This is a temporary page whilst the site is under review.

The Westcountry Nurseries have been organised for the past 4 seasons jointly by myself & Lesley, it has taken a great deal of time and effort to produce a comprehensive list of trials and turn up to each one, from start to end for the pleasure and enjoyment of those taking part. It is only with the goodwill of the landowners and help from those willing to judge and let out that this has been possible.

This season competitors have been turning up later and later and as there is no pre entry we have no way of knowing if there is going to be a large or small entry, some trials have had a very low number of competitors. Whilst the program states all Maltese Cross entries by 11.30 this means none later - it does not mean that the class will be held open until then if there are no dogs on the field ready to run.

The program is a guide and does not state that it will be strictly adhered to as on occasion we need to adjust the course content to fit with what is available in terms of equipment or temperament of sheep or ground conditions and the best judgement is made on the day in conjunction with the land owner, sheep owner, judge and organizers, as humans we can only do our best.

There have been a large number of  moans and groans this season, including the sheep are no good for nursery dogs, the course is too big, the course is too small, the pen is not big enough, the gate does not swing, the judges car is too close, the dogs need to see more runs before their run, the course would be better the other way around, the time is too short, too long is spent around the cross, the cross drive is not a good line, someone should have told me it was my turn, that judge is not helpfull - to name but a few!

Personally I think it is very ill mannered and unfair to our host, who has made the effort to put up the course and be ready to start, and to the judge who has made the effort to be there on time for us to then sit around or start with someone running dogs back to back - they then do not have the option of any of their dogs seeing the sheep before a run.

For various reasons I have been on my own for 50% of the last 12 nurseries often judging as well as organising and I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to those who have helped and given support and encouragement.

All of these nurseries have been run on a voluntary basis and with that in mind I am not prepared to put myself in the firing line each weekend for the barrage of moans and groans, obviously my best efforts are not good enough for some, so if those who have found so much fault recently would like to replace me please speak to Lesley. I would like to wish you the best of sheep, good runs. The results, agregate and financial information up to 11th Feb is, as it always as been, freely available to anyone who would like a copy.

Julie