Sheep- Dog Trials 217 



to temper the heat of the sun. There were 

 seventeen entries, but only fourteen actually 

 competed, there being three absentees. The 

 course was a zigzag one, and a very 

 awkward one too, by the way ; the distance 

 actually covered between where the dog had 

 to find the sheep and where he finally penned 

 them was about three quarters of a mile, and 

 the obstacles to be overcome on the way 

 were most difficult. Each dog was allowed 

 ten minutes from the moment he was 

 despatched from the starting-point. Three 

 sheep, each selected from different flocks, 

 were turned out near the top of a fairly high 

 hill ; at the bottom of this hill was an open 

 gateway leading into a large grass field, in 

 which had been placed various obstacles, 

 which I will describe in order as they had to 

 be overcome. 



The three sheep having each been taken 

 from a separate flock, were rather hostile 



