Soldier Hollow Classic

Plans Are Already Underway For 2009.
Plan Now to Attend Next Labor Day Weekend,
September 4, 5, 6 and 7!

We have always wondered what would happen if we had really bad weather? Would anybody come? That question was answered with a resounding "yes!" as it rained and hailed for most of the morning for Labor Day's Championship. While attendance was down substantially, we still had over 3,000 die-hard fans who braved the storm and witnessed top sheepdog competition in what handler's call "dog's weather," (dog's love cool wet weather). They saw Canada's Scott Glen and Pleat become the first team in history to win each of the major North American trials (Meeker, Bluegrass, Canadian Nationals, American Nationals and the Bank of the West Soldier Hollow Classic). Everyone celebrated as the Maple Leaf was raised at the medals ceremonies as "Oh Canada," was played.

Plan now to attend in 2009 as great weather is forecast (this year's storm was a once in 30 year occurance) and handlers from around the world are aleady planning their return. Bronze Medalist, Faansie Basson of South Africa said it best and mirrored the thoughts of many when he said "I will be back and one day I am going to win this trial!"

Visit the Bank of the West Soldier Hollow Classic once and it's easy to see why Britain's International Sheepdog News called Soldier Hollow "...the foremost trial in the world..." Going into it's sixth year it has seen champions compete from fifteen countries representing the best of six continents. These competitors have come to test their own skills and those of their dogs on the Olympic hillside at Soldier Hollow. You will see a competition that one writer called "strangely compelling," and another called "poetic." You have to be there to understand the drama that brings thousands to their feet.