Sweetwater In the news 2009

On February 27, 2011 -- Congratulations to Doc Holiday for becoming ASCA's latest WTCH (Working Trial Champion). DOC and owner / handler Maria Wright scored a 93 point run to get their last Advanced Duck leg to earn the coveted Championship. Their friends and fellow handlers wish them their best wishes for this great accomplishment.

Despite the unclimate weather, the rest of the Sweetwater Stockdogs also did well at the ASCA Trail held at New River, AZ.:

Border Collie Gwen and Fran had a great weekend, taking Second Place in Open Sheep on Saturday with a score of 105 and First Place on Sheep on Sunday with a score of 111 1/2. Her confidence is growing by leaps and bounds and it shows.
Border Collie Chaco picked up her first leg towards Open Sheep on Saturday. On Sunday she was having waaaaay too much fun so Fran decided to repen and return to fight another day. The goal is that she place in Open before moving up to Advanced
Molly and Tammy did a great job in all three stock: 4th Place on Open Cattle (Score of 87), 4th Place Open Ducks (Score of 84) and a 4th Place and Q Open Sheep (Score of 101)


	September 2011 We’re gearing up for an exciting winter season, beginning with the AKC trial the first weekend of October in Cortes Junction. Fran will be handling Ember in Advanced and in Started Sheep. This will be the first trial for Ember and Fran together and may be a little bittersweet since the death of Fran’s Ben and Ember’s owner Karen Clymer are what brought them together but the bond gets stronger every day. The last weekend of October Fran will be handling Doc, Ember and Gwen at the AHBA trial in Tonopah. October is always an exciting time since many of the herding community don’t get to see each other during the long summer months. If you’re new to herding and would like to have more information about these trials or maybe even volunteer to help out (it’s the best way to familiarize yourself with what to expect) contact Fran and she’ll be happy to visit with you.
	August 2011 New Title: Congratulations to Molly for getting her ASCA Open Trial Dog Title (OTDs) with a 4th Place finish at the 8th Annual Three Pine Ranch Classis in Estancia, New Mexico. She was also successful in getting two 3rd Place finishes in Open Cattle and another 3rd and 4th Place in Sheep. In August, Molly was also presented with a Merit Cerficiate from ASCA for completing 2010 as the 18th highest scoring Started Dog in Cattle.
	July 2011 Fran and Gwen competed in the New Mexico Herding Dog Association AHBA and AKC Trails in Mountainair, New Mexico over the July 4th weekend. Results pending.
	June 2011 With the summer heat, most herding has moved to cooler grounds but there are a few faithful that continue to train in the early morning getting their dogs ready for the upcoming fall season.
	May 2011 Fran welcomes her new experienced ranch dog to Sweetwater - Ember. Ember is a young, active, very attentive and well trained Border Collie. Fran will begin working with Ember through the summer in order to begin competing in the fall.
	April 2011 It was a quiet month of training at the ranch.
	March 2011 Wow - what a great weekend. Fran, Ben and a few Sweetwater faithly participated in Herding Instinct Testing in The Annual Arizona Animal Fair at Reid Park in Tucson, AZ on March 5, 2010. Fran and Ben did a great job showing a lot of novice dogs and handlers the joy of herding; she even found a few dogs that had the skill and aptitude to be true herding dogs. Here are a few more photogrpahs: Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3 We regret to tell everyone that Ben passed away quietly this month due to advanced cancer. He will be sadly missed by everyone who ever had the priveleg to train, play or jsut pet Ben -- he was a very special dog and he will always have a special place in our hearts.
	February 2011 On February 27, 2011 -- Congratulations to Doc Holiday for becoming ASCA's latest WTCH (Working Trial Champion). DOC and owner / handler Maria Wright scored a 93 point run to get their last Advanced Duck leg to earn the coveted Championship. Their friends and fellow handlers wish them their best wishes for this great accomplishment. Despite the unclimate weather, the rest of the Sweetwater Stockdogs also did well at the ASCA Trail held at New River, AZ.: Border Collie Gwen and Fran had a great weekend, taking Second Place in Open Sheep on Saturday with a score of 105 and First Place on Sheep on Sunday with a score of 111 1/2. Her confidence is growing by leaps and bounds and it shows. Border Collie Chaco picked up her first leg towards Open Sheep on Saturday. On Sunday she was having waaaaay too much fun so Fran decided to repen and return to fight another day. The goal is that she place in Open before moving up to Advanced Molly and Tammy did a great job in all three stock: 4th Place on Open Cattle (Score of 87), 4th Place Open Ducks (Score of 84) and a 4th Place and Q Open Sheep (Score of 101)
	February 1, 2011 - Sweetwater Stockdogs wishes to congratulate "Wiggle Me Molly" and handler Tammy Pachura for being ranked the 10th highest scoring "Started Cattle Dog" for 2011 in the USA and Canada by The Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA).
	January 2011 AHBA Trial at Fast Lane Aussies (Litchfield Park, AZ) - The Sweetwater Team had another successfule weekend of herding. Tammy and Molly got 2 qualifying runs and a 1st Place (with a score of 87/90) in HTAD I Sheep. Maria and Doc got a valuable 2 camppoints and 2 qualifying runs (one on ducks and one on sheep) towards their HTCH Championship - only 2 more camp points to go !!! Border Collie Gwen, handled by Fran Evans, picked up a level I Duck Title and a Level II Sheep Title. She placed on three out of four runs and did each run from the advanced line to get more trialing experience.