Feb. 19, 2008
The 2008 United States World Trial Team has been selected.
These people were chosen from the eight USBCHA
Districts (in the US) and the Top 40 Finalists at the 2007 National Sheepdog
Finals. The Team is alphabetically as follows :
Maria Amodei,
Dunstable, Ma,. Alasdair MacRae, Vicky, Mo.
Cathy Balliu, Fort Lupton, Co. Jennifer Maginnis, Jasper, Ga
Dawn Boyce.
Carnesville, Ga Donald McCaig, Williamsville, Va.
Chuck Dimit, Roanoke,
In. Anne Mock, Plymouth, Ca.
Joyce Geier, Mendon, NY
Nancy Obernier, Coatesville, Pa
Haley Howard, Ca
Gene Sheninger, Boonton, NJ
Karen Wessinger, Leona Valley, Ca.
Tom Wilson, Gordonsville, Va.
The selection for the World Team was based on qualifications determined
after several months of discussion by the
Directors. There were numerous and good suggestions from USBCHA members on
picking the team, but unfortunately,
some of the suggestions were not possible based on the time frame and size of
our country. The Directors came up
with what was deemed to be the most fair for the entire USBCHA membership.
The way the
Directors decided to choose the team is : First to be asked were the top
point earners from each District.
If the top point earner could not go, then the 2nd point earner would be asked
and on down the list for each District (until
there is a representative from each District. If no one could go from a
District, then their spot would go to a person from
the Finals placings). After the District representatives were chosen, then
people from the 2007 National Finals placings
were notified, then people with USBCHA points from the '06 - '07 trial season.
The World Trial
Committee allocated 24 dog spaces for the United States Team; each handler
has the choice to take
one or two dogs.
There has been some discussion about the post to sheepdog-L
regarding entries for the World Trial. Although the Team
was basically filled, we decided to send out an email to the Sheepdog-L - if
anyone wanted to send in an entry because
it was virtually impossible to call every single person from the Finals or the
USBCHA point list (and we were getting short
on time). Any entries received will be considered in the order of their
placing at the Finals & then USBCHA point list placings.
This was just in case, at the last minute, there MAY be an opening.
The 2008 World Trial will be held at Dinefwr Park and Castle,
Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, Wales from September 11th
through September 14th , 2008. As everyone is aware by now, these
dates are nearly identical to our 2008 National
Sheepdog Finals (Sept. 9th through 14th). It was
EXTREMELY unfortunate that the dates conflicted between our National
Finals and the World Trial. The World Trial date had already been chosen so
the Directors spent a long time, trying VERY
hard to make it work for someone to go to both events if they chose to do so.
Unfortunately there’s a very small window
during the traditional Finals dates in Sturgis. If we had the Finals earlier
in August, it would be too hot for the dogs; if it
was later, one runs the risk of snow and dangerous traveling conditions. In
the end, there wasn’t much of a choice when
the Chamber of Commerce in Sturgis requested that we use those dates because
they wanted our Finals to coincide
with another event that was taking place in Sturgis; the Chamber wanted to
have both events at the same time to bring
in more spectators.
We have a GREAT 2008 World Trial Team who will be representing
the United States in Wales next September,
and I know that everyone on our Team REALLY appreciates your support.
Respectfully,
Michele Howard, District One Director