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Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Bob JOHNSON of Tingley has a lot of experience
with the cattledog trials.
His dog Ruby, which he is shown with,
was the 2010 national nursery division champion.
Cattledog nationals to be held near Redding
The 2011 United States Border Collie Handlers Association National Cattledog Finals will be held Thursday through
Sunday, May 26-29, just outside of Redding. This will be the first year that this event will be held in Iowa. The
national finals draws some of the best handler/dog teams from across the United States and Canada.
"This is the biggest thing to happen to Ringgold county in 20 years or more," said Ron ABBOTT of Southern Iowa
Tourism. ABBOTT is working hard to coordinate local involvement from both businesses and individuals. The event
will be held on property at the intersection of 110th Avenue and Highway J55 two and one half miles west of
Redding or one mile west of P14 -- the Ringgold and Taylor county line -- on J55. The finals consist of two
different classes -- open (any age of dog) and nursery (dogs that are under three years of age as of January 1,
2011). Dogs qualify for the national finals by earning points at cattledog trials throughout the year. These
trials are sanctioned by the USBCHA and are held across the United States and Canada. Qualifying cattledog
trials heldin Iowa during the last year include Southwestern Iowa Trial, held in Elliott; the Southern Iowa Trial
held in Albia; the Southeastern Iowa trial held in Keosauqua and the Murray Cattledog Trial held in Murray.
There will also be a qualifying trial October 9-10 in Keosauqua. Guided only by voice, whistles and instinct, dogs
hold together and navigate a group of cows through a set course. The course is comprised of a series of
free-standing gates and alleys, with the final requirement of penning the cattle into a pen set out in the open
field.Dogs must have tremendous working instincts, coupled with the ability to take direction while working at
great distances. Prior to moving the cattle through the course, dogs are sent a quarter mile or more away from
their handler to gather the cattle and guide them toward the course obstacles.
The finals will be held over four days. The first two days are qualifying days for the open dogs and Saturday
there are two rounds of nursery dogs. The top 20 dogs from open and the top 10 dogs from nursery will then compete
on Sunday for the national championship. Other activities, including a dog training clinic, are in the process
of being planned. Visit the Nationalcattledogfinals.net website for more information and updates or follow on
Facebook at "National Cattle Dog Finals 2011." This event is produced by numerous volunteers from Iowa and
surrounding states and would not be possible without individual and corporate sponsorships. If you, your group or
company would like to help support this event, contact Carol Gifford at 308-436-4930, Deb Meier at 515-854-2060 or
Bob Johnson at 641-340-5409.
Photograph courtesy of Mount Ayr Record-News
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2011
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