outrun and a sweet lift were followed by a slightly deviating “bring” which put her on a par with Dave, a previous competitor who had put up a good run. From then onwards she had a really perfect course. In driving she maintained excellent line, and followed her charges without a stop. Negotiating all the obstacles and revealing that guiding and controlling instinct which is so effective and is so essential in all branches of herding, she proceeded to her near at hand work with the confidence of an experienced campaigner. Alert and vivacious she penned to perfection. The “single” had no terrors for her. She cut it off with lightning-like rapidity. So effective, indeed, that the gimmer had not the nerve to face her conqueror and she led the field by half a point. This gave J. M. Wilson his third successive win in the National Cup and it now. becomes his own property. It was a notable achievement and bids fair to equal the record of “Sandy” Miller, who has three national cups on his sideboard.