by DANIEL ORR SHEPHERDS’ whistles, barking dogs and monsoon-like rain all served to ensure a treasured Lake District event was a memorable one.

The 107th Vale of Rydal Sheepdog Trials and Hound Show took over Rydal Park, Ambl-eside, thanks to Richard Le Fleming and tenant farmer Chris Hodgson, who gathered the sheep down from the fells for dozens of dogs to fetch and gather.

The day-long contest was strong, with trial-lers from as far away as Scotland showing their skills – among those in the Le Fleming Stakes was Arthur Temple, from Holmrook, on the west coast, with his four-year-old Bob and two-year-old bitch Meg.

With the help of Bob, he managed to pen the four edgy sheep, and afterwards he said: “This was his first time on the course and he did well, but there were just too many bends in his run out, so we will lose points for that. The sheep were a bit testy.”

Cath Flynn had travelled down from Lockerbie to take part in the historic event for the first time with her two-year-old border collie Killibrae Willow, who got so hot during the proceedings that she could not resist taking a dip in the pond on the competition field in order to cool down.

“She’s a young dog and I was very pleased with how she did out there,” said Mrs Flynn. “It’s a difficult course – it looks easy but it is not. The sheep were also very touchy and you had to be very gentle with them.

“I decided to come here because of the appeal of being in the Lake District, which I love. This is my hobby and I enjoy working with dogs.”

The winner of The Le Fleming Stakes was Alan Temple of Holm-rook, with Meg, on 79 points, just edging out Richard Briggs, of Wennington, with 78.

Winner of the open hound trail was Glen, trained by 13-year-old Jenny Bland who was ‘as pleased as Punch’ with the performance of her dog, who followed the aniseed from the showfield across the fells and back again, in just over 30 minutes.

“I’m really glad he won,” she beamed. “He was here a fortnight ago at Ambleside sports and won then too. My whole family trains hounds and I enjoy the thrill of getting them running well and watching them finish. It was quite tense at the end of the race because it was quite close.”

Results:

Class 1 - The Rydal Class: Dogs who have not won a first or second in a trial: 1 M Beaty, Spy, 74 (points); 2 E Hill, Kate, 72; 3 A Briggs, Ted, 70. Class 2 - Dogs who have won a first or second: The Le Fleming Stakes: 1 A Temple, Meg 79; 2 R Briggs, Bill, 78; 3 A Bradley, Fox 76. Class 3 - Double Dogs: 1 TW Longton, Tot and Spot, 104; 2 R Briggs, Bill and Star, 99. Class 4 - Group of Foxhounds: 1 Ullswater. Class 5 - Couple of Foxhounds, entered or unentered: 1 Coniston; 2 Eskdale and Ennerdale; 2 Ullswater. Class 6 - Couple of foxhounds, entered or unentered - bitches:1 Ullswater; 2 Blencathra; 3 Blencathra. The Dora Marley Challenge Salver for best couple: - Coniston. Class 7 - Unentered Foxhound - Dogs: 1 Eskdale and Ennerdale Mountain; 2 Ullswater Sweeper; 3 Eskdale and ennerdale Bellman, Best walked Hound, Blencathra Gauntlet. Class 8 - Entered Foxhound - Dogs: 1 Coniston Briton; 2 Blencathra Trimmer; 3 Melbreak Delver. Class 8 - Unentered Foxhound - bitches: 1 Blencathra Music; 2 Coniston Solo; 3 Ullswater Secret. Best Walked Hound, Blencathra Gaily. Class 10 - Entered Foxhounds - Bitches: 1 Coniston Welcome; 2 Coniston Wagtail; 3 Ullswater Velvet. Best walked hound, Coniston Wisdon. Best walked hound from classes 7,8,9,10: Coniston Bedlam. The Robert Logan Memorial Challenge Trophy for Foxhound Champion: Blencathra Music. The Hartley Challenge Trophy; Coniston Briton. Class 11 - Working Terrier Lakeland and Border Type, dogs and bitches: 1 M Souter with Dust; 2 Miss Balding with Midge; 3 D Souter with Jess. Class 12 - Working terrier Jack Russell type. Dogs and bitches: 1 T Winn with Barney: 2 S Drummond with Tess; 3 S Drummond with Trish. Silver Challenge Trophy for Champion Terrier: M Souter with Dust. Best Terrier in different class to Champion: Winn with Barney. Class 13 - Unentered Harrier - Dogs: 1 Holcombe High Peak Batman; 2 Rockwood Latimer; 3 Dunston Handsome. Class 14 - Entered Harrier - Dogs: 1 Pendle Forest Forger; 2 Dunston Craftsman; 3 Pendle Forest Foreman. Class 15 - Unentered Harrier - Bitches: 1 Holcombe Rockwood Laughter; 2 Dunston Hattie; 3 Holcombe Rockwood Lazy. Class 16 - Entered Harrier - Bitches: 1 High Peak Query; 2 High Peak Quibble; 3 Pendle Forest Destiny. Class 17 - Group of Harriers: 1 Dunston; 2 Rockwood. Class 18 - Best couple of Harriers entered or unentered - Dogs: 1 Dunston; 2 High Peak. Class 19 - Best couple of Harriers entered or unentered - bitches: 1 Pendle Forest; 2 Dunston. Champion Harrier: Pendle Forest Forger. Reserve Champion: Holcombe Rockwood Laughter. Class 20- Unentered Beagles - Dogs: 1 Blackcombe Lightning; Newcastle and District Viper; 3 Newcastle and District Viking. Class 21 - Entered Beagles - Dogs: 1 Newcastle and District Glazier; 2 Newcastle and District Wildboy; 3 Wye Dunstar. Class 22 - Unentered Beagles - bitches: 1 Newcastle and District Vigour; 2 Weardale and Tees Valley Vigo; 3 Cheshire Voodoo. Class 23 - Entered Beagles - Bitches: 1 Newcastle and District Vanish; 2 Newcastle and District Wisdom; 3 Sunnyland Bantam. Class 24 - Group of Beagles: 1 Sunnyland; 2 Newcastle and District. Silver Challenge Trophy for best Beagle in Show: Newcastle and District Glazier. George Leake Memorial Trophy: Newcastle and District Vanish. Class 25 - Shepherds Crook p Plain Horn: 1 G Smithson; 2 S Whitwell; 3 B Cannon. Class 26 - Walking Stick - Plain Horn: 1 C Gray; 2 S Whitwell; 3 D Wall. Class 27 - Crook or Stick - Ornamental Horn: 1 J Williamson; 2 B Cannon; 3 J Williamson. Class 28 - Shepherds Crook - Plain Wood: 1 B Cannon; 2 B Cannon; 3 J Williamson. Class 29 - Walking Stick - Plain Wood: 1 G Smithson; 2 B Cannon; 3 B Cannon. Class 30 - Crook or Stick - Ornamental Wood: 1 B Cannon; 2 B Cannon; 3 G Flintoff. Class 31 Ladies Crook or Stick - Horn or Wood: 1 G Smithson; 2 G Smithson; B Cannon. Class 32 - Thumb Stick - Horn or Wood: 1 B Cannon; 2 G Smithson; 2 S Whitwell.

Hound Trail: Open Hound Trail: 1 Huntsman Dazzle; 2 Danna; 3 Courtesy. Puppy Trail: 1 Colleen; Temperance; 3 Huntsmans Future. Open Restricted Trail: 1 Huntsmans Ruler; 2 Canavaro; 3 Tranquility. Coniston Foxhounds: Unentered Dogs: 1 Sargent; 2 Printer; 3 Growler. Unentered Bitches: 1 Solo; 2 Sonnet; 3 Singwell. Entered Dogs: 1 Bedlam;2 Briton; 3 Ringwood. Entered Bitches: 1 Lyric; 2 Wagtail; 3 Rosie. Best walked unentered Hound, dog or bitch: Sargent. Best Looking Unentered Hound Dog or Bitch: Solo. Best Walked Entered Hound dog or bitch: Rival. Best Walked Entered Hound dog or bitch which has run for more than 3 seasons: Welcome. Best Looking Emtered Hound: Lyric. Champion Coniston Foxhound: Lyric. Best working hound of last season’s entry: Royal. Best working hound of last season’s entry (opposite sex): Rydal. Best working hound to have run for two seasons or more; Warrior.