Tom Wilson tips his hat and hand to his valuable partner, Bet. Tom Wilson & Bet - 2023 Meeker Classic Champions. photo by PiperAnne Worcester

2024 MEEKER CLASSIC ENTRY INFORMATION

Accepted Entries and the wait list are posted on DogTrialEntry.com

or you can scan this code to be directed to the site: 

We will be taking 135 entries this year – Trial Dates are September 4-8. 2024. A legal draw will be done according to USBCHA guidelines on August 1, 2024.   Each dog will have one preliminary run  on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday of the event. Forty-five dogs will run each day of the preliminaries:

  • Dogs 1 – 45  Wednesday 9-04-2024 (45 dogs)
  • Dogs 46 – 90  Thursday, 9-05-2024 (45 dogs)
  • Dogs 91 – 135  Friday 9-06-2024 (45 Dogs)

SEMI-FINAL ROUND TO INCLUDE 30 DOGS – on Saturday, September 7, 2024 – The top 8 scoring runs from each qualifying day will advance to the Semi-Final round.  Upon completion of all qualifying runs, the top 6 scoring dogs that have not already qualified (regardless of the day ran) will also advance to the Semi Finals.

FINAL ROUND TO INCLUDE 12 DOGS – The top 12 semi-final runs advance to the double lift finals on Sunday, September 8, 2024.

2023 – Final Placing of Top 12 Below

Handler Information for the Trial – 2024

  • ALL HANDLERS MUST CHECK-IN AND SIGN A WAIVER BEFORE RUNNING THEIR DOGS – NO EXCEPTIONS
  • CHECK-IN & PIZZA WELCOME DINNER  – Tuesday evening, September 3, 2024 –   5-7  PM  at the Hospitality Tent on site.
  • ALL OTHER CHECK-INS LATER IN THE WEEK – at the Clerk Shed by the Announcer’s Stand – Handlers MUST checkin in person
  • HANDLER’S MEETINGS  – 6:45 every morning of the Preliminaries and the Semi-Finals, Finals – TBA
  • DRAW for SEMI FINAL RUN ORDER – we will do this at the Handler’s Dinner at 5:30 Friday Evening
  • HANDLER’S DINNER – Social Hour begins at 5:15 AT THE TRIAL SITE ON FRIDAY EVENING, draw for the Semi-Finals Running Order will be at 5:30, Dinner at 6:00 compliments of Mountain West Insurance.
  • DRAW FOR FINAL RUN ORDER – Saturday evening after the last Semi-Final Run – Announcer’s Stand
  • 3-2-1 ACTION Video will be filming a 5 days of the competition – you can make arrangements to purchase a video during the trial or visit their WEBSITE
  • CANINE SPORTS MEDICINE AND REHAB SERVICES – ONSITE – DR. ALICE BAKER MEUTEN – CLICK HERE –  will be located in at the EXHAUST

About the competition:

We will run 135 dogs in the 2024 Preliminaries – each dog gets one preliminary run.

Preliminary runs – Wednesday, September 4, 2024  thru Friday, September 6, 2024. 135 Dogs will run in the preliminary runs – each dog gets one run.  There will be 30 dogs run on Saturday for the Semi-Finals, and the top 12 Semi-Final Scores will run on Sunday in the final round. QUALIFYING ENTRIES TO THE SEMI-FINALS . The top 8 scoring runs from each qualifying day will advance to the Semi-Final Round (8 dogs/day for Sept 4, 5 and 6, 2024).  Upon completion of all qualifying runs, the top 6 scoring dogs that have not already qualified (regardless of the day ran) will also advance to the Semi-Finals.

Preliminary Schedule:

 Wednesday, Thursday and  Friday:

  • Dogs 1 – 45    Wednesday  9/04/2024  (45 Dogs)
  • Dogs 46 – 90  Thursady 9/05/2024 (45 Dogs)
  • Dogs 91 – 135 Friday  9/06/2024 (45 Dogs)

HELP is available on the DogTrialEntry.com website or by contacting us!  Please call or email Maym with questions!  970-878-0111 or trials@meekersheepdog.com.

If you want to cancel an entry or make a substitution – please email Maym at trials@meekersheepdog.com

HANDLER LODGING OPTIONS

Dry camping for handlers will be available on site.  Potable water and portajohns are available. We will arrange for septic and water delivery (fee basis) during the trial. Below are some other options available for Handlers:

Bevis Jordan, North Umberland, UK  – 2024 Judge

Judging a sheepdog trial is not for the faint of heart. The job description at the Meeker Classic involves 5 full days of runs. Following the Handler’s meeting each morning at 6:45, the runs start at 7 am each morning and last until 4 or 5 in the afternoon.

Guidelines for judging a USBCHA sanctioned sheepdog trial are modeled after trials in Britain where sheepdog trials and the Border Collie originated. In judging a sheepdog trial the judge must impartially apply the same standards of evaluation to each run on the course. A trial course is designed to test the dogs ability to manage sheep in a manner that demonstrates practical working skills on the farm or ranch. That course is divided into six scored components.

It is the judge’s responsibility to see that every competitor has a fair chance while scoring each run to the same standard. The judge must sign off on the final score sheet that is the official record of each run and is responsible for upholding rigid rules of decorum, sportsmanship, and humane animal treatment.

It is our honor and privilege to welcome Bevis Jordan to Meeker to officiate over the 2024 Meeker Classic. We will have a complete bio soon!

RESULTS & ARCHIVES

MEEKER CLASSIC CHAMPIONS 1987 – 2021

1987    Elvin Kopp & Jeff                     Canada

1988    Bill Berhow & Jen                    Montana

1989    Jack Knox & Maid                   Virginia

1990    Dodie Green & Roy                 Arizona

1991    Bill Berhow & Jen                    Florida

1992    Marv Brown & Samba             South Dakota

1993    Bill Berhow & Nick                  Montana

1994    Dorrance Eikamp & Blue        Wyoming

1995    Bruce Fogt & Molly                 Ohio

1996    Kathy Knox & Bob                   Missouri

1997    Alasdair Mac Rae & Nan         Virginia

1998    Alasdair Mac Rae & Nan         Virginia

1999    Angie Pickle & Sweep              Oklahoma

2000    Derek Fisher & Heidi               Idaho

2001    Alasdair Mac Rae & Sweep     Virginia

2002    Melinda Hanley & Meg           Kentucky

2003    Beverly Lambert & Pippa        Connecticut

2004    Beverly Lambert & Bill            Connecticut

2005    Scott Glen & Pleat                   Canada

2006    Tom Wilson & Sly                    Virginia

2007    Tom Wilson & Sly                    Virginia

2008    Dennis Gellings & Jake            Canada

2009    Amanda Milliken & Ethel        Canada

2010    Suzy Applegate & Buzz         California

2011    Amanda Milliken & Clive      Canada

2012    Faansie Basson & Don           South Africa

2013    Dennis Gellings & Tess          Canada

2014    Ron Enzeroth & Mick             Texas

2015    Amanda Milliken & Howell   Canada

2016    Amanda Milliken & Howell   Canada

2017    Dennis Edwards & Coup        Wyoming

2018    Derek Fisher & Nell     Idaho

2019     Scott Glen & Taff  Canada

2020 – No Trial – Covid

2021    Scott Glen & Alice  Canada

2022 – Faansie Basson & Jack   Texas

2023 – Tom Wilson & Bet