Western States Regional Championship 2008

The Western States Regional Championship was held at the Wild Horse Resort and Casino in Pendleton, Oregon. It was very well organized and ran as smooth as silk. The weather was a bit wet, but the clouds made for some nice photos, and it was a welcome break from the hot summer we had. The sheep were tough -- there is just no other way to put that. They were Rambouillet cross yearlings fresh off the range. They challenged the dogs, and the dogs really had to push them to get them to move.

Katy, Ellie and I left Boise at 5:00 a.m. and got out to Pendleton just in time for them to start the second day of semis. It was a single lift with a 2/2 split. Sounds easy enough, right? It took three people and two dogs just to set the sheep. Once the dogs lifted, the sheep would try to bolt right back to the setout pens, and these sheep had no problem running right over the dogs if they felt like it. From what I understand about Friday's runs, the sheep won more of those than the handlers did. On Saturday, there were more scores, although the sheep were still very very tough.

After watching the trial for about 6 hours on Saturday, Katy, Ellie and I went back to the hotel room and met up with Katy's daughter, Cienna, and Cienna's boyfriend, Preston. They came out to pick up Rio. They decided to spend the night and got the room right next to us. After hanging out having a few beers, we went to dinner at a decent steakhouse in Pendleton (don't laugh ... there actually is one). No trip is complete without going to a seedy local bar. Many shots and many drinks later, we made it back to the hotel for some shuteye before heading out to the finals first thing Sunday morning.



The trial field was gorgeous!




The handlers were trading stories over some coffee ... (L to R: Karen Child, Heidi Hanson, Bob Hickman, Lorri Schubert)



Some were just enjoying the scenery... (Pat Shannahan)



Some were patiently awaiting their turn (Shannahan's Jill):



Some were strategizing ... (Dianne Deal):



Some people were just .... I don't know what they were doing ... I'm not sure THEY knew what they were doing! (Katy, Cienna and Preston)



Some were dreaming of competing someday (a cute pup, I don't recall the breeding ...):



Some were just ... being cute.



Here is one of our lovely volunteers.



Our 12 finalists were drawn and the running order posted.



The piper piped them in.


Normally, all we see of the handlers is their tail end. Here, I will introduce you to them as I got to see them. I am sure I will have stock wands tossed at me for some of these photos.

1. Joe Haynes

2. Elizabeth Baker



3. Dirk VanSant



4. Francis Chai



5. Patrick Shannahan



6. Lana Rowley


7. Lorri Schubert



8. Heidi Hanson



9. Dianne Deal



10. Karen Child



11. Bob Hickman



12. Ellen Skillings



I don't have a "real" camera, so the only shots I took were where the dogs/handlers/sheep were close to the spectator area.

Here are a few shots of Elizabeth Baker and Rye. They did a great job! Rye worked his tail off and gave Elizabeth everything he had.


On one of the fetches:



The sheep were challenging ...



Driving to the first panel:

On the crossdrive...


Setting up the shed:

5 with ... 2 without ...

Here are a few shots of Dianne Deal with her dog, Pat:


The sheep continued to challenge ...


A very happy handler ...

Random shots of Pat Shannahan's Riggs:














Here is the 2008 Western Regionals Champion ... Karen Child's Jim. Karen and Jim were the only team to complete the shed and get the pen. (I believe a couple of other handlers got the shed and ran out of time at the pen. Karen and Patrick were tied for first place -- and I didn't hear how the tie was broken, but stayed long enough to confirm that Karen won.)


Beginning the long drive:




The shed:




To me, this picture tells the whole story.


The only completed pen of the day:


Great job, Karen & Jim! Congratulations!