Reports and pictures from the field by Lisa Soar k9tales.co.uk
For the Day One report, click here. For the Day Two report, click here.
Wide angle shot of the course - Geraint Davies at the post working Meg on Day One. Pic: k9tales.co.uk
8am Trialling is under way on a grey misty day after overnight rain, but the top of the field is visible! The sheep from Days 1 and 2 have been mixed together and are being reused today.
9.30 Today's first scores are out. First run of the day was Eifion Hope on 152, and three runs later Angie Driscoll has taken an early lead on 154 with Meg.
11.00 Now that's some score! Kevin Evans and Greg have posted 194, the highest score so far over the whole trial. Although the sheep are running well today, this is going to take some beating - will anyone match it? Kevin He sent him on the right hand outrun and went up without any extra commands. The sheep had moved off the mark before the dog got behind them. Kevin got them back on line on the fetch and caught the gates. The sheep are coming round the post easier today and are more settled in the field. He was a bit high on the first drive line but got the gates and a good turn before going a little high again on the cross drive line. Got them back on line and caught the second drive gates. He shed, took about a minute to pen, giving him a couple of minutes left for the single. Breakdown of marks: O 1, L 0, F 6, D 8, Shed 6, Pen 3, Single 2.
12.00 Some more scores - and the brace will be on soon.
12.40 Just two brace runs today - Colin Gordon is not competing this year.. Scores as soon as we have them.
Pic:k9tales.co.uk
2.40 J R Griffith is (once again!) Welsh National Brace Champion. Today, Ian Jones scored 202, one point ahead of Kevin Evans, with Glyn L Jones retiring. Ian Jones, also a former International Brace champion, is thus the second member of the Welsh Brace team.
Some high scores in the last few singles runs have altered the leader board consdierably. The magic figure today could be close to 180, higher than either of the other two days.
4.20 Down to the last 15 competitors, and Meirikon Jones (Llanelli) has joined the leaders with Chamray Jess.
5.20 Eleven competitors to go before the runoff. No change in the leaders.
6.00 Just a few to go before the runoff.
6.40 Two results still to come in, but no changes to the top five.
6.55 The last handler, Paul Tomkins, scored 188 for second place. Gerald Lewis will run first in the runoff.
7.15 Gerald Lewis missed both gates on the drive, but completed his run. No single in runoff. Aurwen Price running next.
7.30 Aurwen Price got all the gates, but was timed out at the pen. Kevin Evans running last,and then we await the judges' decision.
7.45 Kevin Evans completed his run, had a good pen, and got all the gates, but the shed was tricky. Who is the new champion?
2011 Welsh National Champions Kevin Evans and Greg. Pic: k9tales.co.uk
8.15 Kevin Evans and Greg are 2011 Welsh National Champions. In the runoff they scored 168 out of 200. Aurwen Price is second on 150 and Gerald Lewis third on 140. As well as the National triphy, Kevin takes the Gilbertson & Page silver whistle, and the trophy for the highest placed Welsh bred dog. Although he has already won the Supreme title, this is Kevin's first time as Welsh captain. Congratulations also to this year's youngest competitor, Ben Owen, who is just 15. Special thanks to the landowners, Philip and Rose Hinman, for loaning the field, and to Mrs Jane James of Chevron for sponsoring and supplying the grandstand, and to everyone who worked so hard before, during and after the event to make it a success.
Run number/Handler/Dog/Score
W150 Paul Tomkins Fynydd Mac 188
W149 Eirian Morgan GLYN DIS
W148 Gareth Davies WMFFRA RET
W147 Lloyd Jones TAFF RET
W146 David Howells JAIMIE DIS
W145 E Wyn Edwards MAGI 168
W144 Meirion Williams SUE RET
W143 Hefin Jones SAM RET
W142 Philip Pugh ROY RET
W141 Aurwen Price JILL RET
W140 Glyn Howells JUDY RET
W139 Robert Ellis MIRK 159
W138 Rob Lewis TYSSWG CRYSTAL RET
W137 Lynne Jones CYMRO RET
W136 Mrs Jane Drinkwater TREFYNOR TARN 146
W135 D I Morgan NED ABS
W134 Meirion Jones (Llanelli) CHAMRAY JESS 178
W133 Alwyn Williams NIM 166
W132 Ben Owen CAEL RET
W131 Gareth Davies GREENHILL SAM RET
W130 Nigel Watkins JODY 166
W129 Alastair Gilchrist ROI RET
W128 Ms Sandra Gibson TAMMY RET
W127 Mervyn Price MAC ABS
W126 Mike Hall CASS 120
W125 Bryn Davies CAP 143
W124 Graham Powell GWEN 171
W123 Kevin Harley TIM RET
W122 Mervyn Lewis MOSS RET
W121 Gwyn Owen ZAC 180
W120 E P Roberts BET 179
W119 Bert Evans TAFF RET
W118 Miss Claire Ridge CAMMEN JESS DIS
W117 Gwesyn Davies MOY 87
W116 Gwynn Jones (Cilanner) DON 131
W115 Arthur Roberts CHIP RET
W114 Pennant Williams DEL 149
W113 Mrs Sheila Lewis NELL ABS
W112 John Davies MAL RET
W111 Thomas Ellis ROY RET
W110 John Bowen BELLE 136
W109 Alun Jones (Selatyn) ROB 159
W108 Dai Jones JOCK 143
W107 Kevin Evans GREG 194
W106 David Evans LEXI RET
W105 Iolo Jones BILL 134
W104 Dr Angie Driscoll MEG 154
W103 Cyril Roberts MEG RET
W102 Ken Powell SALLY 104
W101 Eifion Hope KEP 152
The top five from each day form the Welsh Team for the International in September.
The highest pointed sixth placed over the three days is the reserve.
Kevin Evans GREG 194
Paul Tomkins Fynydd Mac 188
Gwyn Owen ZAC 180
E P Roberts BET 179
Meirion Jones (Llanelli) CHAMRAY JESS 178
Kevin Evans Outrun 0 Lift 0 Fetch 12 Drive 12 Shed 8 Pen 0 Total scored 168. 1st.
Aurwen Price Outrun 4 Lift 7 Fetch 6 Drive 12 Shed 1 Pen 20 (time) Total scored 150. 2nd.
Gerald Lewis Outrun 4 Lift 0 Fetch 9 Drive 35 Shed 10 Pen 2 Total scored 140. 3rd.
Two more Brace competitors went to the post during the lunchtime break today:
There were only two brace runs today because Colin Gordon had withdrawn.
First to go was Ian Jones running Tom and Jess. Ian sent Tom left and Jess right, setting Jess off first.
After a good fetch, on the first drive the bitch didn't take a couple of commands and Tom was pushing on but they got the gates with a good turn. On the cross drive Tom was a bit keen again and headed the sheep in front of the gates. Ian shed with Jess and used Tom for the open pen.
After his run Ian said: "When J R ran, we were all running for second place really.
"Jess and Tom work together all the time at home doing farm work. They're a bit quick but in my mind a fast dog is a happy dog - they're showing willing."
Glyn Jones ran Don and Zac but retired after an awkward ewe broke out of the open pen while he was trying to complete the second pen.
He said: "When I shed them I knew I'd split that ewe from her mates. Maybe I should've used Don at the open pen, I may have been able to get him to stand in the mouth of the pen.
"I knew when she came out there was no point in carrying on."
Ian Jones TOM & JESS
202
Glyn L Jones DON & ZAK RET
Yesterday's scores:
J R Griffith with Fan and Roy 225
Kevin Evans with Greg and Northill Sweep 201
The top two brace runs over the three days go forward to the International Brace in September.
1 Kevin Evans GREG 194 (Saturday's winner, 168 in runoff)
2 Aurwen Price LYN 186 (Thursday's winner, 150 in runoff)
3 Gerald Lewis SPLASH (Flash) 170 olf 85 (Friday's winner, 140 in runoff)
4 Paul Tomkins Fynydd Mac 188 (Second placed Saturday)
5 Eirian Morgan SPOT 182 (Second placed Thursday)
6 Jed Watson JAKE 170 olf 82 (Second placed Friday)
7 Gwyn Owen ZAC 180 (Third placed Saturday)
8 Meirion Jones (Llanelli) JOE 177 olf 88 (Third placed Thursday)
9 Richard Millichap DEWI TWEED 170 olf 81 (Third placed Friday)
10 E P Roberts BET 179 (Fourth placed Saturday)
11 Nigel Watkins FLOSS 177 olf 84 (Fourth placed Thursday)
12 Stan Harden MEG 167 (Fourth placed Friday)
13 Meirion Jones (Llanelli) CHAMRAY JESS 178 (Fifth placed Saturday)
14 Glyn L Jones DON 176 (Fifth placed Thursday)
15 Arthur Roberts BILL 164 (Fifth placed Friday)
Reserve: Highest pointed sixth placed Alan Jones (Defaidity) NON 175 88 olf
Brace 1: J R Griffith with Fan and Roy 225
Brace 2: Ian Jones TOM & JESS 202