Published at 13:54, Friday, 12 October 2012

FIFTY people took part in this year’s Cockermouth Sheepdog Trials at Lonsdale Farm, Keswick.

Skill: Competitors took their dogs through an eight-minute course

The winner was Willie Todd with his dog Peg from Langholm while Larry Cowper from Threlkeld won the novice trial with Spot.

Event secretary Eddie Wills hosted the trials at Old Scales, Wythop.

He said: “I’m delighted that the weather has been really nice and we’ve had a great turnout. We tend to get competitors from a 50 to 60-mile radius.

“It’s a great way for us to get together and the trials are well supported by local people every year.”

The trials were a qualifier for next summer’s English National Sheepdog Trials.

Competitors started out with about 90 points before setting off on the eight-minute course. Points were deducted for any mistakes. The course, in which competitors used their dogs to move three sheep down the field, included a left hand drive, a cross drive and was finished by each dog bringing the sheep through a pen.

Results

Open trial: 1, W Todd with Peg (Langholm); 2, A Temple with Gill (Holmrook); 3, J Relph with Mac (Borrowdale); 4, A Temple with Flint (Holmrook); 5, A Common with Jock, 70; 6, D Scrimgeour with Fleece (Lonscale).

Novice trial: 1, L Cowper with Spot (Threlkeld); 2, D Wilson with Rob (Rosthwaite); 3, D Goulding with Rock (Brigham); 4, R Swainson with Hemp (Cliburn).

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk