Meeker Classic Sheepdog Championship Trials™
 Held Annually in September

2008 Trial Dates: September 3-7
Dog Entries for the 2008 Trial open March 3, 2008 -
Please see 2008 Entry and Rules:

• 2008 Accepted Entry & Standby List (Alpha Listing, Updates)

• 2008 Art Contest

• 2008 Schedule of Events

The Meeker Classic Sheepdog Championship Trials offers five days of sheepdog herding competition for a purse totaling $20,000 plus ten special added awards including the Marvine Ranch Top Dog of the Day Award and daily handler awards from Moody Construction.  This event is sanctioned by the USBCHA.  The Sheepdog Trials are held annually in September, the first Wednesday through Sunday after Labor Day. 
2008 Meeker Classic Judge will be Angie Coker-Sells.

Art Unsworth, The Voice of the Meeker Classic is our 2008 announcer.

Associated events to the Meeker Classic include a daily crafts fair, food booths, weekend pancake breakfasts, and a Sunday noon lamb barbeque.  Entertainment also includes dog exhibitions and bagpipe music. 

Where:  The sheepdog trials field is just west of the town of Meeker on Colorado Highway 13.  There is no shade and limited seating. So, bring sunscreen, binoculars, umbrellas, and lawn chairs. 

• Advance Ticket Sales
• Meeker Area Map--how to get here
• Meeker weather
• Meeker Classic Sheepdog Championship Trial Site Map

  Please leave pets at home. 

Dry Camping Option
Lodging Crisis due to energy development
For Dry Camp Information & rates (no water or electricity) 1/2 mile from trial site, within walking distance, contact email: trials@meekersheepdog.com and we will forward your information on to the private property owners.

Purchase Souvenir Posters and Postcard Sets 

2008 Dog Sponsorship Program
* We'll sell 124 Dog Sponsorships for 2008 Meeker Classic.

You have always enjoyed the Meeker Classic.  Now there is a way you can help support the program.  Each of 124 dogs in the preliminary rounds will get a sponsor.   Dog Sponsors will be randomly assigned a dog after the running order is established, August 1st, 2008.  Cost: $100/dog, Limit 2 dogs per sponsor. 

Where Your Money Goes:

• Increases purse at the Meeker Classic
• Increases purse at Jackpot (Fun Trial), Saturday night @ Rio Blanco County Fairgrounds
• Offsets the Cost of Operations for the Meeker Classic
• Covers Dog Sponsorship Program Costs

For more information click here

For a printable Dog Sponsorship Program registration form, Click Here

2007 Meeker Classic winners Tom Wilson and Sly penning their sheep in one of the smoothest, highest scoring runs most spectators have ever seen.  Click photo for larger view.

Art Unsworth, the "Voice of the Meeker Classic," adds these comments on the winning run by Tom Wilson and Sly, "Well, we on the competitive trail are also in agreement that it's probably the "Best" run EVER made! Peter Gonnet told me that considering that it was in a double lift, in the FINAL and using the famous Meeker Classic Range Sheep, it's definitely the best run he's ever seen. That coming from a Handler that has made some of the best runs I've seen in my + 20 years of having a front row seat.  Food for thought.

Last year at the Meeker Classic, we witness Derek Fisher / Heidi in the final make the greatest run based on pure Heart, overshadowing Tommy's win, this year it was Tommy's turn for perfection, truly a beautiful run to watch, as you accurately describe, smooth.......
Tommy's run was incredible, it just kept "happening" ..... and then he was done, we looked at each other in astonishment, wondering if we had seen what had happened and wondering if the run was really as great as we saw ...... yep, it sure was!"

1. Friends of Bill Carder
2. Helen Love, Grand Junction, CO
3. Bart & Mary Strang, Meeker, CO
4. Susan & Marc Michie, Redstone, CO
5. Susan & March Michie, Redstone, CO
6. Meeker Sand & Gravel, Meeker & Rangely, CO
7. Strang Ranch, Carbondale, CO
8. Bill & Sandy Bliss, Crawford, CO
9. Sable Mountain Outfitters, Meeker, CO
10. WR Aggregates, Meeker, CO
11. YZ Ranch, LLC, Meeker, CO
12. YZ Ranch, LLC, Meeker, CO
13. Mike & Mary Ann Harper, Eaton, CO
14. C.F. Brenner, Architect, Carbondale, CO
15. Peg & Chuck Malloy, Carbondale, CO
16. State Farm Insurance, Kevin Amack Agency, Meeker, CO
17. Maradith & Rusty Wilkins, Littleton, CO
18. Neil-Garing Insurance, Glenwood Springs, CO
19. Hannah Huse/Marvine B. Woolf, Boulder, CO
20. Harper Livestock Co., Eaton, CO
21. Paul Deneke, Houston, TX
22. Samuelson True Value, Meeker, CO
23. Iowa Lam Corp., Hawarden, IA
24. Paul G. Bingham DVM & Mark J Ryan DVM, Grand Junction, CO
25. Paul G. Bingham DVM & Mark J Ryan DVM, Grand Junction, CO
26. Colorado CPA Services, PC, Rangely & Meeker, CO
27. Colorado CPA Services, PC, Rangely & Meeker, CO
28. Enterprise Products, Houston, TX
29. Enterprise Products, Houston, TX
30. MJK Sales and Feed, Inc., Craig, CO
31. Wendy & Greg Cogdal, Littleton, CO
32. Lillian & Dillon R. Cogdal, Littleton, CO
33. Jonathan Beuk, New Castle, CO
34. Sombrero Ranches, Meeker, CO
35. White River Distributing, Kari Bowers & Robert Sipes, Meeker, CO
36. Canyon Insurance & Financial Services, LLC, Rifle, CO
37. The Guy Family, New Castle, CO
38. The Guy Family, New Castle, CO
39. Sumner Schachter/Stifel Nicolaus, Glenwood Springs, CO
40. Piper's Pix & Jean Dougherty, Loveland, CO
41. Western Exposures Realty, Meeker, CO
42. Lee Raine www.cowboyshowcase.com, Eureka, NV
43. JBS - Swift & Co. LAMB, Greeley, CO
44. JBS - Ski Haus, Steamboat Springs, CO
45. Swift & Co. LAMB, Greeley, CO
46. TK, Hotchkiss, CO
47. Nichols Store, Rangely, CO
48. Okagawa Farms, Grand Junction, CO
49. Westlands, Meeker, CO
50. Westlands, Meeker, CO
51. Nostrand Trucking, Inc., Grand Junction, CO
52. Reverse LS Ranch, Mike Laughlin, Lamoille, NV
53. Zulim Show Cattle, Hockley, TX
54. Zulim Show Cattle, Hockley, TX
55. Rocky & Spraky Pappas, Meeker, CO
56. Ducey's Electric, Inc., Rangely, CO
57. Russ & Carol Atha, Steamboat Springs, CO
58. Photo Express House, Steamboat Springs, CO
59. Miller Financial Advisors, LLC, Grand Junction, CO
60. GIC Mobile Home & RV Parks, Meeker, CO
61. Liz Harriger & Karen Fay, Colorado Springs, CO
62. Dalby, Wendland & Co. PC, Certified Public Accountants & Consultants, Glenwood Springs, CO
63. Backcountry Realty, Meeker, CO
64. White River Energy, Meeker, CO
65. Rangely Area Chamber of Commerce, Rangely, CO
66.  Deborah Hutchinson, Aspen Pet Services, Ltd.
    Aspen, CO
67. Jim & Lynn Graziano, Hotchkiss, CO
68. Western Slope Sod Farm, Meeker, CO
69. Cooley Zagar-Brown PC, Meeker, CO
70. Mesa House Bed & Breakfast, Meeker, CO
71. Galen Richards, Suzie Kirvinskee & Zeta, Jackson, WY
72. Mountain West Insurance and Financial Services, Craig, CO
73. Colorado Northwestern Community College
    Rangely/Meeker, CO
74. Benges Shoes, Grand Junction, CO
75. Hanson International of Western Colorado
    Grand Junction, CO
76. Mary Clarke, Pea Green, CO
77. FCI Constructors, Inc., Grand Junction, CO
78. FCI Constructors, Inc., Grand Junction, CO
79. Charles & Tootsie Davidson, Rockledge, FL
80. Smoking River Pow Wow, Meeker, CO
81. Bell Milliron, Ault, CO
82. Caryn & Jim Magid, Meeker Ranching Co.
    Meeker, CO
83. Best Friends Embroidery, Firestone, CO
84. McGuire Auto Parts, LLC, Meeker, CO
85. Cheryl & Keith Chamberlain, Denver, CO
86. Meeker Cafe, Meeker, CO
87. Meeker Hotel & Cafe, Meeker, CO
88. Ellen Robinson Photography, Meeker, CO
89. ERBM Rec & Park District, Meeker, CO
90. T.J. Fogg, Evergreen, CO
91. Owen & Karen Knutson, Ouray, CO
92. Joy Surveying Co., Meeker, CO
93. Spring Sips Internet, Steamboat Springs, CO
94. Meeker Drug, Meeker, CO
95. CJ Mud, Inc., Meeker, CO 81641
96. La Plata River Farm, La Plata, NM
97. Craig Daily Press & The Print Shop, Craig, CO
98. Bill Weber, Boulder, CO
99. Western Surgical Care, PC, Denver, CO
100. Tri-State Generation & Transmission, Meeker, Colorado
101. Ann F. Miller, Aspen, CO
102. Routt County Woolens, LLC, Steamboat Springs, CO
103. Hall and Hall, Denver, CO
104. Tri-State Equipment Co., Craig, CO
105. Employees of Pioneers Medical Center, Meeker, CO
106. Valley View Lodge, Meeker, CO
107. Design Specialists, Architects, Grand Junction, CO
108. Eagle Eye Home Management, Vail, CO

2007 Photo Highlights
The Best of 2007
Sheepdog Trial Photos 2007

Copies of 2007 handler and dog photos can be ordered directly from Ellen Robinson 970-878-3621 or by contacting her by email at ERPHOTO8@earthlink.net

Sheep for 2008 are provided by the  Campbell Hansmire Sheep Operation

• Entries for the 2008 closed- Please see 2008 Entry and Rules:

  • Dog Entry Form as document file.

  • Dog Entry Form as PDF.

  Please note the change in rule 5 which states that a dog may only be scratched once and after that they may NOT run.  Handlers with entry questions should call Ellen Nieslanik at 970-878-0080.

• Meeker Sheepdog Vendor Information -  Vendor Deadline March 31
   

• Dog Sponsorship Program and Entry Form
   

• Meeker Classic Payout Schedule and Special Awards
   

• Advance Ticket Sales
   

• Schedule of Events
   

• Meeker Area Map--how to get here
      

• Herding Dog Tradition, History of the Border Collie, and History of Dog Trials
  .

• The Event 
  An overview of the trial course, scoring and rules, and herding dog commands. 
       

• Souvenir Posters and Postcard Sets  Purchase a poster or 20-postcard set for that special sheepdog trials memento or gift. 
  Purchase online using PayPal or
  Call: (970) 878-5510
  Write: P O Box 1394, Meeker, CO 81641
   

• Archives: results and stories of past years' events:

  • September 2007 Final Results

  • Results 2006
  • 2007 Art Contest Winners
  • 2005 Results
  • Archive of Winners 1987-Present, Meeker Classic Winners
  • Winners of the Art Contests  
    Showing the paintings that won in 2005 and previous years
  • Meeker Classic Sheepdog Championship Photos from prior years
  • 2004 Results
  • Final Trials Results 2003 
  • 2001 Meeker Classic Sheepdog Trials  

Sheepdog Statue located on the west side
of Meeker's Rio Blanco County Court House.
Title of Statue: "Way to Me"
Created by the artist: Brenda Daniher

2008
Meeker Classic
Gold Level
Contributing Sponsors:
Minimum Donation
$3,000

Clough Sheep Company

Enterprise Products

Marvine Ranch

Mountain Powersports

White River Electric Association

EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc.

First National Bank of the Rockies

The Moose 100.7

Moody Construction & Sons

Rio Blanco County Abstract Co.

Shell Exploration and Production Company

Williams Production

Western Slope Trailer Sales

W.C. Striegel, Inc.

Meeker Sand & Gravel

Redi Services, LLC

2008
Meeker Classic
Silver Level
Contributing Sponsors:
Minimum Donation
$1500

"Friends of Bill Carder"

ExxonMobil

XTO Energy Inc.

Petrox Resources, Inc.

2008
Meeker Classic
Bronze Level
Contributing Sponsors:
Minimum Donation
$500

Glenwood Springs Ford

Summit Ford

Glenwood Springs Chrysler Dodge

Castle Peak Automotive Center

Neil-Garing Insurance, Glenwood Springs, CO

Dick Weaver / Yolanda Treude

Three Crown Ranch
 

Schmeuser Gordon Meyer, Inc

Visual Lease Services