Farmers Guardian
Aza Pinney Freelance

  • Bryn Davies and Cap on top in the All Wales Nursery Championship

    17 December 2009

    THE Welsh Nursery Season ends with the All Wales Nursery Championship and it was the turn of the North Wales Sheepdog Society to host the event in which 15 dogs each from the North and the South competed.

  • Evans and Lexi defeat field and the elements

    9 December 2009

    The Nursery Season used always to finish with a North v South team championship, but this annual battle has recently been changed into an All-Wales Nursery Championship, in which 15 competitors come forward from each of the Nursery Championships.

  • Young talent emerges at Nurseries

    November 27, 2009

    One of the results of the Nurseries in West Wales has been the emergence of three young handlers who have shown themselves capable of working in adult competitions.

  • Kevin and Lefi enjoy victory at Ledbury

    November 20, 2009

    ANGIE Blackmore can be trusted to find a good course and good sheep and, she did both for this week’s Glos/Gwent Nursery Trials at Ledbury.

  • Close call at Glamorgan where just a solitary point decides two trials

    November 13, 2009

    There were more than 30 runs at each of the Glamorgan Trials.

  • I.B. Jones a national class act with Jill and Taff

    November 6, 2009

    In the series of 8 Nursery Trials the Ceredigion handlers enjoyed on Saturday an entirely new course. It was provided by Evan Evans on his Penlon Farm near Tregaron and it was set out in a very decent dry field at the top of his farm.

  • Tough conditions were little problem for Jeff Hudd’s dogs

    October 30, 2009

    The Gloucestershire/Gwent competitors returned to Gywn Jones’ Penderi Farm, Blackwood, in difficult conditions with rain and strong gusting winds.

  • In-form Neil sets a hot pace

    October 23, 2009

    WINNING two Nurseries to date and third in another, together with wins in all three Puppy Classes is the record established by Nigel Watkins in recent trials in Carmarthenshire.

  • Angie takes five of six top places in Glos/Gwent Nursery

    October 16, 2009

    ANGIE Blackmore had a record-breaking day at the Glos/Gwent Nursery at Penderi Farm, Blackwood, hosted by Gwyn Jones, with five of the top six places in the Nursery Class.

  • Mac takes one of the first nursery trials of the season

    October 9, 2009

    As the Open Trial season draws to a close, the Nursery Trials are beginning in Wales.

  • Hafod Bridge trials sees Angie Driscoll win Open National

    2 October 2009

    TRADITIONALLY the Hafod Bridge Trials are held over two days. The first day is devoted to Novice classes in both the National and South Wales styles and the second day is limited to Open classes in both styles.

  • Sioux and Tarn earn Charity Open titles

    25 September 2009

    The first session of the Goyallt Charity open national trial at Llangeitho was won by Angie Driscoll with Sioux, with the second won by Jane Drinkwater with Tarn.

  • Young Will caps a great year

    11 September 2009

    THIS year it was the turn of Glamorgan to host the South Wales Association’s Open Championship, with Glyn Evans providing excellent fields and sheep to match.

  • Working Dogs: Hat-trick of Welsh National crowns span three decades

    August 21st 2009

    GWYN Jones, more often known as Gwyn Penmachno, took the Welsh national sheepdog title at the weekend and became the Welsh captain for third time.

  • Gilpa Platinum championship for Sîan

    August 7th 2009

    Aza Pinney with the latest Welsh sheepdog reports

  • Persistence pays off for John Rees at Abernant

    July 31st 2009

    A round of Welsh sheepdog trials.

  • Moss and Tweed win at Aberceiro

    May 29th 2009

    FOR the first time in 13 years the weather was kind on both days of the Aberceiro Double Fetch Trials held on a hill just outside Ponterwyd, Ceredigion.

  • All 97 dogs go to the post in South Shropshire trial

    22 May 2009

    SKILFUL course direction, combined with co-operative competitors, meant all 97 dogs that entered the South Shropshire Trial were able to go to the post.

  • Floss' skill wins the day at Llangadog

    1 May 2009

    THE book for the Llangadog Trials in Pembrokeshire was all but full before the trials started promptly at 7.30am. Some entries were withdrawn, so no late-comers were turned away and 99 dogs went to the post, of which 51 were runs combined with the Novice Class.

  • Two second places for Jed Watson

    April 24th 2009

    IN spite of brilliant sunshine through most of the day there was a sharp edge of wind during the Ystradfellte trials which kept handlers wrapped up.

  • 180 put through paces in Llanddeusant trials

    17 April 2009

    THE Llanddeusant Trials attracted 100 dogs on Saturday and around 80 on Sunday.

  • Colin and Joe’s Spring double delight

    10 March 2009

    SUNDAY'S trialling at Spring Court Farm, Coedkernew attracted 68 dogs, many more than have been seen at this annual event for several years.

  • Hopes are the annual rivalry can be revived

    January 23rd 2009

    A TEAM from Shropshire and Herefordshire beat off the challenge from Radnorshire at a meeting at Bage Farm near Kington.

  • Davey and Spud win Tynwern trials

    January 16th 2009

    IMAGINE arriving on a trials field at 5.30am and finding you were not the first would-be competitor waiting. But that was the experience of one triallist arriving for the ever-popular Tynwern Open Trials.

  • Radnorshire wins annual match

    January 9th 2009

    THE annual Brecknock versus Radnorshire trials took place on Sunday at Hafod yr Ancr farm, Llanafan Fawr, near Builth Wells, on one of the coldest days for trialling in 2008, with the temperature was not much above freezing and the wind adding a chill factor.

  • Kevin Evans and Roy win in Powys

    January 2nd 2009

    THE postponed Powys Nursery Final took place on Sunday, December 21 at Perthyduon, Llandefalle by the invitation of Aubrey Lloyd and Brenda Howson.

  • Nigel and Jan beat weather to triumph

    December 19th 2008

    A NEW course had to be hastily assembled after the first fell victim to flooding at the All Wales Nursery Championship’s Penybont venue where two crowns were at stake – individual and team titles.

  • David Howells takes the prize at South Wales Sheep Dog Championship

    9 December 2008

    DESPITE some tricky driving conditions all the handlers arrived in time to represent their counties in the South Wales Sheep Dog Trials Association’s Nursery Championship.

  • Trials called off as bad weather hits end of Welsh nursery season

    December 5th 2008

    THE nursery season is nearly over, but two trials had to be called off because of the weather.

  • Dog sale accommodated by the switch to Sunday

    November 21st 2008

    IN South Wales four counties, Brecknock, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembroke, did not hold trials this weekend in order that those who wanted so to do could attend the dog sale in Bala. Two other counties, Glamorgan and Shropshire/Hereford avoided the problem by holding their competitions on Sunday,

  • Jane Drinkwater and Pip victorious at Ceredigion

    November 14th 2008

    DESPITE some of the worst weather of the year, not one of last weekend’s trials was cancelled or postponed.

  • Radnorshire title goes down to the OLF rule

    November 7th 2008

    RADNORSHIRE held its first nursery trials, with 19 dogs competing in two classes at Gladestry.

  • Paul and Mirk land title for second year in a row

    October 24th 2008

    SUNDAY saw the conclusion of the series of Northumberland League open trials, with Paul Turnbull and Mirk being the clear league winners for the second successive year.

  • Welsh round-up

    October 24th 2008

    AT Tremynydd Fach, St. Davids, Pembrokeshire, Anna -Lou Daybell hosted the first of the nursery series and the second was hosted by John Rees and St. Dogmaels. Additionally a selection trial was held to chose the team for the Three Counties Trial to be held later in the year.

  • A round-up of Welsh trials

    2 September 2008

    TREGARON: It must be something of a record to achieve 107 runs and then have to turn away a further 15 competitors but that is what happened at the Tregaron.

  • Welsh National sheepdog trials

    27 August 2008

    WINNER of the Welsh National sheepdog trials (August 20 - 22) at Faerdre, Botwnnog, Nr. Pwllheli, Gwynedd, was Alan Jones and Bet. Pictures by Theresa Eveson.

  • Davies and Meg win SWSDTA novice

    August 22nd 2008

    The SWSDTA Novice Trial is an annual event and this year it was the turn of Ceredigion to host the trial at John and Rona Davies’s Derry Lodge Farm, near Lampeter.

  • Builth Wells sheepdog trial scores high thanks to kind ewes

    August 15th 2008

    THE good scores at the Builth Wells trials were not due to the kindness of the judges, but more to the performance of the sheep, the crossbred speckled ewes quite clearly used to being worked.

  • Morgan and Chip take Open National at Lampeter

    August 8th 2008

    THE Lampeter trials were held at a new venue and while there were 105 runs on the book, it was not possible to run all.

  • Numbers down at Myniddislwyn

    July 25th 2008

    IT must be a disappointment to the organising committee that there were only 35 runs on Saturday at Myniddislwyn. Last year there were 50. This does nothing to detract from the high standard shown, notably winner Ravens Brook Mac, with Lyn Jones, just a single point in front of Nell, handled by Sheila Lewis.

  • David Meek and Shona win Llanefalle Open

    July 18th 2008

    Following the success of their first trial held last year, Aubrey Lloyd and Brenda Howson used the same course on Saturday at Perthyduon Farm, Llanefalle, Powys.

  • OLF gives Shona the win at the Islwyn trials

    July 4th 2008

    THE Islwyn Trials, held in Gwent at Cearllwyn Farm, Ynsddu, with 50 dogs, saw the Open class tied at the top, but the use of the OLF rule gave the first place to David Meek’s Shona ahead of Eirean Morgan’s Fred. In a combined run Shona won the novice class as well.

  • First double fetch win for Nigel's Lad

    May 30th 2008

    THE formula of Uwchaled Trial near Corwen remains the same year after year with 96 dogs pre-entered and divided into three qualifying trials from which the top three in each go through to a double fetch final.

  • Pam takes open at Heath Mynd

    May 23rd 2008

    IT was cold with occasional squalls of rain but nothing deterred the dogs which came to test their skills at Heath Mynd Farm, Montgomery.

  • No dog 'double' at Dolfor and Felindre

    May 16th 2008

    FOR many years the trials at Dolfor and at Felindre have been run on the same day with most competitors trying to get runs in both.

  • Record entry of 92 at Erwood as local competitors battle for title

    May 9th 2008

    THE trials at Erwood are usually run on the same day as the Sennybridge Dog Sale, – a popular event bringing many from far afield.

  • Robert Ellis's Mirk comes of age with Open win

    May 2nd 2008

    IT is very rare that everyone comes away from a sheep dog trial so full of praise, but Saturday’s trials at Llangadog in Carmarthenshire was one such event.

  • David Meek and Shona win three trial placings

    April 25th 2008

    GIVEN the quite short notice cancellation of the Ystradfellte Trials on Saturday, there could have been an overwhelming entry at Llanddeusant. But in the event, everyone who turned up got a run, with 40 runs being the cut-off point of the first session.

  • Charity trials kick start the season with two sessions

    March 14th 2008

    FOR a number of years the Coedkernew Charity Trials have kick-started the trialling season but this was the first time entries were divided into two sessions.

  • Victor Ludorum double for Morgan

    January 25th 2008

    IN the area covered by the South Wales Sheep Dog Trials Association there are awards made to the dogs that achieve the highest number of points in the season.

  • Brecknock beat Glamorgan in inter-county trial

    January 18th 2008

    THE last outing for the teams from Brecknock and Glamorgan was at an inter-county trial. Each team was made up of 18 dogs and there was a nursery class, novice and an open. Each team ran six dogs in each class.

  • Last inter-county team trials with a difference

    January 11th 2008

    THE last two inter-county team trials were each run in different manner. In the Radnorshire versus Brecknock trials there was just one class, an open national, but when Carmarthen hosted the match against Glamorgan there were three classes, puppy, nursery and open.

  • Wilf bows out with All-Wales win

    December 21st 2007

    IT was a landmark trial that finished the nursery season in Wales. The format was changed and to the traditional annual team competition, the North versus the South, was added the new individual competition to find the All-Wales Nursery Champion.

  • County team captains take three of the top places

    December 14th 2007

    THERE is always an air of anticipation about the South Wales Nursery Championship, which is the climax of the nursery season for the seven eligible counties. This year it was the turn of the Glos/Gwent Committee to stage the event, at Andy Poole’s Saxon Farm, Redmarley, while the sheep came from Angie Blackmore.

  • An easy win for Brecknock

    December 7th 2007

    THE counties that make up Powys, Brecon, Montgomery and Radnor, sent teams of 10 dogs to the Powys Nursery Final. Six dogs from each competed in the nursery class and four in the novice in very cold and often wet conditions.

  • Most teams for nursery trial finalised

    November 30th 2007

    BY mid-December the nursery season will be finished. The last of the nursery championships will be the North versus South nursery trial.

  • Atrocious weather, but winners register a seven points margin

    November 23rd 2007

    ATROCIOUS weather was the feature of the Shropshire/ Hereford nursery at Carey, on Sunday, and the day ended with parts of the area covered by three inches of snow.

  • Ceredigion triumph at this year’s Three Counties trial

    November 16th 2007

    PEMBROKESHIRE were the hosts of the annual Three Counties Trial this year and with the co-operation of Phil Hinman it was possible to run this on Sunday over the same course as had been used the previous day for the Pembrokeshire Nursery Trial.

  • Robert Ellis chalks up a hat-trick of nursery class wins with Glamorgan title

    November 9th 2007

    MIRK was a popular name for dogs competing in the Glamorgan nurseries, with three dogs with that name in the top six places at this week’s trials.

  • Rona and Pete take top spot

    November 2nd 2007

    COMPETITION was impossible because of cloud cover over high ground for the Ceredigion handlers at Blaeglowon, on Saturday, so host John Davies agreed to hold the trials on Sunday. The trials at Bethania, scheduled for Monday, went ahead as planned.

  • New Row celebrates its 50 years anniversary in style

    October 19th 2007

    THE New Row recommenced in 1947 and hence the opportunity to celebrate 50 years of competition near and around Pontrhydygroes, Ceredigion.

  • Close run result in two styles at Bethania

    October 12th 2007

    THE Bethania Trials, in spite of being held midweek, attracted enough handlers and dogs to make for a full day of competition.

  • Double gather victory for Joseph and Eve

    September 14th 2007

    Joseph Relph and Eve took the prestigious double gather championship at Longshaw, on the edge of the Derbyshire Peak District to the west of Sheffield.

  • Welsh National Sheepdog Trials

    6 September 2007

    Three winners, but Glyn is crowned Welsh team captain

  • Record numbers in the trials

    August 31st 2007

    Although held in midweek there were 98 runs at the St.Dogmaels trials at Weirglodd, on the Pembrokeshire/ Cardiganshire border.

  • Jarman and Gwen win with combined run

    9 August 2007

    AT Talybont there were five classes with the runs in each style being combined and this meant an entry total of 130 runs.

  • Mother beats daughter in championship

    August 3rd 2007

    Traditionally the sheepdog trial on the first day of the Royal Welsh Show is that of the Champion of Champions. It is held in the Main Ring and the four national captains run twice and their scores are aggregated. From Scotland the winner came in the person of Ian Brownlee with Ben.

  • Chip and Jack take the spoils at the home of the Pembrokeshire sheepdogs

    July 6th 2007

    TREMYNYDD Fach is the farm, more usually known as the home of the Pembrokeshire sheepdogs.

  • Mere House Farm trials as popular as ever as Floss and Taff take the spoils

    June 29th 2007

    THE annual trials held at Mere House Farm, Llanbister Road, Powys held last Saturday were divided into two sessions. In both sessions the Novice class was run combined with the Open and no dog could run more than once. The event is always popular and this year proved no exception with 90 dogs going to the post.

  • Handy Nap earns Glyn the Islwyn open

    21 June 2007

    SATURDAY was a very satisfactory day for the organisers of the annual Islwyn Trials, which, once again were held at Cearllwyn Farm, Ynysddu at the kind invitation of Steve Cook and family, who provided not only the usual and familiar field but also the sheep.

  • A Swedish winner at the Clun trial

    June 15th 2007

    THE Clun trial, at Poplars Farm, Rockhill, has been organised into two sessions for a number of years and what a popular formula it proved yet again.

  • Obley Novice trial pulls in the entries

    June 8th 2007

    THE attraction of a trial limited to novice dogs and novice handlers was demonstrated by the fact that 42 dogs went to the post at the Obley Novice Trial, hosted by Lorna Owen at Higher Hagley Farm, Craven Arms.

  • Tough course and tough weather can’t stop Cap landing a double fetch double

    30 May 2007

    ONE of the toughest courses in Wales at Ponterwyd, near Aberystwyth, was the venue for the Aberceiro Double Fetch Mountain Trials.

  • Mirk is on the mark at separate trials

    May 18th 2007

    ON Saturday when the handlers congregated around the trials at Felindre and those at Dolfor, two courses quite near to one another, the weather was never fine for very long and when it rained it was cold.

  • Llangadog proves popular – and the course testing

    3 May 2007

    ONCE again the Llangadog and District trial proved immensely popular. It was so well supported that the raffle raised £800, which will be distributed to local charities.

  • Popular Ystradfellte

    April 27th 2007

    THE popularity of two session trials does seem now to be well established and it meant that at the Ystradfellte trials there were 40 runs in the first session and 51 in the second. They were again hosted by Mr and Mrs O. Davies and family at Heol Fawr Farm, Pontneathvaughan.

  • Decision to extend Llanddeusant to two days pays off

    April 20th 2007

    HAVING listened to a number of handlers, the organisers of the Llanddeusant trials felt confident there was sufficient interest to warrant extending competition to two days.

  • Arnie starts season in style

    March 16th 2007

    THE Coedkernew Trials, organised by Colin and Mary Evans at Springcourt Farm, Coedkernew, has long been regarded as the first in the new season. It is always well supported, raises large sums of money for charity and not infrequently the winner of the open national is a novice dog.

  • Beris Mason and Eirean Morgan triumph to take Victor Ludorum crowns

    January 26th 2007

    PERHAPS the most eagerly awaited results come at the very end of the trials season.

  • Overall victory in inter-county trials goes to Brecon

    January 19th 2007

    SOME 36 competitors, 18 from each county, took part in the annual inter-county trials between Brecon and Glamorgan, staged this year at Handel Evans’s Duffryn Wen Farm, near Groeswen, Glamorgan.

  • Both sides take a victory in the North versus South Wales Nursery challenge

    December 22nd 2006

    HONOURS were shared in the North Wales versus South Wales Nursery Challenge. Alan Jones and Max from the North took the individual title, while the team title went to the South.

  • Pembrokeshire win is a first for county

    December 15th 2006

    FOR the first time, Pembrokeshire won the Spillers Shield and South Wales Sheep Dog Trials Association Nursery championship. Kevin Evans and Jess claimed the Nestlé-Purina individual trophy and will captain the 15-strong team to face North Wales in the annual challenge trial at Llanafan Fawr, Powys, tomorrow.

  • Father and son dogs take Powys championships

    December 8th 2006

    A son and father were champions at the Powys Nursery final – but these were the dogs, not the handlers.

  • Moss calms ‘speeding sheep’ in North Wales nursery win

    December 1st 2006

    NOT even the threat of the worst storms of the winter kept a large crowd away from the North Wales Nursery championship.

  • ‘Untouchable’ Fly looks unstoppable

    November 24th 2006

    TWO things combined to make trialling quite difficult at the weekend. First there was Sunday’s weather which, at best, was squally and at worst was seriously wet. Secondly more lambs were used. This, of course, is inevitable as the season progresses and pregnant ewes, heavier in lamb become unavailable – but the lambs’ lack of familiarity of dogs coupled with the inexperience of so many young nursery dogs had its effect on scoring.

  • Carmarthenshire Nursery’s close call

    November 10th 2006

    ON Saturday and Sunday the weather was at its most glorious autumnal best: fine and warm by day, but frosty at night. It was in such conditions that competitors from Carmarthenshire gathered at Merlin Court, Llangadog where Glyn Jones set out a course on a flat field. The outrun was around 220 yards, the first drive was to the left and there was a shed before penning.

  • Family ‘battles’ at Brecknock

    November 3rd 2006

    INTEREST is always high at the first Nursery trials in any county with dogs on their first outing in public, much speculation on their future prospects and, in certain cases some guessing as to the value of dogs that will be sold at the end of the year.

  • Meg wins it – two weeks in a row

    October 27th 2006

    FOR the second week in a row, Dai Price and Meg enjoyed success in the Montgomeryshire nursery trials.Winners of both classes, Dai Price with Meg in the nursery class and Tessa Rogers with Twm in the novice were on identical scores, both having a large margin over the runners-up – respectively Midge with Harcourt Lloyd and Mac with Mal Hughes.

  • Meg does the double in Ceredigion nurseries

    October 20th 2006

    THE nursery trials in Ceredigion were held on Saturday at Penbwlch, Aberystwyth – a regular venue hosted by Ian Jones. Between them, the two classes saw 40 runs and what a successful day it was for Islwyn Jones’s Meg.

  • Host rewarded with a win

    October 6th 2006

    THE Pembrokeshire Nursery series got under way on Saturday on the field used earlier in the year for the Crosswell trials.

  • South Wales Nursery season underway

    September 29th 2006

    SATURDAY saw the first of the Nursery trials in South Wales when the Ceredigion series got underway at Llyngronw, Penrhyncoch, near Aberystwyth.

  • Peg hits high notes in swansong triumph

    September 15th 2006

    THE South Wales Sheep Dog Trials Association runs two members-only trials each year – a Novice championship and an Open championship.

  • Welsh Sheepdog Trial Report

    September 8th 2006

    BEING less than a couple of miles apart, the trials at Llanddewi Brefi and Tregaron in Ceredigion see well over 90 runs at each as the handlers commute from one to another.

  • OLF rule decides St Dogmaels Open and Novice trials

    September 1st 2006

    IF the organisers of the trials at St. Dogmaels and Crosswell, both in Pembrokeshire, feared that handlers would not travel that far, they were proved wrong when over 90 runs were booked in at each venue. Their close proximity meant that almost all handlers were able to compete at both trials.

  • Intimidating course for Talgarreg double fetch

    August 25th 2006

    THE course at Blaenglowon Fawr, Talgarreg, Ceredigion, was set in a 50-acre field which allowed the host, John Davies, to create an intimidating double fetch competition.

  • History is made – twice

    July 28th 2006

    NO-ONE who turned up to the new trials at Berriew, near Welshpool, was disappointed. For the competitors there was a long and testing course and for the spectators not a part out of sight.

  • First Open win for Jess as field remember John

    June 30th 2006

    THE Mere House Trial was started by the late John Nicholls and there was surely no competitor who did not have him in mind for the first running of the event since his death.

  • Weekend triple for Kevin and mother and daughters enjoy Clun success

    June 16th 2006

    KEVIN Evans, of Libanus, enjoyed triple success in trials at the weekend. On Saturday, with Kemi Zac he won the first session of the Clun trial. Next day, at Llandefalle the same partnership came top of the first session, then in the afternoon session Kevin won with Jaff – adding up to three wins in four sessions of trialling.

  • Trials trio offered ‘something old, something new’ in Wales

    June 9th 2006

    THREE trials in Wales each offered something new. The Cwmdu trials were on a field unfamiliar to all but the oldest handlers; a late decision turned Trefeglwys into a two-session trial and the Novice trial at Obley was a completely new event planned and organised by Lorna Owen.

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