Kevin Evans was once again crowned the individual winner of the Four Nations Nursery Championship, this time running Valley View Dan.
Field
The event is normally held at Slindon by kind permission of George and Helen Bonsall, but due to ill health, Ian Lomas stepped up to provide an excellent field on Griffe Walk Farm, Brassington, Matlock, Derbyshire.
England's Ben Smith and Sandy McCulloch from Scotland judged the competition which saw 12-minute runs handling Lleyn gimmer hoggs.
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Course
The course steepened towards the lift with a fetch, all but one dog was sent right handed. Towards the top of the field there was a rocky outcrop, which along with the lie of the land could have caused the dogs to cut in.
Worked in packets of four, the hoggs were walked out to the lift from the top left hand corner of the field. Once lifted, the sheep pulled strongly to the left as they came down the fetch and most dogs had to work hard on that side to keep them on line. Once on their way, most packets went speedily up that first leg, consequently many had a wide turn into the cross-drive where the hoggs often slowed down and refused to flow.
In the ring, the sheep were hard to settle and often one would break, have to be put back to the others and then they would stick together. This resulted in many competitors using up time in the shedding ring and therefore not managing to pen, with only three dogs achieving a pen all day.
Competitors
Setting the standard and second to the post was Dylan Davies and Pinhaw Cap. They had a good outfield run and were one of only three competitors to have a clean shed before they were beaten by the clock at the pen. Scoring 133 of 200 points, they stood on top of the leader board until Bleddyn Lester went ahead with Tysswg Lass at 14. They lost fewer points over the outfield but dropped more at the shed. They were also timed out at the pen but with 136 they took the lead.
From the first twenty dogs, only one managed to pen, which was Lisa Gast's Scalpsie Kelp and none were placed in the top six.
After the sheep were taken back following run 20, most packets stopped pulling as strongly to the left down the fetch although they continued to be tricky at hand.
Wales
With run 26, running for Wales was Mark O'Neill who went into the lead with Heilan Tecwyn, bred by S. Robertson, Kate and A. Owen, Llangwm Cap. Tri-coloured Tecwyn was the only dog that gathered left handed. He ran out well and was given just one whistle to guide him on his way before having a good lift. He kept a tidy line down the fetch and had a very good turn into the drive.
After hitting the first drive hurdle his sheep started to run on the cross-drive and slipped past the last obstacle at the top side. He took the shed and had the best pen of the day losing just three points. With a score 140, Mark and Tecwyn took fifth place.
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Scotland
The following run from Scotland came from Alastair McKenzie and Kim, bred by M. McAlister, and Lynn, P. McGoldrick, Braehead Lad.
Kim had an excellent start, the best outrun, lift and fetch of the day losing only three points. She turned her sheep neatly at the podium, kept them in line up the first drive and was one of the few to have a good turn into the cross-drive. Her hoggs were settled over the cross-drive where she caught the last hurdle well.
Points were lost at the shed before Alastair and Kim worked hard at the pen where after numerous breaks they finally secured their cheeky charges to be the third and final competitors to finish, and with 149 points they were the runners up.
Kevin Evans and Valley View Dan
The winning individual run came at number 30 when Kevin Evans took to the post for Wales with Valley View Dan, bred by J. Ashworth, Dalriada Penny and D. K. Evans, Hendre Sam.
Following a good right hand gather Dan lifted his sheep nicely. He settled them as they came down the fetch and was one of the very few dogs that did not have to work constantly on their left to hold them on line. A total of 11 points were lost from his out-bye work.
One sheep attempted to break at the turn but Dan worked all four nicely into the drive where he kept them on a good line. His turn into the cross-drive was slightly wide and then one sheep ran ahead of the others, yet he manoeuvred them nicely through the last obstacle and his turn was tight into the return.
Elinore Nilsson and Ruh
Dan's drive was one of the best of the day, only matched by Elinore Nilsson and Ruh who also dropped just nine points throughout. One sheep kept breaking from the others in the shedding ring before Dan finally had the opportunity to take the shed where he dropped six points.
As time had been taken up at the shed and the hoggs did not want to be penned, Kevin and Dan were beaten by the clock, therefore, losing 20 penning points. Nevertheless with a score of 154, they were the individual championship winners with a clear five-point lead.
Trophy
This is not the first time Kevin has lifted the trophy, previously winning in 2019 with Knockmaa Bec, again in 2022 with Kennox Meg and last year with Hendre Tex, making this the fourth time to take this prestigious title. Dan was bred by Janine Ashworth who reared and gave him his initial training before selling him to Kevin.
Run 34 for Wales saw David Howells and Mick, bred by M. Hooper, Bee and D.M. Howells, Dick, have very good out-bye work. They also had a nice drive spoilt only by slipping their sheep at the far side of the cross-drive obstacle. After having one of the better sheds of the day they were also timed out at the pen, scoring 138 points they were placed sixth.
Ireland
Evan Christian represented Ireland, running Glebe Fort Lynx, bred by T. O'Sullivan, Corngbeg Sally and D.K. Evans Spot, at run 36. Lynx gathered and lifted well before keeping a good line down the fetch. His sheep turned nicely into the drive where he caught both obstacles but would drop some points for deviations of line. He lost just less than half of his shedding points before yet again he ran out of time at the pen. Collecting a score of 143, Evan and Lynx were placed third.
England
The last dog to make the top six was the England captain, David Wood and his J.D. Wood, Polly and T.N. Ollerenshaw, Roy bred dog, Cap, at run 37.
It was late in the day when they ran, battling low sun, yet they worked well together. Following a good outrun and lift, points were lost for off line wavers although they caught all three obstacles.
They were the third competitors to have a clean shed, as well as Jonny Farmer with Tom. Once again, they were timed out at the pen and with 140 points they took fourth placing on an out-by decision.
Victory
When the team scores were calculated it was a double victory for Wales, when it was announced they won the team shield. Having won in 2019, 2023 and 2024, this was the fourth time Wales have taken this trophy.
Results
(Judges: B. Smith, England and S. McCulloch, Scotland) Individual 1, K. Evans (Wales) Valley View Dan, 154 of 200; 2, A. McKenzie (Scotland) Kim, 149; 3, E. Christian (Ireland) Glebe Fort Lynx, 143; 4, D. Wood (England) Cap, 140 OLF; 5, M. O'Neil (Wales) Heilan Tecwyn, 140; 6, D. Howells (Wales) Mick, 138.
Team Shield 1, Wales.
To keep up to date with upcoming trials, visit the FG Working Dogs section in the Farmers Guardian magazine every week or Working Sheepdogs.
