Congrats to Alberta's Scott Glen and Don - Reserve Champions at 2011 prestigious Bluegrass trial

while watching the live webcast on my computer at home.

Congratulations to Scott Glen whose dog Don was Reserve Champion at the Bluegrass Stockdog Trial held this weekend in Kentucky! Don was the top Nursery Dog at the Bluegrass in his Nursery year and this year, Don was 3 points off the top score, earned by his own mother, Star, handled by Alasdair Macrae. Top score was 147, second place was 144. Third place went to Patricia Macrae and her dog Max. Congratulations as well to all of the top 20 finalists who competed. What a great accomplishment to make it to the top 20 from 134 competitors.

The Bluegrass is one of the four major trials in the US and the first big trial of the year. It is one of the oldest trials in North America and most prestigious, drawing the top handlers from across North America. Scott Glen from Alberta has won it in the past with his dog Pleat (who has won every major trial in North America). 

It's not an easy trial, with range sheep trucked in from Texas every year - this year they were young ewes who have never been worked by dogs. The trial field is full of dips and valleys. And this year it was very hot and humid - which has to be tough on the Canadian dogs (Alberta dogs) who are just coming out of a late winter here. Still - this creates opportunity to see what dogs and handlers rise to the top despite the odds and challenges, and luck of the draw.

Other Albertans were on the field and I've created links here that will take you to their blogs - Wendy Schmaltz and Gin - Wendy just hosted the Calvin Jones clinic I enjoyed so much. She also made the Double - lift final! Congratulations! And Louanne Twa whose dog Bracken earned her first Nursery leg. Way to go, Louanne! And of course, Jenny Glen whose dogs Lad and Hemp also did well. You can read their accounts of the Bluegrass on their blogs - in the sidebar of mine. Jenny keeps a farm blog and an Alta-Pete trial blog complete with photos of both her and Scott's dogs, and others.

Through the marvels of technology I was able to watch the entire webcast live on my computer at home, and follow tweets over the entire trial to keep track of every run. Thank you so much to the organizers for doing this. One day I hope to go to the Bluegrass as a volunteer - or maybe even with a dog.

In the past month, my love of sheepherding has been rekindled, thanks to the clinic with Calvin Jones. I had somewhat supressed it because I don' have sheep - but I realize now that I simply need to find ways to make it happen because there is no more wonderful feeling than being on a field with dogs and sheep. I hope to have a new Border Collie puppy within the year to start on sheep. In fact, you don't even start them until they are nearly a year old, so that would be 2 years off which gives me loads of time to get valuable experience with Jet and Ted, and set myself up.

Henry David Thoreau said that when you move confidently in the direction of your dreams, you will see unprecedented success and live the life you have imagined. I am at the dream stage - but taking the steps to make this happen! Stay tuned.

PS lest you forget, Caden my young GSD comes from herding lines too... and would probably love to see some sheep, though his style is not the same as a Border Collie's - he is a tending dog by nature.