Uffelte (NL) - June 13, 2010

Serge van der Zweep with Lass
Dutch National Champion 2010 

& 

Ellen van der Zweep with Tweed
Netherlands Best Female Handler 2010

SERGE AND LASS NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2010 
& 
ELLEN AND TWEED BEST FEMALE HANDLER 2010  

The weekend of 12-13 June the Dutch National Championship was held. It was double exciting because it was also the last qualification trial for the National team to present The Netherlands in the Continental this year in France.

The trial was a very heavy one, with obstinate sheep that eat grass all the way long and the dogs and handlers needed to give everything to get the sheep moving. Serge won the semi final on Saturday with Lass and became 3^rd with Jim. Ellen had the 15^th place and with this good score they placed themselves in the final on Sunday.  

The final was even more a big job to do, because it was a double gather with 20 sheep. Unfortunately Ellen ran out of time when the sheep came in the ring. But although she did not finish her course, she reached the 7^th place! Serge and Jim became 6^th after a very exciting run. He showed a master class of handling and Jim worked unbelievable hard when an unmarked sheep that they already ran off came back twice to the marked sheep while Serge already opened the pen!

Serge and Lass had a nice steady run. They ended with clean shed an a tricky pen and won the Dutch National for the fourth time!!!!!  

SERGE WITH EVE AND JIM AND ELLEN WITH TWEED TEAM MEMBERS FOR THE CONTINENTAL 2010 IN FRANCE THIS AUGUST  

Because of their good placings all year around, Serge and Ellen became this weekend officially team members of the Dutch team for the Continental 2010 which will be held in France. Because Serge placed, next to Lass and Jim, also his new young and very special trial bitch Eve, he will withdraw current Continental Champion Lass from the team to give his younger dogs a good experience.