Novice/Novice & Advanced Novice Handling Series

This series is geared for the NOVICE handlers. The goal will be for these handlers to gain experience in a trial type environment so they will be able to compete next summer in either the Novice or Pro Novice classes offered at some trials (the Novice/Novice class handlers to move up to the Novice class in a trial and the Advanced Novice class handlers to move up to the Pro Novice class in a trial).

• There will be 2 classes in this series, Novice/Novice and Advanced Novice
  • Novice/Novice Class: Novice handler and a Novice dog ONLY (dog can not have competed in Pro Novice or Open)
  • Advanced Novice Class: Novice or Pro-Novice handler with any dog (dog may have experience competing in ANY trial class).
• 3 sheep will be used for each run (if available the host can increase the # of head per run).
• All novice handlers are welcome to come to one or all of the series (you may join the series at any time without having participated in any prior events).

We will run this series with a few guidelines and we will allow the host to modify the guidelines a bit to adjust to their particular locations.

1. The Novice/Novice class will include an outrun of approximately 50-75 yards, lift, fetch and pen (using an extra large 3 sided pen with no gate).
2. The Advanced Novice class will be an outrun of approximately 100 yards, lift, fetch, ASSISTED one leg of the drive or if able a drive 40-50 yards, and then a pen.
3. Where the sheep #’s allow, the plan is to give one run with instruction and then one judged run. The cost for each run (whether instruction or judged) will be $15.00. The goal is for each novice handler to run twice if sheep and time allows.

Please NO OPEN HANDLERS; this is a series geared for handlers competing in the lower classes to gain experience in a trial type situations. The number of stock available limits the number of runs we can offer. Open handlers that come and help, if time and sheep permits and host are agreeable, can pay the $’s and work their young dogs.

This series is being sponsored by open handlers who have a
true desire to help the novice handlers.