Working Australian Shepherd Club of Alberta

2007 Executive

Trials were held July 25 - 27, 2002 near Leslieville, Alberta

Thank you to our judges Marti Parrish and Roy Sage for joining us!  Also many thanks to Roy Sage of O'Sage Aussies in Oregon for coming early to teach our 2 day clinic...all the participants learned a lot!!

~ ~ ~

The Wild West Stampede grounds were quiet, the only sound was the quiet chirping of the native birds…then all of a sudden “they” started to arrive, the stock and the dogs that would work them.  The Working Australian Shepherd Club of Alberta (WASCA) annual Alberta Summer Classic 2003 stockdog clinic and trials were about to begin!

Twenty-seven dogs and their handlers from Alberta and Saskatchewan participated in two days of training clinics and two and a half days of stockdog trials using cattle, sheep and ducks.  One Kelpie, one Sheltie and twenty-five Australian Shepherds, varying in age from 15 months to 8 years, strutted their stuff as they worked hard with their handlers to earn titles through the Australian Shepherd Club of America’s Stockdog Program.  Dogs compete by working their way up through three levels: started, open and advanced and on three different “classes” of stock: ducks, sheep and cattle.  Many of the dogs received new titles during the weekend, proof that the herding instinct lives on in these beautiful dogs, many of whom also show in conformation and compete in other venues.  Dogs earning new titles also have a chance at becoming eligible to run at the next Australian Shepherd Club of America’s National Finals being held in Paso Robles, California in November 2004.

The “top dogs” once the trials were wrapped up were:

One of the main purposes of the club is to give people a chance to learn about training a herding dog, no matter what breed, to earn titles right here in Alberta and to promote the Australian Shepherd as a working dog.  The club has many new members participating this year and everyone is happy to encourage anyone with an interest in herding.  Our members range in age from 10 to 66.  Everyone, especially Juniors (young people up to age 18), are welcomed and all the members of the club love to help the kids and other new folk learn the ropes of training and trialing their dogs.  Training clinics are held yearly and the club is hoping to promote more clinics and perhaps even more trials in the future as the membership grow.

Best Female Novice Handler ~ Amber Carlson

Best Male Novice Handler ~ Foss Gallichan

Runner-Up Junior - Jessica Roth-Lee

For more information please contact WASCA President, Jeni Gallichan, at aussies@mikatura.com or by phone 403-746-5331.  Also this club website has membership applications available. Click here to go to the membership information & application.

The members of the club would like to thank their sponsors, Alan & Alana McKenzie for the use of the Wild West Stampede grounds; Gerd & Wendy Steudel for the use of their beautiful motorhome; Eckville Co-op for the use of the panels; Ralton-Purina, UFA, Canine Equipment (Gear Fer Dogs), Stettler Veterinary Clinic, club members Darlene Fritz (Keldrey Aussies), Cathy Bishop (Caitland Aussies), Amber Carlson, Cathy Kudryk (and her Dad), Foss & Jeni Gallichan (Mikatura Aussies), the Hindbo family (Ram River Horseback Tours) for prize donations,  (oh I hope we didn't miss anyone and apologies if we did); and last but not least Danny Gibson & the gang for the music and laughter and all of our spectators for the cheers and applause! You made our weekend so much fun!

Daily Trial Results...

Friday, July 25, 2003 (#1) - Ducks - Judge Marti Parrish

Friday, July 25, 2003 (#2) - Ducks - Judge Roy Sage

Saturday, July 26, 2003 (Trial #1) - Cattle - Judge Roy Sage

Saturday, July 26, 2003 (Trial #1) - Sheep - Judge Roy Sage

Saturday, July 26, 2003 (Trial #1) - Ducks - Judge Marti Parrish

Saturday, July 26, 2003 (Trial #2) - Cattle - Judge Marti Parrish

Saturday, July 26, 2003 (Trial #2) - Sheep - Judge Marti Parrish

Saturday

High Combined WTCH
WTCH Spinoff's Little Corkscrew RD
(Owner/Handler Lill Roth-Lee)

High Combined Non-WTCH
Spinoff's Red Grit STDd
(Owner/Handler Lill Roth-Lee)

High Combined Started
Spinoff's Taylor Made
(Owner/Handler Lyn Ferris)

Sunday, July 27, 2003 (Trial #1) - Cattle - Judge Marti Parrish

Sunday, July 27, 2003 (Trial #1) - Sheep - Judge Marti Parrish

Sunday, July 27, 2003 (Trial #1) - Ducks - Judge Roy Sage

Sunday, July 27, 2003 (Trial #2) - Cattle - Judge Roy Sage

Sunday, July 27, 2003 (Trial #2) - Sheep - Judge Roy Sage

Sunday

High Combined WTCH
WTCH Spinoff's Little Corkscrew RD
(Owner/Handler Lill Roth-Lee)

High Combined Non-WTCH
Spinoff's Red Grit STDd
(Owner/Handler Lill Roth-Lee)

High Combined Started
Caitland Deuce's Wild
(Owner/Handler Cathy Bishop)

CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who ran a dog, and thank you for your participation, we couldn't have done it without you!!!!

We hope to see you all again next year!

We would like to thank our wonderful sponsors...

Allan & Alana McKenzie ~ Wild West Stampede
Gerd & Wendy Steudel ~ motorhome for Judge
All our members for prizes

Canine Equipment ~! Gear fer dogsTM	Ralston Purina Canada Inc.
Eckville Co-Op Agro Centre

     If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for a future trial please contact
Jeni Gallichan
aussies@mikatura.com
Phone 403-746-5331