The Admirals Team Report – Steve Wormald – 1970
The team at that time was Myff, Gloin and Badger, Jim and Tuppence, Hamish and Twisty, Dai and Waldo. Tuppence was in the team that day, but the next day went to the newly formed Gaels, as leader. Another bitch Wear, who had been flown out to Charity and ran back to base with the team, was Tuppence’s replacement, but unfortunately resided in ‘Blood Alley’ thro’ relief.
Wear ran with Jim from the first, and Jim adapted to her ways without any noticeable difficulty, as he adapts to any bitch!
The day after the ship left, Badger, who had been left on the span for a couple of days of the relief, was seen to be flaked out on the span, was brought across to the house, and died that same night.
One of the new Greenland dogs took Badger ‘s place, Kovik, the lurkiest of the incomers. After the Initial fun of touring around the island, twice, after he escaped, and having to resort to nets to catch him the second time, and the definitely negative pulling power on the ramp leaving Base the first tlme, Kovik settled into working very quickly.
So, the team on the Autumn Survey, was Myff, Gloln and Kovik, Jim and Wear, Hamish and Twisty, Dai and Waldo.
This remained unchanged thro’ to the summer, when Gloln was flown out to join the Spartans, and Twisty was flown back to Adelaide for medical attention. Twisty was later put down at Adelaide.
Two pups, Sam and Kursty, sons of Jim, were flown In to replace these two, and ran seven weeks of the summer with surprisingly few teething troubles.
The team at relief 1971 , is Myff, Jim and Kovik, Sam and Kursty, Hamish and Wear, Dai and Waldo.
Spanning
Jim
Wear
Hamish
Myff
Waldo – – Kovik – – Kursty – – Sam
This final line-up was arrived at after much trial and error after the terrible twins arrived, with the main aim of getting a decent night’s sleep on most nights, without being roused every few minutes by Sam growling at Kovik, or Waldo stropping at Sam or Kursty, or Jim doing ditto with Waldo, or Sam, or Kursty, etc. Kovik is relatively peacable with other dogs, and so does quite a good job at keeping Waldo and the twins apart. Jim was quite happy next to Kovik on the night span, but insisted on spending the full day trying to teach either Sam or Kursty, the tricks of the trade.
Around base, I would think twice before letting off Jim or Waldo, as they tend to wander. Sam or Kursty, to date, stick close to me when loose, Dai usually does, but Hamish has an annoying habit of streaking off at high speed to chat up the bitch pups. Myff is never any trouble when loose, except just prior to or when on heat. Wear also would be little trouble now, but it is easier not to let her loose as she sits down and you have to fetch her anyway. Don’t let Kovik off on base, and I wouldn’t advise that you do it purposely in the field. He may alter in this respect, but there has been little improvement during the year, and I very much doubt if there will be.
In the field, all the dogs except Kovik can be let off and usually, eventually , will go to their place once they are settled. I try to let them off in groups , Dai, Waldo, Hamish, then Jim, Sam and Rursty, but unless the bitches are hot, there is usually no trouble when the whole mob is sculling around together.
I also let off Jim and Hamish even though there is no need to, if the team has had a good day. They scull around then follow you back when you are ready to clip them on. However , when the surface is soft and you are shattered, only Kovik and Wear will need moving by hand. Wear is ‘tres delicate‘ to move, and is as such the easiest of the pair, her or Hamish. Kovik has to be walked across to his place, but Waldo, Dai, Myff, Sam. Kursty, will either go to their place or follow you around. Hamish and Jim need not be moved.
There is a spare night-span section inthe sledge bag which clips on the end, and this is useful when both bitches come on heat at the same time, as they usually do.
Never leave Dai within reach of another dog, or a reccurrence of the Twisty epic could happen. Since that time, I have made a point of not havihg any dog able to reach another, even head to tail. Every body does it, and it is only once in a million dog-nights, but it can happen, and It is too flippin‘ late then.
Only Kovik, again, is a known chewer. This was found out in conditions of strict scientific research when he was well settled on the summer trip, but I was rapidly running out of traces before the experiment could be concluded.
Sam ate away a couple of traces before the flight which brought him in had left the ground, so he and his brother went straight on the night-span. They chewed the tape off the splicings, but Sam has since lived quite happily next to the perlon trace at the end, so they will probably be O.K. when a bit older.
Waldo is faultless next to the sledge, except for the yellow stains after a lie-up. He seems to make the medical bag his favourite target, but if you move that then he switches his attention to your cameras, if they are around.
Dai lives on a trace on the towing pennant Krab, where Jim lived last year. He doesn’t chew, but he did reduce a part of the pup tent valence to shreds one day. It was hanging out of the bag and flapping in the breeze, so we probably asked for that one:. Flay noted that he chews his harness if left in it, but I haven’t had to do that this year so I can’t report.
Meet the Men (and women) Singly, in pairs.
Jim
An excellent, steady worker, who only very occasionally needs encouraging. Originally this year, he ran exclusively with Wear, and I was loathe to change this, but Gloin was becoming increasingly slow at the front, while Jim was still as fast as ever. He fitted in to front pair easily, and works well with Kovik. He now automatically goes to that place, and is ‘boot’ if moved back. Understands the commands, and usually act on them if Myff doesn’t. Beware, as he believes in 90 0 turns and nothing less. He will lead, but appears not to be enjoying it.
Despite arthritis in his front left leg, he is still fast, and rarely drops back even at the fastest run. Better to unharness this leg last, and harness first, but if he has been playing up all day…..
Arch enemy was Gloin, but now seems to have transferred his attentions to Sam, also Kursty — young upstarts. Flay remarked that he might bite, when being thumped , but (to date) hasn’t done so with me. Very lovable and affectionate once he knows you, and a steadying influence on the gang.
Kovlk
A new bloke from the north, who was two years old when first put in the team to work. By the time he reached the top of the North East he was working like a trojan, and has done so ever since. Very occasionally he has a slack trace, but a yell of his name usually suffices. At one period, in the Weyerhauser, I had to put him on the cowcatcher to get anything out of him at all, but it was that day only. His main bad habit is that he looks behind him when the sledge slows on bumps etc, and being at the front, this can be very annoying when the going is hard. As yet I haven’t been able to cure him, and to do so would involve making him even more ‘lurky’ than ever.
This lurkiness is his big drawback, and I am very doubtful as to whether Kovik will ever trust a human again; apparently the Vet. remarked that his original owner was thought to have severely maltreated him, and this is the root of the evil. Only once throughout the year has he ever approached me, the rest of the time he crouches at the limit of his chain.
Knows the commands and will act on them, but also has the strength to pull Jim round if he wants to go the wrong way. With this tug o’ war going on, Myff then has an inner battle going on as to who to believe, until she remembers she is leading anyway.
A good worker though, and an asset to the team when the going is hard.
Hamish
Another hard grafter (they all are, now). Very occasionally decides to take a day off, and sometimes a day of eternal piss-breaks, but a good thump cures him. Shouting a warning is no good to Hamish, he’s too thick to realise anything unless it hurts. He is a desperate squealer if within range of the thumper, and evilly noisy on a morning. Personally, I ignore this, but it seems to annoy other drivers more than his own. Occasionally, a short temper has resulted in me smashing him, but one may as well thump the sledge for all the good it does.
Has run at front pair, and being thick he follows quite happily, but on the occasions he decides to be stubborn, if he can’t go where he wants he sits down. Then he’s immovable. The main drawback when he’s at the front is that he is now the slowest in the team (a complete inability to run fast) and when the ones behind start to catch up, he panics, then the resulting high speed scrap can be embarrassing.
Very affectinate and noisy, and can be let off without worry. Is the worst bloke for chasing the women, and starts scraps with his jealousy if Wear is on heat. Which is a bit off a laugh as he is the only sterile dog in the team Each time he has stuffed anybody, he has been duffed and rived for his pains, so for his own sake it is better to keep him wanting.
Wear
A very hard working young lady, so much so that I had to move her nearer the front at one period, as she was virtually a skeleton in mid-summer. Hard working at any place, but the nearer she is to the front, the more chaos she causes. I suspect that she knows the commands , but like Jim assumes that all turns are 90 ones, and is strong willed enough to enforce this.
Wear was supposedly the lurkiest bitch at Stonners last year, but is tremendously improved now, still very timid, but is very gentle to harness etc, licks your face, but desperate to chastise; beware of close range thumping, she has bitten me twice in a panic. NO grudges seemingly, she still licks you the next time you speak to her. Can be let off, but not really worth the trouble as she will not come to you often, but usually sits down to wait.
Evil when on heat, really red hot, so it is better to sell her to a bitch team if one near. But that only works if they are behind you. The Ladies could make no progress forwards with Wear in the team and the Admirals behind. A good little bitch, though.
Dai and Waldo
A pair of terrific workers , neither needed reminding more than a couple of times all year. Waldo needs reminding about the amount of breaks he takes , but as he works harder than the rest in between, he tends to get away with it. It is futile trying to break the habit anyway, I’ve tried several times , and I think Flay did too. Still, it is good for a change if you want to shatter yourself.
Both extremely friendly dogs, in particular Dai. Watch your front teeth each time he greets you. Waldo doesn’t jump up to show his affection, prefers to wrap himself around your legs.
Both are warmongers with other dogs, but have fought only once with each other, and that over a dispute as to who was going to try and stuff Wear: Waldo the better fighter, has smashed every dog in the team at one time or another.
Love to be at back pair, and the nearer the front they are the more boot they seem, and the less the work output. Good at front pair for empty sledge work, as they inject ‘n’ high speed enthus iasm Into the team. Waldo can and does cause chaos if there are any distractions aroumd and he is at the front. A real partnership, switching sides, untangling traces etc. If they both finish up on the same side by some misehance, a shouted name usually cures this. The three times I’ve used the thumper on Dai this year, it hurt my feelings more than his.
Both can be let off, but ‘ware Waldo when working out of or leaving a standing camp. He knows, and takes it in to his head to leave the team and return home at the first chance.
Waldo has a superb trick of yelping madly approaching or on a hill, if the troops aren’t going fast enough. This produces much enthus iasm, and is most useful to say the least.
Both can start the sledge alone if tney are feeling that way out. Beware!
Worth remembering that if Dai is not working, suspect sometning physically amiss, rather than slacking. (Harness rub, cut pads, about to vomit back his nosh, etc. )
Dai is also a very good leader, particularly arouhd base where he is less easily distracted than Miff, and will make tighter turns. Don’t hesitate too long if Myff is having an off day, give Dai a go. Like all dogs, he takes a while to settle out front, so patience is needed. He led for two trips this year while Myff was pupping, with not the same gusto as his sister and so less enthusiasm for the team, but I was very pleased. Has great confidence to turn left and right, but when trying to keep a straight line, has a variable bias from day to day. Also loses interest towards the end of a long day, but carrys on.
Can’t really say enougn about these lads, they’ll be struggling their guts out long after most have wained.
Sam and Kursty
The newest brand of terrible twins A lovable pair, both hard workers from the word ‘go’, initially of course the orientation wasn’t quite right. Sam is quite intelligent, and within a couple of days, could sort himself out, usually change sides , and run fast and normally, pulling hard all day.
Kursty is not quite so intelligent, to say the least, and still tangles up or has the trace under him, but is learning steadily. Took a long time to find out how to run fast with the least effort, and still gets tired after a few days off, but works to the end now.
I expect and suspect that they will be equally as good as the other two brothers in time, with similar qualities, For Sam read Dai, Kursty read Waldo.
Kursty is a little timid with strangers, but very boisterous once be knows you. I would make a point of discouraging strangers from ‘booing’ and ‘shooing’ him, so that he doesn’t have to inspect each person separately.
Myffanwy
Myff to all, a lovable little sex-pot who is tne best leader in the world nine days out of ten, and the most exasperating strong willed bitch existing, on the tenth, An excellent worker, even if not required to.
She sometimes switches off during a boring day, and a good shaking, without thumping, usually sorts that. When giving the commands, I think she forgets they are directed at her occasionally, and then her name before the command is required.
Being so small, she is easily dragged around by Jim or Kovik, but usually makes a valient effort to pull them back, or at least hold them. Basically, once settled the front three work extremely efficiently together.
Is ridiculously friendly, and being so is easily distracted by onlookers, thinking everyone wants to speak to her, so she aims for them. The best punishment if she has been misbehaving is to leave her on the trace till last and then take her to her place. Normally, she’ll yelp violently once you nave stopped, so it is quieter to let her off.
Famous last words, don’t overdo the thumping, a few light taps to her are the same as a half hour thrashing to any of the others. She squeals horribly if she hows she has done wrong and you approach with the thumper.
Her only really annoying nabit is coming back straight down the centre of the trace wnen she stops, again due to over friendliness. Have tried to cure this, and the only semi-successful method is loud screams of ‘Get Up…’
A superb leader, in my opinion, and is now approachihg her best years. Her sheer exuberance more than makes up for her few off days.
Gloin
Gloin was flown out of the field in December, and joined the Spartans. I was loath and sickened to do this, but with the necessity of Twisty going, I was offered another dog. The choice was simple, take one of a pair of brothers , and spoil the pair, take none, or ‘ lob’ a dog and take the pair. The team was extremely settled and except for Twisty life was uncomplicated with them. The fast days of empty sledge travel we were doing were not enjoyed by Gloin, who was slowing up fast because of his arthritis, and being dragged continually. Despite the preference to keep mature and proven dogs, I decided it was preferable to take the pups, for the sake of the team in the future, and let Gloin help where he would be most useful with his leading and hard working capabilities. After all, all mature dogs have to start as pups. Who knows, for better or worse?
Twisty
Twisty was flown out of the field after a long and miserable summer trip. He suffered a crippling blow at the mouth of Dai in the winter, and despite major but amateur stitching jobs, he was unable to control his defaecating, and all the way down the plateau trip was highly unpopular, not only because of making things harder for all the others, but also doing nothing at all himself. Repeated smashings produced nothing but less work, rightly or wrongly I gave up, after trying a softer approach, and waited for the day when he would be flown out. He has since been put down.
If I was running the team next year, I would aim at gradually working Sam and Kursty in to front pair, and when they are settled there, bring back Jim if necessry as he slows dovn. On soft going, Jim will be invaluable with Kovik for a long time to come as front pair, when plodding is needed.
I hope that Brian and future drivers have as much fun and enjoyment out of the Admirals as I have had in one year, they’re a good bunch. I do go on, and on, and….
Steve Wormald, Feb. 1971