Chatsworth Country Fair

Sunday only
Situated on the far side of the river, west of the Gundog Scurry, over the scaffolding bridge
Organised by Ian Turner, Ben Randles and Malcolm Sowerby

Today 50 dogs compete for the Ray Ollerenshaw Memorial Trophy - presented by the Ollerenshaw family - and various other prizes. The trial course is laid out to test a dog in a practical and work-like situation.

The Outrun: collect the three sheep from a point 300 yards away without disturbing them.

The Fetch: bring the sheep to the handler’s feet at a steady pace, and between two gates on the way.

The Drive: the sheep turn round the handler and are driven for 150 yards to the right to run between two gates, then turn back to the left and run 200 yards through another set of gates and around the walled “R” - and then down the field 150 yards back to the handler.

The Pen: put the three sheep in the pen. When the gate is closed the clock stops and that is the the end of the competitior’s trial.

All in a time of eight minutes - simple!

The first competitor runs at 0830 prompt.

The judge for 2008 is Wayne Allen, the winner of the 2006 trial. He is a local dry stone walling expert who has worked with sheep all his life, and has a small farm on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border where he runs Swaledale ewes from which he breeds mule ewe lambs. He enjoys showing mule ewe lambs at local shows and is no novice when it comes to presentation of sheep, normally being in the prize line up. Wayne enjoys training his own dogs and has been competing at trials for seven years.

Good luck to all competitors and and many thanks to Wayne for judging today.