Star of the North Trial
This will be the 16th year of the trial which started as a crazy idea in 2006, not quite 2 years after I started running my first Border Collie Riel in sheepdog trials.
The judge this year will be Jamie Spring from Union Center South Dakota
The plan is to run 3 Open trials, 2 ProNovice, 2 Nursery, and 2 Novice/Ranch classes. This is subject to entries of course and the following schedule is tentative and subject to change without notice to accomodate changes in entries. Tentantive schedule is as follows
Friday October 7th, 7:00AM Open 1, followed by Nursery 1 and PN 1
Saturday October 8th 7:00AM , Nursery 2, ProNovice 2, Open 2
Sunday October 9th , 7:30AM, Novice/Ranch 1, Novice/Ranch 2, Open 3
Novice and Ranch differ in that Ranch is essentially a small ProNovice course with a shorter outrun and drive for handlers who are thinking of making the movice from Novice to ProNovice. Ranch has a full drive (but 50 yards or less per leg) and the handler remains at the post. Novice has a wear instead of a drive.
CAMPING
There is room for camping east of the trial field to the north of the ProNovice setout. Come in via the handlers entrance and follow the road all the way around (keep right) until it meets the main farm road then turn left up the hill to the trial field. Close the bar gate behind you any time you enter or leave please. If you have a rig > 30 feet, come in via the spectators entrance no later than 6PM Thursda or Friday and follow the farm road (stay right when you enter the parking lot). If you use the front/main entrance, please do not leave before 5PM Saturday after the Gale Woods event.
DAY PARKING
Park to the east of the road at the south end of the trial field. Please do not drive on to the trial field and please stay off the running track. If you have guests coming on Sunday when there is no shuttle running from the parking lot, we do have a limited number of guest parking passes available so let me know on Friday or Saturday.
CONCESSIONS
There will be coffee and breakfast items available in the morning and lunch on Friday. Saturday, we will take orders for food (burgers, brats, gyros) which will be delivered to the trial field. We will likely do something similar for Sunday.
There will be a handler's dinner on Sat evening. Details are still being worked out.
RESTAURANTS AND GROCERY
There are restaurants and grocery stores in Mound (3 miles from the trial site) and Spring Bank (4 miles from the trial site). Exit the handler's entrance and turn right onto Co 15. Mound is at the intersection of Co. 15 and Co 110W. Spring Bank and Minnetonka are straight ahead on Co. 15.