Stock dog trials a magnet for Hotchkiss
This was the ninth dog trials in Hotchkiss, which was once again augmented by a variety of other events and activities making it a great Mother's Day weekend.
The Ute Trials Car Club was joined by other classic car enthusiasts for a 90 plus car show behind Zack's B-B-Q.
The Creamery Arts Center was a hub for musical entertainment by Pete Halladay, T.K. and Sue Everest plus vendors and yard sale items and puppies to adopt from CAWS.
At the Hotchkiss pasture, several sheep camps were on display including one built by Gary Harbison. Gary and his wife Ginna brought the sheep camp over from Durango for its "maiden voyage." They became interested in sheep camps after seeing them on hunting trips. Inside the comfortable wagon were oak cabinets, a small stove and their grandmother's quilt. The couple stayed in the sheep camp at the event site overnight on Friday. The following night their 10-year old grandson from Olathe spent the night. Their son-in-law was also in Hotchkiss. He's a coach from Olathe and was in a baseball tournament here.
Harold Clay and Jeanne Lambrakos and other volunteers grilled up hot dogs and the fixings for hungry folks at the First State Bank in Hotchkiss. It's always a great way to meet new people and chat with those you haven't seen for awhile.
Black Canyon Animal Sanctuary at the event site was thrilled that four of its dogs were adopted.
Those who have a hard time getting their dog to come when it is called had a lot to be envious of at the stock dog trials. It's not easy for dog and handler to accomplish maneuvering sheep through gates and into pens. All to be done following the rules and with the dogs not engaging in "inappropriate contact" with the ewes. That includes not running into or biting the sheep. Amazingly, most dogs possessed the necessary discipline to not do those things.
This year's new thing thought up by Bailey was to have the dogs and handlers get the sheep into a trailer rather than a pen. Almost all the sheep did not want to venture inside, although a couple of handlers did accomplish that feat — Lise Andersen illegally and Jim Swift legally. Andersen forgot to hold onto the rope attached to the trailer and lost points but not bragging rights. Swift followed the rules and also got four sheep to jump inside the trailer.
Here are the top scorers for the stock dog trials:
Nursery combined totals Friday — Joni Swanke of North Dakota and two-year old Sage, first place; Shauna Gourley of Utah and two-year old Jade, second place; Tina LePlatt of Colorado and two-year old Nick, third place.
Novice combined totals Friday — Kenny Hinyard of Crawford and three-year old Mollie, first place. Mollie is also the new mascot for the Hotchkiss Fire District; Jolie Clark of Colorado and four-year old Meg, second place; Moni Howard of Colorado and three-year old Hazel, third place.
Pro-Novice Saturday — Laura Esterman of Colorado and nine-year old Ike, first place; Julie Hansmire of Colorado and four-year old Ike, second place; Terri Warner of Colorado and two-year old Laddie, third place.
Open Saturday — Bill Orr of Oregon and three-year old Sly, first place; Joni Swanke of North Dakota and three-year old Possum, second place; Dan Keeton of Colorado and seven-year old York, third place.
Pro-Novice Sunday — Richard Bailey of Crawford and two-year old Abbie, first place; Jim Swift of Colorado and two-year old Jet, second place; Dan Keeton of Colorado and three-year old Sunny, third place.
Open Sunday — Michael Meredith of California and seven-year old Gus, first place; Bill Orr of Oregon and three-year old Sly, second place; Wilda Bahr of California and Liz (no age listed), third place.
Overall Open winner for Saturday and Sunday — Bill Orr of Oregon and three-year old Sly.
Orr said it was the first year Sly had competed in the open. Last year he was in the nursery and pro-novice classes. Sly was the reserve national champion nursery dog in September in Carbondale. "He has great instinct," Orr said. "This is just a pleasure to run him. It's special to have a young dog that is able to do what he is doing." Orr goes out about 12 weekends a year to compete in stock dog trials. He competes with two dogs, Sly and 2-1/2-year old Roy and has Boone, his retired 10-year old dog, as a traveling companion. From Hotchkiss, Orr is headed for a competition in Durango before heading back to Oregon.
Handlers like sheep that haven't been handled much and the ewes used here are exactly like that. The Hotchkiss trials use ewes from the Allen Ranch that do not have lambs.
Next year will be the tenth anniversary for the Hotchkiss Sheep Camp Stock Dog Trials. Anticipate big things in 2013!
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