Sept 7 - Soldier Hollow Sheepdog Championships (Final Round)

Heading to the Sheepdog Championships today! I've gone the last two years and have seen one of the preliminary rounds. Today, it's the finals -- the top 15 border collies (and handlers) from the last 3 days. (They take the top 5 scores from each of the 3 days.)

In the previous rounds, the dog had to maneuver a herd of 5 sheep thru a course of gates, help the handler split the herd and then herd the sheep into a small pen. And for their reward, a water bath and applause from the crowd.

Very fun to watch!

Today, they have to manage a herd of 16 sheep over a "double lift" course. The course starts with 8 sheep (without red collars) high on a hill to the right. The dog runs from the handler up the hill and then herds the sheep down thru the middle gate to any area past a post. (The sheep can stay or wander off which many did.) The dog then has to locate the second herd (with red collars) up the hill to the left and then run them down the hill and thru the same gate.

He then needs to corral all 16 sheep and drive them down to the "shedding ring" where the handler is. Once in the "ring", all 16 sheep are then driven up the hill thru a gate and then back across the course thru another gate before returning to the shedding ring.

There the dog gets a bit of a break as its up to the handler to split 5 of the red collared sheep from the herd. (This step was a little chaotic/frustrating because obviously all the sheep want to stay together.)

After this step is complete, the dog has to herd the remaining sheep into a little corral. (Never any easy task.)

All of this needs to be completed in 24 minutes!! And the whole course is worth 170 points. They get points for each gate, penning, .... a driving the herd.

Its a beautiful morning; it's sunny and cool - 46 degrees when I arrive before the starting time of 8am. It's really cool, so I grab a spot in the bleachers and the sun. (I'm sure I'll be roasting in an hour or two.)

The first border collie is Coal.

He had an awesome run going

but during the attempt to pen of the sheep, he nipped at one of the lambs - instant DQ! (A loud "Awwww!" from the crowd)

Next up is Mollie. Mollie completes the course by penning the sheep! (The crowd cheers!!)

She gets 115 points!

Next is Howell, he had a great run but time ended while attempting to split the 5 red collared sheep from the herd. This is where I really don't understand the scoring as Howell got 127 points. I know they get points for herding the sheep in straight lines, ... but.....

Then came Ted; he completed the penning and got 109.

Jese is next. He drove the 1st herd down without issues but poor Jese just couldn't find the second herd on the hill. He kept going after the first herd. The handler kept trying to get Jese going in the proper direction but the dog was just confused. He was trying, he even went off the course into the crowd but never found the 2nd herd. :( But he still got a loud applause from the crowd and a pat on the head from the handler.

He wasn't the only dog to have problems locating the 2nd herd. Sky was next and had a similar issue but he did find the 2nd herd.

He also had to run off a sheep that was not one of the part of the red collared 5 as the sheep wanted back-in the "chosen" group.

Unfortunately, Sky got DQ'd for nipping during the penning attempt.

A local UT handler was up next with her 9 year old dog Keli.

Keli penned the sheep to the loudest applause of the day! And got a 94.

 Way to go Keli!

Cley was the last dog I saw -- he got a 104.

I saw 8 of the 15 dogs run but it's really crowded now so it's time to head out while it's easy to do -- besides as soon as I move from my spot, I'll lose my nice shaded seat. (Yes, I did move to shade.)

Super fun time! Those dogs are so incredible! Some of the last dogs I saw, took a quick water bath before the splitting of the herd -- it's hot and they are working so hard.

But when they popped out of the water, they didn't shake off the water, they went right back to work!

Great day!! Incredible breed of dogs!!