August Bank Holiday Trials
Young blogger Jack is helping to prepare for the annual sheepdog trial at Hilltop Farm.
Let the preparations begin
The annual sheepdog trial takes place on Bank Holiday Monday in August. It is a tradition that goes back many years. A small committee of local farmers come together to run the trial, and familiar faces return each year to try to win prizes in each of the sections. The perpetual cup is awarded for the best run in the open section. There are also prizes given for the best novice and a prize for the best local dog and handler. We always look forward to hosting the trial at Hill Top Farm and hope for a good turnout.
Preparations for the trial began the week before. Dad gathered his flock of Improved Welsh and Cheviot Cross ewes (separating out any yearlings who look a little excitable). The trial field was also prepared. The holding pen, drive hurdles, cross -drive hurdles, pen and the peg (for the handler) were all carefully placed. Road signs were put out to direct the competitors to the trial field. Competitors usually travel from all over the country. Many competitors are local (within a 30 mile radius), but in previous years we’ve had visitors from Pembrokeshire, Aberystwyth and the Shropshire borders. We’ve even had some competitors from the continent. One year we went down to the field to start the day to find a campervan with a dog and handler from Belgium. They had arrived in the middle of the night.
Let the trial begin
The day began at around 6am. The sheep were penned up ready to go. There was a tense and quiet hush of anticipation as the first dog began his run. An array of four-wheel-drive vehicles parked up along the length of the field, perfectly poised to watch the action gradually unfold. There are always the familiar faces of successful competitors from previous year to look out for. Spectators quietly sip tea poured from thermos flasks and eat their sandwiches. Trialling is a gentle sport. It unwinds quietly throughout the day as the judge sits in his vehicle, jotting down scores for each of the sections of the course.
Let Meg take her chance
I had been asking Dad for ages if he would allow Meg to take part in the novice section. Meg was always very keen at sheep work but could sometimes be a little too lively. Dad eventually gave in, and there was time at the end of the day for Meg to have a go.
Dad stood at the peg. He whistled and Meg set off on the outrun. She took a wide and even arc, staying close to the outside of the field. She gave the sheep plenty of space before moving forward for the lift. Her lift was done cleanly and calmly. A good start, with strong marks scored for both outrun and lift. The four ewes moved in a straight line through the middle of the drive gates. It was going well. Meg smartly moved the small flock across the field, behind the peg, to the cross drive. For a moment, one of the ewes started to pull away from the others, but she was quickly shepherded back to her woolly friends by eager Meg. All that remained was the shedding ring and the pen. Two of the most challenging aspects of the course. In some of the more prestigious trials, one of the ewes is marked with a collar. In our more humble trial, the handler and dog can choose to shed any one of the sheep, before bringing them back together and finishing the trial by gathering them all in the pen. It was going so well that even Meg started to think she had the novice section in the bag. But, she wasn’t prepared for what came next. Neither was Dad. Or the rest of us. Another local dog called Monty slipped his lead, turned and barked at his owner, ignored his ‘That’ll do!’ command, and took off across the trial field, scattering Meg’s sheep in all directions. With the clock ticking, Meg had no chance of getting her flock together again. And that was Meg’s debut over with. Dusk had fallen and the competitors gradually made their way home.
Jack – Farmer in Training
Jack was born to farm. He just loves helping out his dad, and his trusty dog Meg is never far away. Farming is in his blood and bones. He has his own small flock of sheep, a few hens and some calves. He has great plans to expand his own enterprise (though Dad says he has to learn to walk before he can learn to run). He may be little but his ambitions are huge.
