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PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Febuary 1, 2018
Media Contact: Ellen Parker
vsdcmedia@gmail.com
www.vashonsheepdogclassic.com
Vashon Sheepdog Classic announces 2018 trials
Thursday to Sunday, June 7th – 10th
Dawn to Dusk
Misty Isle Farms, Vashon Island, Washington
$10/general admission, $25 Event Pass, Kids 10 & under FREE. Tickets available at BrownPaperTickets & at the gate.
Please NOTE: Entries limited. Advanced tickets ONLY
Bus Service from Fauntleroy & Point Defiance ferries on Sat 6/9 & Sunday 6/10; $5.00 round trip with multiple stops
“It’s like BABE, but better!” - VIDEO PREVIEW: https://vimeo.com/179281615
Special 2018 features:
Friday and Saturday– Shearing, Rug Hook, skirting, and various other fiber focused demonstrations will be occur in the Fiber Village.
Sunday- Handler’s Panel. An in-depth discussion with sheepdog trainers hosted by Julie Forbes of The Dog Talk Show.
The Vashon Sheepdog Classic: A Step Back in Time in a Majestic, Pastoral Spot
Imagine relaxing in a meadow in the early summer sunshine, the sweet smell of grass in the air – along with a hint of something wonderful to eat. Around you, the sound of neighborly conversations and children’s laughter rises and falls – then a swell of excitement ripples through the air…
An old and magical sport is unfolding before your eyes, and you find yourself cheering at something you may never have expected to find exciting – a group of sheep making their way into a small pen. The gate closes and a whistle splits the air, while a Border Collie proudly accepts her praise due as everyone around you breaks into spontaneous applause.
The Vashon Sheepdog Classic has been providing a chance for spectators to step back in time for eight years. On over 30 acres of breathtaking fields at majestic Misty Isle Farms, top sheepherding teams from across the country participate in the largest event of its kind on the West Coast. Last year the Vashon Sheepdog Classic attracted over 10,000 spectators over a three-day period. Even bigger crowds are expected this summer as this century old sport continues to gain in popularity ,
The Vashon Sheepdog Classic entertains, educates and captivates spectators. There is no other place like the Misty Isle fields, and no other herding event that embraces the history and beauty of this sport quite like the Vashon Sheepdog Classic.
Of Sheepdogs and Trials
“Spend time talking to your dog, but talk sense!” JM Wilson. From the book 100 Years Among Sheepdogs, by Tony Iley & Jim Cropper
Competing sheepdogs are frequently Border Collies because of their speed, intelligence and the ability to apply compassionate pressure to move sheep. Participating dogs and their handlers come to the Vashon Sheepdog Classic from a wide range of places and abilities. Some dogs are full-time farm workers, and some have entered this arena purely for the sport.
Regardless of the dog’s background, the expectation is the same: to handle the sheep in a calm, efficient and compassionate manner through a set course. The Misty Isle course on Vashon Island is based on classic international courses used throughout the United Kingdom, the US, and Canada.
The Vashon Sheepdog Classic: A Full and Lively Experience
Every year, new elements spring up to add to the experience of the Vashon Sheepdog Classic. Like old country fairs, the Vashon Sheepdog Classic encompasses fun activities for all ages, including:
A Fiber Arts Village with free workshops and demonstrations throughout the day
A children’s tent with felting and other fiber activities
Fiber vendors from throughout the Pacific Northwest region
Education Exhibit - “The Story of Wool”
Local artisans, food vendors, and spirit garden “on the green”
Bagpipers and the release of the flock into the field.
The Vashon Sheepdog Classic takes place at Misty Isle Farms on beautiful Vashon Island, just 20-minutes west of Seattle and 15 minutes north of Tacoma, only accessible by ferry-boat. Long populated by artists and small organic farmers, Vashon revels in home-grown events that let visitors step away from busy urban lives and enjoy a simpler, quieter time.
All proceeds from the Vashon Sheepdog Classic benefit local youth charities.
Vashon Sheepdog Classic press photos and additional information can be found at http://www.vashonsheepdogclassic.com/media-info.html.More information follows.
Event Details
Thursday through Sunday, June 8 to 11, 2017, at Misty Isle Farms on Vashon Island.
Daily Admission $10/person Friday, Saturday & Sunday. All Event Passes $25. Kids 10 & under free.
New for 2017 - day limits for spectators! Overwhelming attendance has required limits on people through the gates each day. Advance tickets required.
Advance tickets on sale April 1st, www.brownpapertickets.com
There are no ATM's on or near the field. Credit cards can be used for admission and at some--but not all--booths. Bringing cash is recommended.
Thursday, June 6, is Pro-Novice and Nursery Class day. Pay what you can & see the young and less experienced dogs and/or handlers who are newer to the sport. Please note that this is a very limited day. There will be one food vendor & no other vendors open. All donations at the gate will go to the Vashon-Maury Food Bank
Top-level competitors will be on the field all day Friday, Saturday & Sunday, June 8 - 10.
Daily event hours 7:00 am to approximately 6:00pm. Spectators may come and go during the day with a hand-stamp.
Food and refreshment booths, as well as a spirits garden for ages 21+, will be open.
Bring chairs & blankets for seating; there will also be chairs available under tents.
A Shuttle service from Vashon's north and south end ferry docks to the trials will run Saturday and Sunday ONLY beginning at 9am. The cost is $5 cash roundtrip. The bus stop at the north end ferry dock will be marked for your convenience, and at other locations to be determined and marked as we get closer to the event date.
Entrance to the field is on Old Mill Road. The field is located on the corner Old Mill Road & SW 220th. Old Mill will be one way, from north to south, from SW 220th to SW 232nd, during the trial.
Parking for spectators is on Old Mill Road--on the road. A load/unload area at the gate will be available for drop-offs. Disability parking will be marked near the entrance.
Media History for Vashon Sheepdog Classic:
Fun, quirky, unpredictable: Vashon’s Sheepdog Classic returns to the island – Tacoma News Tribunehttp://www.thenewstribune.com/living/article81522672.html
VIDEO: Watch Sheepdogs Compete On Baaaa-shon Islandhttp://kuow.org/post/video-watch-sheepdogs-compete-baaaa-shon-island
Sheepdog showdown on Vashonhttp://crosscut.com/2013/09/sheepdog-trials-vashon-island/
Vashon Sheepdog Classic: Where Each Dog Has Its Dayhttp://tallcloverfarm.com/16120/vashon-sheepdog-classic
Precision handling at Vashon Sheepdog Classichttp://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/precision-handling-at-vashon-sheepdog-classic/