A STEADY round over rough terrain earned Derek Scrimgeour's Ben the title at the Trawden open trial on Saturday in the shadow of Pendle Hill.

In cold, overcast conditions, Danny Wild, of Rakewood, judged the entry of 63 dogs. Although the Swaledale hoggs were reasonable to manage they were difficult to keep on line due to the many clumps of reeds and boggy patches. Those competitors who let them pick their way had the most success, rather then those who tried to force them to keep perfectly straight. The sizeable course was gathered from either hand, although for much of the way the dogs were running blind.

Running at number 31, Derek sent Ben to the right. For going square at the start of his outrun two marks were deducted, then a further point was lost for slightly overlapping. After a clean lift two points were dropped for minor deviations on the fetch. Many dogs had problems taking their sheep down the first leg of the right-hand drive where the ground was thick with reeds and very boggy. Derek held Ben back and allowed the hoggs to make their own way, losing three points for them straying off-line. A single mark was lost from both the cross-drive and return, but a clean pen resulted in the winning score of 80 of 90 points. "Ben was one of the few dogs that kept in contact with his sheep all the way around the course," commented the judge.

With the penultimate run, Gordon Watt made a strong challenge with York, but fell two marks short of matching the winning score to take second place.

Derek, a sheep farmer from Lonscale, near Keswick, bought Ben as a very keen three-year-old dog. He was bred by Michael Corry out of Bess, a bitch that goes back to David Carlton's Tony. His sire is David Cahill's Tass, a son of Tim Flood's Pip, which won the Irish National on three occasions. Ben has great natural balance and a very adaptable pace. Since being with Derek, he has earned many successes and last year was placed fifth in the Supreme Championship at the International held at Seaforde, Northern Ireland.

A handsome black-and-white rough-coated dog, Ben is pictured on the front cover of Derek's book, Talking Sheepdogs which was published just before Christmas, and where he explains his training methods. Certainly both Derek and Ben are reaping the rewards of this schooling for after winning the Yorkshire Open Championship, this is their second prestigious win within a fortnight.

RESULTS

TRAWDEN Open, Twiston Moor (63): 1 D. Scrimgeour (Lonscale) Ben, 80 of 90; 2 G. Watt (Silsden) York, 78; 3 T. Huddleston (Caton) Udale Ted, 77; 4 D. Scrimgeour Lyn, 75; 5 J. Palmer (Twiston) Jill, 74; 6 V. Fox (Withgill) Glen, 73. Young Handler: T. Lawrenson (Brindle) Clifton Moll, 71.

HEBDEN BRIDGE Open, Colden (58 ran): 1 T. Lawrenson (Brindle) Clifton Moll, 97 of 100; 2 J. Cropper (Deerplay) Alf, 96; 3 J. Atkinson (South Milford) Bonnie, 95, OLF; 4 J. Cropper Dan, 95; 5 K. Salisbury (Riddlesden) Beechwood Bob, 94, OLF; 6 R. Briggs (Wennington) Wenndale Star, 94.

Fulwood BOOTH, Sheffield, Double Gather Championship (16): 1 G. Watt (Silsden) Buff, 128 of 140; 2 A. Gilchrist (Llangollen) Mac, 120; 3 G. Watt York, 115; 4 C. Pickford (Rainow) Ben, 113; 5 S. Wilkinson (Thurgoland) Skye, 108; 6 C. Pickford Rainow Lassie, 106.

Saturday Open (54): 1 J. Wood (Lindley Moor) Lad, 77 of 90; 2 R. Briggs (Wennington) Wenndale Ben, 74; 3 H. Loates (South Leverton) Leverton Queen, 72; 4 G. Birchenall (Chinley) Tim, 70, OLF; 5 P. Miller (Kegworth) Joe, 70; 6 F. Satterthwaite (Brough) Jess, 69.

Sunday Open (39): 1 G. Watt York, 78 of 90, OLF; 2 C. Pickford Rainow Lassie, 78; 3 J. McRobert (Tweedsmuir) Tweed, 73, OLF; 4 G. Watt Buff, 73; 5 C. Pickford Ben, 69; 6 A. Salisbury (Riddlesden) Astra Sweep, 68.

MELTHAM Open, Lindley Moor (64): 1 J. Wood (Lindley Moor) Lad, 83 of 90; 2 J. Atkinson (South Milford) Bonnie, 82; 3 A. Baines (Tan Hill) Tan Hill Bill, 82; 4 C. Cutler (Easby) Sally, 80; 5 R. Fielden (Todmorden) Vic, 79; 6 M. Kinnes (Rudston) Gael, 78.

DIARY - May 31. TOM NADEN Memorial Open, Washbrook, Tissington, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, 9am start, enter on field, caterer on site. EOP

May 31 & June 1. HOLME, Deerplay Hill Trial with Championship, Deerplay Hill, on A671 between Burnley and Bacup, 7.30am start, entry closed, caterer on field.

June 1. WASHBROOK Open, Washbrook, Tissington, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, 9am start, enter on field, caterer on site. June 4. SHEEP 2003 Open, Walburn Hall, Leyburn, 10am start, entry closed.

May 29, 2003 15:00