Antelope Valley Stockdog Club
Where the Antelope Play But the Sheep are Herded
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"Good Egg" Benefit Trial April 3, 2010
As you know by now from my emails Mike Burks' dog Sport has had to have emergency surgery on Monday March 8. 2010 for a life threatening medical condition. Sport pulled through the surgery and while he is not out of the woods yet we are hopeful for a complete recovery.
Meanwhile, several club members have come together to organize a benefit trial we are calling the "Good Egg" trial to help cover some of Sport's veterinary bills. Formal entry forms will be out in afew days.
The trial will be held Saturday April 3, 2010 at TASK Farms in Leona Valley. There will be two actual trials - one a USBCHA style (non sanctioned) field trial and one an AHBA (hopefully) sanctioned Ranch (HRD) trial and tests. We will also have some "day of" fun events. All net proceeds after actual costs which should be minimal as Terry Kenney is graciously donating the facility and the livestock) will go to Mike Burks to cover some of Sport's vet bills. We have already received a number of donated "prizes" and these will be given in lieu of traditional ribbons.
In the meantime we have set up a PayPal Account to accept entry fees for the trial which is already active and will also be active once the entries are out. You can make a donation (enter the virtual trial) or pay physical entries by clicking on the Pay Pal button here.
Just click on the drop down menu to make the proper entry (virtual or physical).
As you know by now from my emails Mike Burks' dog Sport has had to have emergency surgery on Monday March 8. 2010 for a life threatening medical condition. Sport pulled through the surgery and while he is not out of the woods yet we are hopeful for a complete recovery.
Meanwhile, several club members have come together to organize a benefit trial we are calling the "Good Egg" trial to help cover some of Sport's veterinary bills. Formal entry forms will be out in afew days.
The trial will be held Saturday April 3, 2010 at TASK Farms in Leona Valley. There will be two actual trials - one a USBCHA style (non sanctioned) field trial and one an AHBA (hopefully) sanctioned Ranch (HRD) trial and tests. We will also have some "day of" fun events. All net proceeds after actual costs which should be minimal as Terry Kenney is graciously donating the facility and the livestock) will go to Mike Burks to cover some of Sport's vet bills. We have already received a number of donated "prizes" and these will be given in lieu of traditional ribbons.
In the meantime we have set up a PayPal Account to accept entry fees for the trial which is already active and will also be active once the entries are out. You can make a donation (enter the virtual trial) or pay physical entries by clicking on the Pay Pal button here.
Just click on the drop down menu to make the proper entry (virtual or physical).
Congrats to Club Members From Zamora
Congratulations are in order to a number of Antelope Valley Stockdog Club Members who made the recent trip up North to the Zamora Sheepdog Trial.
Zamora is one of the most challenging Sheepdog Trials in California. In the Open Class the dogs must complete a 600 yard outrun along the ridgeline of rolling hills before lifting the sheep from the crest between hills on either side.
The picture shows the view from behind the handler's post. The sheep are set way up at the top of the ridgeline. The outrun is about as challenging as it comes. The fetch has spots where the sheep and dog are not visible annd the handler must simply hold his or her breath.
For the Pro Novice Class the sheep are brought about halfway down into the valley between the hills on both sides and in a bit of a blind spot.
A view of the Zamora Trial Field. The Sheep are set way up along the ridgeline at the top center of the picture. In this picture the handler is just moving to the shedding ring.
Throw in some un-dogged range ewes and it is a very challenging trial.
Club Members Michael Burks (Sport), Jean Singer (Tug) and Suzanne Anaya (Kilt) all gathered up their courage and ran in Open. Good job Guys. Club Member Sara Goodman (Rob) ran in Nursery and Pro Novice. And Club Members Erin Swanson (Lark) and Pat Grannan (Piper) also ran in Pro - Novice.
Spectators Relax on the Hill across the road to enjoy the Zamora Sheepdog Trial.
Congratulations are in order to a number of Antelope Valley Stockdog Club Members who made the recent trip up North to the Zamora Sheepdog Trial.
Zamora is one of the most challenging Sheepdog Trials in California. In the Open Class the dogs must complete a 600 yard outrun along the ridgeline of rolling hills before lifting the sheep from the crest between hills on either side.
The picture shows the view from behind the handler's post. The sheep are set way up at the top of the ridgeline. The outrun is about as challenging as it comes. The fetch has spots where the sheep and dog are not visible annd the handler must simply hold his or her breath.
For the Pro Novice Class the sheep are brought about halfway down into the valley between the hills on both sides and in a bit of a blind spot.
A view of the Zamora Trial Field. The Sheep are set way up along the ridgeline at the top center of the picture. In this picture the handler is just moving to the shedding ring.
Throw in some un-dogged range ewes and it is a very challenging trial.
Club Members Michael Burks (Sport), Jean Singer (Tug) and Suzanne Anaya (Kilt) all gathered up their courage and ran in Open. Good job Guys. Club Member Sara Goodman (Rob) ran in Nursery and Pro Novice. And Club Members Erin Swanson (Lark) and Pat Grannan (Piper) also ran in Pro - Novice.
Spectators Relax on the Hill across the road to enjoy the Zamora Sheepdog Trial.
Vickie Close Photographs
Well we have all wondered for a long time but is it any coincidence that Mike Burks and Sally Douglas both have new puppies from the SAME LITTER. What exactly is going on there guys.
Mike Burks is proud to welcome his new girl puppy just in time for Thanksgiving. Mia (pictured) is Mike's newest addition. After overcoming the inial protest we have all been through Mike's wife Martha is now welcoming the new cute little ball of fur, Martha named the new little girl "mine" (in Spanish. Does this mean that Martha will be running the next herding star in the Burks family? We will have to wait and see.)
Meanwhile Sally Douglas had her eye on a two year old nursery dog out of Jennifer Ewers' Soot and Striker. (This is a line breeding of Jennifer's Sweep). Apparently though she got anxious waiting because before she takes possession of Trapper John (the 2 year old) Thanksgiving weekend she suddenly found herself with puppy in early November.Nash er Hawkeye - er CASH (yeah that's the name - at least until it changes again) is a littermate to Mike's Mia. It looks like Sally is going to have her hands full (and a full house) for Christmas with two new youngsters.
Not to be outdone, Robert "Dr. Bob" Schooley, DVM, figured out how to set an Antelope Valley Stockdog Club record for the most money spent at a club clinic by coming away with two days of training for Dr. Bob and
Kit, several fabulous Vickie Close photographic art pieces (more on those in a clinic recap post later), a new whistle, and A NEW DOG. Spike is a three year old well started dog whose daddy is Diane Pagel's "Roo" (see www.deltabluez.com) and was sold to Dr. Bob by Norm Close at the clinic. Lucky for Dr. Bob Norm and Vickie decided to drive down from Idaho so they could bring their dogs with them. Spike is a lovely - mostly white - three year old male who is well started and looks to be a very nice dog. Once they partner up, Dr. Bob and Spike will be a force to be reckoned with on the trial field. Dr. Bob was like a kid in a candy store or -- well -- a boy with a new dog -- he is so happy. The non - puppy pictured is Dr. Bob's new dog Spike.
Both photographs connected to this story are copyright Michael Burks and are used with express permission. Permission is NOT granted to download, reprint, redistribute, or otherwise make use of the photographs.
We are fortunate that Vickie Close has granted us limited permission to post a few of the photographic images which she captured at the recent Norm Close Training Clinic and Vickie Close Photo Sessions hosted by the club shortly before Thanksgiving. Vickie's photography is truly art and we are proud and pleased she has let us post a few images.
Because I like to tease on the web updates to get people coming back often - get those page views up - the photos will be posted a few at a time. (Also it takes a lot of work each time).
Anyway - enjoy these photos but remember that all photographs in this section are copyright 2009 of Vickie Close and are reproduced here with express permission. Permission is NOT granted to download or otherwise reproduce any of the photographs. If you want permission to republish (even on your personal website) or to download, reproduce or make prints you must contact Vickie Close to secure appropriate rights.
Dr. Bob and Pre-Spike Family
The White Family
Terry Kenney
"Cash" Douglas
Jean Singer's Tug
Welcome to New Additions
Well we have all wondered for a long time but is it any coincidence that Mike Burks and Sally Douglas both have new puppies from the SAME LITTER. What exactly is going on there guys.
Mike Burks is proud to welcome his new girl puppy just in time for Thanksgiving. Mia (pictured) is Mike's newest addition. After overcoming the inial protest we have all been through Mike's wife Martha is now welcoming the new cute little ball of fur, Martha named the new little girl "mine" (in Spanish. Does this mean that Martha will be running the next herding star in the Burks family? We will have to wait and see.)Meanwhile Sally Douglas had her eye on a two year old nursery dog out of Jennifer Ewers' Soot and Striker. (This is a line breeding of Jennifer's Sweep). Apparently though she got anxious waiting because before she takes possession of Trapper John (the 2 year old) Thanksgiving weekend she suddenly found herself with puppy in early November.
Not to be outdone, Robert "Dr. Bob" Schooley, DVM, figured out how to set an Antelope Valley Stockdog Club record for the most money spent at a club clinic by coming away with two days of training for Dr. Bob and
Kit, several fabulous Vickie Close photographic art pieces (more on those in a clinic recap post later), a new whistle, and A NEW DOG. Spike is a three year old well started dog whose daddy is Diane Pagel's "Roo" (see www.deltabluez.com) and was sold to Dr. Bob by Norm Close at the clinic. Lucky for Dr. Bob Norm and Vickie decided to drive down from Idaho so they could bring their dogs with them. Spike is a lovely - mostly white - three year old male who is well started and looks to be a very nice dog. Once they partner up, Dr. Bob and Spike will be a force to be reckoned with on the trial field. Dr. Bob was like a kid in a candy store or -- well -- a boy with a new dog -- he is so happy. The non - puppy pictured is Dr. Bob's new dog Spike.Both photographs connected to this story are copyright Michael Burks and are used with express permission. Permission is NOT granted to download, reprint, redistribute, or otherwise make use of the photographs.
Congrats from Porterville
Congratulations are in order for two Antelope Valley Stockdog Club Members for showings in the ribbons at the recent SJVBCA 29th Annual Fall Driving Trial held recently in Lindsay, California.
All AVSC placements came in the Pro Novice Class with Erin Swanson and Lark finishing second in Run 2 with a very good score of 82. Sally Douglas took fourth place in both run one and run two - but she did so with two different dogs. Babe took fourth in run one and Merle took fourth in run two.
Good Job, Ladies !!!
Congrats On Successful NoCal Trip
Congratulations are in order for two Antelope Valley Stockdog Club Members from the recent USBCHA sanctioned Sheepdog Trial held the weekend of July 25 and 26 at Willowside Ranch in Pescadero (near Half Moon Bay.)
The trial was hosted by the Northern California Sheepdog Association, Pres. Rusty Jeffers - who coincidentally is scheduled to be one of the judges for the Antelope Valley Fall Trial the weekend of October 24 and 25 (never miss a shameless plug to get you to mark your calendars).
Erin Swanson and her new dog Lark - whom Erin recently acquired from Suzy Applegate - teamed up in what I believe was there first ever trial together to take first place in Pro-Novice on Saturday over - fittingly enough - Suzy Applegate and another of her dogs. Erin and Lark nearly duplicated the feat on Sunday but had to settle for third. Great Job Girls !!!
Also - Mike Burks moved Sport up to Open Class - always a difficult jump -- and did remarkably well for the weekend placing 6th on Saturday in his first ever Open run and actually getting a higher score on Sunday - even though it was for lower placement. Great Job, Guys !!!
Now if somebody would just send me some photographic evidence maybe we could add that.
More Congrats On Successful Pacific Northwest Trip
I am learning more info all the time. Ain't communication great. Anyway these are listed in chronological order with the most recent trial on top.
I have just learned that Suzanne Anaya and Walk Up Yoko had a very successfult trip to the Pacific Northwest. Yoko who made her debut in Ranch in the Pacific Northwest at 3 USBCHA trials, trialed 4 times receiving a 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and a 1st in that order. The 1st and 2nd were judged by Bev Lambert. Kilt also picked up a 2nd in pro-novice at the Whidbey Classic and a 4th and 6th at the Sheep Thrillz trial in Scio, Oregon.
Spring Trial Slideshow
No Mystery Here ??
No need for a mystery writer to explain the results from this weekend's Antelope Valley Stockdog Club Trial, although we had one running in Started A Class. Dashiell (Hammet) - the Border Collie named for the famous mystery writer owned by Nancy Levendosky and handled by Robin Penland Elliott took Firs
t Place in Started A Course along with Reserve High in Trial on A Course on Sunday. High in Trial went to Robin Penland Elliott and Lass in in Advanced Class A Course with a near perfect score of 99. Full Sunday Trial Results can be viewed by clicking here.
The Test Classes were combined to two runs on Sunday for each test class as a result of the late afternoon Saturday rainstorm which forced the Saturday scheduled tests to be run on Sunday morning. After the long wait there were a lot of happy faces with a high percentage of Qualifying Scores. Full Test results can be viewed by clicking here.
Full results from Saturday's trial classes can be found by clicking here.
More details and photos will follow over the next few days.
Ark Needed ???
We needed Noah to bring his ark to the Antelope Valley and dock at the Lucky Ewe to have a chance to get the test classes in on Saturday as the heavens opened with a deluge of rain at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday just as the Started B Course was finishing on Saturday. Unfortunately Noah was not in the neighborhood and the test classes will double up on Sunday.
Before the gully washer we did manage to complete both A and B courses and there were some wonderful runs turned in which were rewarded with scores in the high 90s. High in Trial in A Course went to Border Collie Meg, owned by Suzanne LeRoy 
and handled by Molly Wisecarver in the Started Class with Reserve High in Trial going to Dashiell owned by Nancy Levondosky and handled by Robin Penland Elliot with a tie of 97.5 points (actually a 3 way tie broken on time).
On the B Course High in Trial went to the Intermediate Class and Yoko, bred, owned and handled by Suzanne Anaya with a near perfect run of 98. Reserve High in Trial went to Border Collie Rain owned by Suzanne LeRoy and handled by Molly Wisecarver from the Advanced Class.
USBCHA National Sheepdog Finals Promo Video
The USBCHA National Sheepdog Finals Organizers have created a very professional promotional video which does a wonderful job of explaining how a herding trial works.
It is embedded here for your convenience.
The video is copyright of the 2009 National Sheepdog Finals Committee and the USBVCHA and is embedded herein per the permission granted on the You Tube page permitting embedding this video.
The USBCHA National Sheepdog Finals Organizers have created a very professional promotional video which does a wonderful job of explaining how a herding trial works.
It is embedded here for your convenience.
The video is copyright of the 2009 National Sheepdog Finals Committee and the USBVCHA and is embedded herein per the permission granted on the You Tube page permitting embedding this video.
Jean Singer and Tug Win Pro Novice Dog of the Year
Jean Singer and Tug kept a three year winning streak going for Antelope Valley Stockdog Club Members by capturing the 2008 Pro-Novice Dog of the Year from the San Joaquin Valley Border Collie Association. Club member Erin Swanson started the streak with the 2006 Novice Dog of the Year and was followed by Sally Douglas with Novice Dog of the Year in 2008.
Jean's accomplishment raises the stakes by a class to Pro-Novice. Good job Jean and Tug !!!
Now who is going to step up to keep the streak going.
Membership Information Available.
Membership applications are now available on the Membership Info Page. Click Here for membership Information and Application.
Click Here to go straight to the Application. Membership Application form is a fillable PDF form.
Click Here for a downloadable Brochure in PDF Format. Be patient it is a large file.
Fall Trial A Big Success
The Club held its second Annual Fall Sheepdog Trial the weekend of October 25 - 26, 2008. The Fall Trial was a big success.
Here Robin Penland Elliott displays her High in Trial and Reserve High in Trial Awards from "B" Course from Saturday with Judge Steve Waltenburg.
Full results are available here.
A more complete story on the Fall Trial is available here.
The results and article can also be accessed by clinking on the tabs above.
Karen Moureaux took a number of photos on Saturday which can be viewed by clicking here.
Yoko Submits Her Job Application
Sheep TV Now Available
We are very happy to announce that - with an assist from an embedded video player -- Sheep TV - is now playing on the Sheep TV Page. Sheep TV features video of Antelope Valley Stockdog Club Members and their dogs as well as random videos which--in the eclectic opinion of the webmaster may be of interest to club members. Sheep TV can be accessed by clicking on the menu at the top or by clicking NOW PLAYING ON SHEEP TV.
We are very happy to announce that - with an assist from an embedded video player -- Sheep TV - is now playing on the Sheep TV Page. Sheep TV features video of Antelope Valley Stockdog Club Members and their dogs as well as random videos which--in the eclectic opinion of the webmaster may be of interest to club members. Sheep TV can be accessed by clicking on the menu at the top or by clicking NOW PLAYING ON SHEEP TV.
Spring Trial A Success
The 2008 Antelope Valley Spring Classic Herding Trial was held at the Lucky Ewe Ranch May 31 and June 1. The Second Trial under the AVSC name was actually four official trials over the two days - one "A" course and one "B" course each day.
The trial was an AKC sanctioned all breed herding trial offering both Course "A" and Course "B" along with HT and PT Test classes.
Eleven different breeds were represented. Dogs came from as far as Alabama and Minnesota and as nearby as the Lucky Ewe itself.
Robin Penland Elliott and her Border Collie Lass were the big winners over the weekend taking High in Trial Awards in three of the four trial. Belgian Sheepdog Phoebe - owned by Gordon Armstrong and handled by Ted Ondrak - took the other High in Trial on "A" Course on Saturday. Reserve High in Trial Awards went to Border Collie Buster and his person Dorothy Dunlap for Saturday "A" course, Border Collie Merle with Sally Douglas for Saturday "B" course, Border Collie Cameo (from Minnesota) owned by Debra De Gidio and handled by Terry Kinney for Saturday "A" course, and Border Collie Winee owned by Suzanne Leroy and handled by Molly Wisecarver for Sunday "B" course.
While an event like the Spring Classic takes hard work from a large number of people special thanks go to club members Michael Burks for an amazing amount of general work and supervison, Ted Ondrak for course direction and stock handling, Erin Swanson and Jean Singer for stock set out, Kathy Roberts for our wonderful art work and lunch, and of course Sally Douglas for putting up with all of us and hosting the event. Special thanks also to Robert Schooley for on site veterinary services. We were also fortunate to enjoy the judicial opinions of Ed Faulk on Saturday, Joel Levinson on Sunday, and Peggy Richter and Suzanne Anaya for the test classes (as well as Suzanne Anaya's apprenticeship on "B" course on Sunday).
Eleven different breeds were represented. Dogs came from as far as Alabama and Minnesota and as nearby as the Lucky Ewe itself.
Robin Penland Elliott and her Border Collie Lass were the big winners over the weekend taking High in Trial Awards in three of the four trial. Belgian Sheepdog Phoebe - owned by Gordon Armstrong and handled by Ted Ondrak - took the other High in Trial on "A" Course on Saturday. Reserve High in Trial Awards went to Border Collie Buster and his person Dorothy Dunlap for Saturday "A" course, Border Collie Merle with Sally Douglas for Saturday "B" course, Border Collie Cameo (from Minnesota) owned by Debra De Gidio and handled by Terry Kinney for Saturday "A" course, and Border Collie Winee owned by Suzanne Leroy and handled by Molly Wisecarver for Sunday "B" course.
While an event like the Spring Classic takes hard work from a large number of people special thanks go to club members Michael Burks for an amazing amount of general work and supervison, Ted Ondrak for course direction and stock handling, Erin Swanson and Jean Singer for stock set out, Kathy Roberts for our wonderful art work and lunch, and of course Sally Douglas for putting up with all of us and hosting the event. Special thanks also to Robert Schooley for on site veterinary services. We were also fortunate to enjoy the judicial opinions of Ed Faulk on Saturday, Joel Levinson on Sunday, and Peggy Richter and Suzanne Anaya for the test classes (as well as Suzanne Anaya's apprenticeship on "B" course on Sunday).
Watch this space and the Spring Classic page for complete results and more details on the trial. There is a slideshow page available with selected photos by clicking on the tab at the top of the page. Almost seven hundred (695 to be exact) photos can be viewed at www.magrammedia.com by clicking on the AVSC Spring 2008 gallery. Be patient looking through as there are 699 photos. The photos are in the order in which they were taken so if you are looking for one particular dog the photos will most likely be grouped together for that run (A and B runs separate).
Derek Fisher Clinic A Success.
The Lucky Ewe was transformed to a large outdoor classroom over Easter Weekend as we were privileged to have a clinic conducted by Derek Fisher.
The Lucky Ewe was transformed to a large outdoor classroom over Easter Weekend as we were privileged to have a clinic conducted by Derek Fisher.
Derek and the Clinic participants both enjoyed the hospitality of Sally Douglas at the Lucky Ewe and the universal reaction form attendees was that the weekend was a very valuable learning experience.
More photos available on the clinic page.
More photos available on the clinic page.
Merle Earns 2007 Novice Top Dog Award from SJVBCA
Although only a small contingent of Antelope Valley Members trekked North for the February SJVBCA Fun Trials in Porterville it was a productive trip.
Sally Douglas took first place on Saturday and Sunday in Pro-Novice with Babe. She followed that up with a Saturday First and Sunday Second with Merle in Novice. Pat Grannan and Maggie took third in Novice on Saturday and Fourth on Sunday in a small field. Maggie is still planning that advertisement in Working Border Collie looking for a qualified handler.
The big news came at lunch on Saturday with the SJVBCA annual awards. Sally Douglas and Merle took Novice Top Dog for 2007 following in the footsteps of Erin Swanson and Keeler from 2006. In a new and special award Pat Grannan and Maggie were awarded Most Improved.
Copyright . Antelope Valley Stockdog Club. All rights reserved.
Photos and Videos courtesy of MagRam Media, LLC. and Kathy Roberts
Photos and Videos courtesy of MagRam Media, LLC. and Kathy Roberts
