Nigel Watkins and Floss shedding in 2010 International Supreme. Photo by John
“Up North” here we aren’t usually doing much sheepdog training in the dead of winter. So, how about gathering for some lunch and snacks and talking about judging sheepdog trials by discussing Stuart Walton’s sheepdog trial judging video and other stuff?
Heatherhope Farm and the Seraphines invite everyone interested to gather on Saturday, January 21 with a bad weather fall back date of January 28. (If the weather looks bad John will post a notice on this web site by the Friday before at noon. But you are also welcome to phone.)
We will kick things off at noon with a lunch. Then we will gather around the TV to review the rules of trials. We will then watch the video of five separate runs, each of us scoring them ourselves. Then we will show the runs again and compare our points with Stuart’s comments and scoring. We will compare notes and let our questions and comments fly so that we can learn from each other.
If we all have the stamina we can view videos of some other select runs and talk about them. John has a pretty ample library, but folks are free to bring their own DVD’s—perhaps ones that present particularly interesting judging challenges.
We can aim at breaking up around 3 p.m.; but each person can leave when they must, or when John and Connie turn off the lights and the heat and go to bed.
There is no charge for this, but please try to help the Seraphine’s plan the food by e-mailing your intentions to us at heatherhopefarm@gmail.com or by phoning us at 815-895-9736.
Heatherhope Farm is at 22417 Airport Road, Sycamore, IL 60178. Sycamore is about 75 miles west of Chicago. Full directions can be found at this web site. Click on the “Directions” tab, fourth tab from the left just under the banner at the top of the page.
