Season's end

Bob O'Donnell setting sheep at the 2008 USBCHA Finals, Sturgis SD. Photo — I'm guessing — by Pearse Ward.

The USBCHA North American Sheepdog Finals were won by a Canadian team, Ian Zoerb and his Peg. Reserve Champions were Bev Lambert and Bill. I'll let Pearse Ward call it [and huge thanks to Pearse for blogging the Finals so well]:

Ian Zoerb [and Peg] are on the course now with a nice first gather, good line to the fetch gates and flawless turn back. They had a good lift but got a little off line in the long grass near the top. As soon as they came out of the long stuff, Ian wasted no time in putting the sheep back on line and they were on a good line all the way to the fetch gates. The drive had nice flow and except for a short stretch coming a little low was on line most of the way around. In the shedding ring there was some outstanding work. Anyone who works dogs knows how tough it is to stop a ewe going flat out with her head down but Peg, after 25 minutes of hard work, ran that ewe down and caught her not ten yards from the shed group and without gripping turned her and brought the single back into the shedding ring. As nice a piece of dog work as you will see. That was the same ewe that had broken back once already, causing Ian to regather and reshed with only two left to shed off. It was too bad that such nice work will not count for Best Shed because it is up there.

Ian Zoerb and Peg have taken the lead.

Read it all here. I can't begin to say how great it has been to have such excellent descriptions of the work. Huge thanks to Finals Trial Committee Members Laura Hicks, Rene LaBree, Sharon Norstog and Jamie Spring for organizing the 2008 Finals. California brags: Nursery Champions were Suzy Applegate and Buzz; Reserve Champions were Jennifer Clark-Ewers and Gunner; and Sandra Milberg [of Sonoma Wine Country Sheepdog Trial fame] and Quill were seventh in the Nursery Championship. Jennifer and Sweep took eleventh place in the double lift finals; Sandy Milberg and Drift qualified for the double lift but DQed.

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Over in Wales, Aled Owen and Roy won the World Trial by one point over Ron Snoeck and Nell from Netherlands. Here is an update [along with some terrific photos] from Kinloch Sheepdogs. Thanks so much to all who provided words and pictures for those of us back home.