English National Sheepdog Trials

Young Handlers

*Young Handler trials will be collated and placed on the new English National website, and the International website, and a link placed here when the work is completed.*

link to the 2010 YH & New Handler trial

Please send in information on your Young Handlers.

The I.S.D.S. encourages Young Handlers. The Under 18's can get a reduced membership, (£5 a year) which enables young handlers to register their pups and run in the national trials. If there are no other ISDS members in the family, they may even be eligible for free copies of the International Sheepdog News (please ring the ISDS office to get a form for your National president to advise on eligibility).

2007 International Y.H. competition

Every year since 1981, therehas beena Young Handler competition at the International where a young handler from each of the home nations (England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales) competes.

This year. it was the turn of Kevin Howlett with Tess(Scotland), Liam Gallagher with Jess(Ireland), Arwyn Davies with Sian (Wales) and Megan Jenkins with Heathgate Mel (England). As Megan was representing England, a few pictures of her run are shown below.

Megan Jenkins & Heathgate Mel Showing Mel the sheep At the post

Taking sheep around the post Mel driving Back to the shedding ring

Shedding Penning

Young Handler Trial 2007

For six years, a Young Handler Trial has been held in England.It was started in 2002 by Derek and Margaret Bowmer at Catterick in North Yorkshire with the aim of encourage young people to work, train and trial sheepdogs for the purpose of managing livestock. Now covering the Cheshire/Derbyshire area, courtesy of the Colin Pickford and his family, it will move to different areas in future years. If anyone is interested in competing next year or holding the trial another year for the young handlers in their area, please contact Kim Gibson on 01765 658082 or Colin Pickford on 01625 575151.

The annual Young Handlers trial was able to take placeas the sheep were already on the site at Yearnslow farm in Rainow near Macclesfield in Cheshire, courtesy of Colin Pickford and his family. The Y.H. trial was preceded as usual on the Saturday by the Y.H. supporters' open trial, and won by Wayne Allen with Bob. Held on the same field as last year, it is perfect for the job, a good trial field on high ground amongst dramatic scenery. The trial went very well, with a good atmosphere The young handlers handled their dogs proficiently and controlled the Mule ewes adeptly around the course. They all had two runs with each dog, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, to consolidate their experience and make the most of their learning. The weather was beautiful, sunny all day, highlighting the stunning scenery at its best. The judge was Gordon Birchenall from Chinley in Derbyshire, he's a retired shepherd and enjoys trialling. The main sponsor was Galliford-Costain Atkins, contractors for United Utilities who are constructing a pipe line over the usual open trial field.

The 25 and under class (the I.S.D.S. trophy) were first with David Pickfordcoming top of the class with Rainow Shi (by Shirley Cropper's Beechwood Bob and out of Rainow Lassie). They were last year's overall winners. He has run her in a couple of nurseries and got a third placing and has Midge for the nurseries too (by Michael Longton's Moss and out of Jim Hutchinson's Tess). He also has a young dog called Moss, seventeen months old (by Colin's Ben and out of Malcolm Mason's Kate).

David Pickford with Rainow Shi & MossCheryl Hutchinson & Tot Adam Ledgar & Tess

It was Cheryl Hutchinson's first trial, and she wanted to beat her brother David. She was just three points behind him after two runs each. Cheryl did very well, she was very calm at the post. Before she was married, she worked dogs on the Pickford farm, mainly a dog called Jim. In between jobs this year, she helped her husband Richard at lambing time, 1000 horned ewes, Cheviots and hogs in large paddocks outside. The dog that she worked at lambing time, was sold on. At the moment, she is training a pup out of Richard's Peg (2003 English Team Member) by Colin's Ben. It is the most difficult pup out of the litter.

The 18 and under class was next with Philip Mellin and Gary Pawson having the same points in both the morning and afternoon. So it was very close, just won by Philip who also won the Overall Trophy by a narrow margin. Philip ran his familiar red tri-coloured Tanhill Bracken, and a son of hers, Mac, that he is now running successfully in the nurseries. Gary Pawson has gone from strength to strength, now trialling Lass and Kate.

Philip Mellin with Tanhill Bracken & Mac Gary Pawson with Lass & Kate Steven Allen with Bob

In the under 13 class, Martha Gilman demonstrated really good control of her dog Took for the second year running and beat her brother George to win the class.