TODAYS
RESULTS: FIELD1
FIELD2 FIELD3 .
OTHER DAYS: THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
SUNDAY |
The Flags from the
twenty-one countries
represented were held high in the
Tullamore town square |
Thursday 7 July 2005:
The Enfer ISDS World Sheep Dog Trials commenced
last night in Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland.
Led by the St. Brigids Pipe Band, dogs and
handlers from the 21 countries represented at the
event paraded to a welcoming ceremony in O'Connor
Square. The procession was an assemblage of color
as each team followed their country's flag along
the parade route.Several hundred townspeople
joined competitors and visitors from around the
world to hear welcoming remarks from trial
organizers and local officials. |
| !n this festive atmosphere,
children mingled with some of the best working
sheep dogs in the world and handlers socialized
freely with each other, belying the intensity
that began with the today's qualifying rounds.
More than 240 dogs are expected to compete in
qualifying rounds on Thursday and Friday, with
the top 42 dogs advancing to a semi-final on
Saturday, and top 16 from Saturday competing for
the Enfer ISDS World Sheep Dog Champion for 2005.
|
The Welsh had lots of
supporters along the
parade route. |
| Thursday's qualifying round began
under threatening skies, but the rain stayed away
for the most part. Running on three fields,
competitors began trialing at 8:00 am and
continued throughout the day. Qualifying trials
lasted until nearly 8:00 pm on Field 3, where the
sheep were reported to be difficult. The best run
of the day was recorded on Field 2 by Mr. M.
Doherty of Ireland with Craig, who scored 205 of
a possible 220 points. The best run on Field 1
was 188 by Mr. D. I. Morgan of Wales with Mirk.
On Field 3 a score of 193 by Mr. C. McGarry of
Ireland with Dan was the highest. |
Mr. R. Roth
(Switzerland) and
Lady are happy to have
completed their run on Thursday. |
Perhaps the sentimental favorite
of the day was Miss Haley Howard from California,
who entered two dogs neither of which was able to
compete. One could not travel from the U.S.
because of illness, while the other was denied
entry into the U.K. at Heathrow because
authorities could not locate its microchip. Using
her mother's dog Spot on Field 1, she had a good
run going until the cross-drive panel and
timed-out after the pen due to a difficult first
shed, leaving the field to appreciative applause.
A score of 144 failed to qualify her and Spot for
the semi-final. |
| The top seven runs on each field
from today's trial, 21 competitors in all,
advanced to the semi-finals on Saturday. Notable
qualifiers from Thursday include former
International Supreme Champions John Wilson,
Bobby Dalziel and Bobby Henderson, current Irish
National Champion Con McGarry and former
Continental Champion Serge van der Zweep. With
first day qualifiers representing Denmark,
England, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands,
Norway, Scotland, Sweden and Wales, the Enfer
ISDS World Sheep Dog Trials for 2005 promises to
be a truly international event! Another 21
competitors will attempt to qualify for the
semi-final on Friday.
|
TODAYS
RESULTS: FIELD1
FIELD2 FIELD3 .
OTHER DAYS: THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
SUNDAY |
