Sheepdogs at Soldier Hollow

Sheepherding Photo: Christopher Burns

MIDWAY, Utah.— Midway, as it has since 2003, hosted its annual Soldier Hollow Classic sheepdog competition on Monday.

Approximately 10,000 spectators over the weekend watched 60 highly trained dogs compete to herd groups then single sheep into pens with as little commanding by their handlers as possible. With a food court, beer garden, live music, face painting, vendor tents, demonstrations and shows, there was a little bit of everything for everybody.

The 2021 championship winners were:

• 1st: Pepper 
• 2nd: Pip
• 3rd: Jack

Pepper is handled by Joe Haynes from Washington. Pepper is a ten-year-old, female, tricolor, medium coated Border Collie. Pepper ran here last in 2016. Pepper was running third in the national standings and ready to go to the 2020 Finals when Covid stopped trialing but is running strong again this year.  She won the overall at Kingston, Ontario Canada in 2019 and won both days at the Little Horse Mountain Sheepdog Trial.  Pepper’s handler, Joe Haynes, started with border collies nearly twenty years ago. He has competed throughout the U.S. and Canada in some of the most challenging trials and at the highest level and was a member of the 2017 U.S. World Team. Off the farm, Joe is the Director of Engineering for a local biotechnology company.

Pip is handled by Scott Glen from Alberta, Canada.  Ben “Pip” is a three-year-old, black and white, smooth-coated Border Collie.  Pip was born in Scotland and was brought over to Canada when he was 10 weeks old. Pip didn’t get a full nursery year because of the Pandemic so he got the nickname Pandemic Pip. He went right into Open this year and has been getting better and better every time he goes to the post.  He was the overall Open dog at Hotchkiss, won a day at Tabletop, and a day at the Spring Ranch Trial.  His handler, Scott Glen, has won the USBCHA National Championship six times, Soldier Hollow three times, the Canadian Championship as well as the Bluegrass Classic among others.  

Jack is handled by Faansie Basson from Texas. Jack is a six-year-old, black and white, rough-coated Border Collie.  He was this year’s Bluegrass Classic Champion, the 2020 Brenham Double Lift Champion, the 2020 Purina Dog of the Year, and World Team member. Jack is a good listener and consistent worker, with 13 top-ten finishes this year including wins at Fort Stockton (both open classes) and Gatesville (both open classes). Faansie is from South Africa and is back at Soldier Hollow for the twelfth time.  Faansie and his family came to the United States in December 2014 and are now living in Texas. Faansie travels all over the US, giving lessons and clinics and competing with his fine dogs.