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The North Georgia All Breed Herding Dog Association closed out the year with its annual AKC Herding Test and Trial weekend. Saturday started with Advanced A sheep. By the time judge, Debbie George, worked her way through all the course A classes, there was a three way tie for High In Trial between Cal Me MK owned by Kate McFarland and handled by Doyle Ivie who ended the day High In Trial and High In Trial Border Collie; Lacy's Celine owned by Janet Rahn and handled by Julie Degan who ended the day Reserve High In Trial; and Ch. Nahrof Final Impression, HXAsd owned by Claire Hamilton and Doyle Ivie and handled by Claire had to be happy with earning points toward his HC.

In Started A ducks under judge, Louis Thompson, there were three qualifiers:

1. Woods End Silent Vest owned by Doyle Ivie
2. Bayside Alivia owned by Lori Waters
3. Kaleb, CDX, PT, RN owned by Elaine B. LeRoy.

In the Test classes, Judge Debbie George, had 14 out of 15 qualify. There are a lot of nice working dogs coming up to the trial classes in the future.

After the trial and test were finished, a large group retired to the Farmington Community Center for a New Year's Eve dinner cooked and served by Doyle Ivie's brother and sister in law. We dined on Lemon-Poppy Seed chicken with garlic potatoes, shoe peg white corn, Italian green beans accompanied by a green salad, a choice of cornbread or white rolls, and a choice of desserts. The year ended on a great note with great food, good conversation and lots of camaraderie.

The New Year opened with the Started A sheep classes (In like a lamb!) under Judge Louis Thompson. Lacy's Celine, a Border Collie owned by Janet Rahn and handled by Julie Degan started her New Year right with a first in the class and a score that held up to earn her High In Trial as well as High In Trial Border Collie. Reserve High In Trial went to CH Nahrof Final Impression, HXAsd from the Advanced A duck class. That started owner Claire Hamilton's year with a bang!

There was a lovely mix of breeds at the trial and some did quite well. Among the Pulik, all three entries qualified both days. Nancy Kelly's breeder/owner handled Puli, CH OTCH Bartok's Magyar Csardas, UDX4, PT earned legs in Started A sheep both days. Bowmaker V Pipacs, CDX , PT owned by Scott and Judy Lewis qualified both days and placed fifth in Started A sheep on Sunday. Scott also handled their Bowmaker T Csikos, UD, PT, OA, AXJ to a third place in Started A sheep on Saturday and qualified on Sunday.

The Shetland Sheepdog, Northlight Tyger, owner/handled by Laura Lee George qualified in Started A sheep both days. High Combined Australian Shepherd was Woods End Silent Vest owner/handled by Doyle Ivie and they did it with a rousing finish in Started A ducks on Sunday. High Combined German Shepherd was from Started A sheep with a qualifying score was CH Lorien's Lights Out TC, PT owned by Helen P. & Michael S Chamblee and handled by Doyle Ivie. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi, CH Dobcarr's Le Gendarme Je FM, HIAd, HSAs owned by Sue Mesa & Kathy Spilhaus won Intermediate A sheep both Saturday and Sunday.

It is always a treat to see the variety of breeds at a herding event and the North Georgia All Breed Herding Association lives up to their name by welcoming all breeds and offering encouragement, advice and camaraderie at their events.