NB Each trial is listed here under the first year in which it was held

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THE 1870s AFTER BALA : TRIALS 1874 - 1879

1874: HUNTROYDE ESTATE

Suggested by the estate owner on visiting the 1873 Bala trial. No details are known if, indeed, it ever took place. There was a trial at Bala in 1874, and Le Gendre Starkey, owner of the Huntroyde estate, was one of the judges at the 1876 Alexandra Palace trial.

1874: GARTH

Barbara Carpenter reports in ‘Trials and Tribulations - the first 50 years of the South Wales Sheep Dog Trial Association’ that a Mr Powell, who was one of the competitors at the second (1874) Bala trial, helped to organise a trial at Garth in 1874.

1875: PONTYPRIDD

The first Pontypridd trial was announced in the North Wales Chronicle for September 25th 1875. The format was one we would recognise now - in effect an open trial on both days wioth a novice class and a best looking dog class.

Barbara Carpenter reports in ‘Trials and Tribulations - the first 50 years of the South Wales Sheep Dog Trial Association’ that dogs from Breconshire, who had competed at other trials, being more experienced and better trained, won most of the prize money. Among them was a bitch, “Kent”, owned by Mr Protheroe, a member of a well known farming family in the Builth Wells area.

A more detailed report of the Rev Williams' trial appears in the Western Mail for September 29th 1876.

From 1875: LLANGOLLEN, DENBIGHSHIRE

The first mention of a trial at Llangollen is an advertisement in Baner ac Amserau Cymri of September 29th 1875 (which also carries an ad for the Bala trial two weeks later) for a Grand Trial of 16 Sheep Dogs as part of the third Llangollen Agricultural Society Show the following day, to be held in a field near the town with W Wagstaff of Plas yn Vivod as President.

Jonathan Barcroft entered dogs for the first time at the Vale of Llangollen trial in 1890. George Barcroft won the silver cup outright in 1897, having won it previously in 1891 and 1894. He won the trial again in 1898 with Lassie. There were 31 entries in the ‘open to the world’ class in 1897. See also the Barcroft chapter. and under 1903: North Wales Sheepdog Dog Society.
In 1893, R S Piggin won the Llangollen trial with his famous Ormskirk Charlie, a dog which even then was unusual in excelling both on the show bench and the trials field.
James Reid, former ISDS Secretary, quoted by Carole Presberg, said that the annual Bala trials, which began in 1873, were merged with or superseded by the Llangollen trials in 1878. He goes on to say that the Llangollen trials have been held annually (excepting during the war years, 1915-1918 and 1939-1945) under distinguished patronage, reaching their zenith in 1889 when Queen Victoria and other Royalty witnessed a private exhibition. However, the George Barcroft records indicate the 1889 Royal event as a Bala trial.

The apparent confusion has been clarified a little by recent evidence, which suggests that the Llangollen Sheepdog Society, under Lord Trevor, took over the role of marketing the large standalone sheepdog trials from the committee which had masterminded the 1873 Bala trial.

The trial at Blenheim Park, Woodstock, Oxford in 1890 was "under the rules of the Llangollen Sheep Dog Society" which brought not only a number of Cambrian competitors, but also 21 sheep all the way from North Wales.

The same committee probably also arranged for the private sheepdog trial in front of Queen Victoria at Bala in 1889, at which George (or possibly Jonathan) Barcroft competed with White Bob, as a result of which the Queen became a patron of the Llangollen Society in May 1890 (see above). See the Barcoft chapter. It is known that six dogs competed in the Royal Trial, Fan being the winner.

The exact relationship between the Bala and Llangollen trials, the Vivod trial, and the Llangollen Society are not entirely clear to me at present. Currently, the Llangollen trial is not being run, not having been restarted after 2001. The Vivod trial continues under a new committee.

The same 1890 Woodstock trial report lists a number of leading dogs competing at Woodstock which had previously been successful at Llangollen: Moss, who won both the local and Cambrian stakes at Llangollen "last month", ie in August 1890, and Bob, who competed at Bala in front of Queen Victoria in 1889, also won first prize at Llangollen in1889, and Nip won at Llangollen in 1888.

Rawdon Lee, in  his "History... of the Collie or Sheep Dog" of 1890 states that F Pott's Rob (Brampton) won the Llangollen trial in 1872. This is likely to be a misprint for 1882, as he refers to the same dog winning "previously" at Kirkby Stephen in 1881.

'Our Dogs' for August 10th 1901 carries a report of the Llangollen trials on August 1st. There were 12 entries in the District Stakes, won by R Phillips of Ruabon with Soda, and 19 in the Open. Jonathan Barcroft took three of the top four places with the veteran ten year old Brown Bob, Bess and Rap; T Owen and Nell being third. Mr Sharpe's Roy is referred to as being the first dog "worked on the Vivod side of the park". To conclude, a special (Brace) stake was run, "two dogs having to deal with a flock of sheep. There were fours entries, won by J Ellis's Lass and Handy from W Akrigg's Laddie and Lady.

Our Dogs for August 12th 1910 reports on the trials held on August 5th. There was criticism of holding the trials on both the Vivod and Ty'n'y-Celin sides at the same time. S E Batty's Laddie and Hemp were successful in the Brace.

c1875: WEST LINTON

Eric Halsall reports in ‘British Sheepdogs’ that James Gardner’s Sly, winner of the Carnwath Trial in the early 1870s came second at West Linton trials a year or so later. He also records that in 1876 Lord Arthur Cecil of Orchardmains, Innerleithen, a trials pioneer in the Borders, bought the winniing bitch at West Linton for £10.

The Otago Witness for 6 March 1876 details a trial in the Ochie Hills (visible in the distance from Edinburgh). Unfortunately, I do not have a copy of that issue of the paper, merely one for the folllowing week which refers to it, but it may be the West Linton trial to which it refers.

1876, 1882, 1900: ALEXANDRA PALACE KENNEL CLUB TRIALS

This trial arose from the 1873 Bala trial - a collaboration between R J Lloyd Price from Bala and his friend who founded the Kennel Club in the same year as the Bala trial, S E Shirley. Part of the reason for organising an event on neutral territory was that the winner of the 1873 trial, James Thompson, had boasted of the superiority of Scottish shepherds and dogs, and competitors from other countries wanted an opportunity to get their revenge (which the Welsh did - the winner being John Thomas of Cwm yr Aethnen). Although the best prize was “a cup, worth £15 for the best working collie”, there was also a strong show element, with a “silver cup, worth £5” for the best looking animal.
The course, according to Illustrated London News, “consisted of driving three sheep into a pen situated in the middle of an enclosure... In some of the trials, the sheep were started from this pen, and were driven with the aid of his dog, round a circuit and so back to the pen.”
The sheep were wild - in fact the reports tell of the cockneys benefiting from free meat, as many of the Welsh wethers from the mountains disappeared from the ground and were never recaptured - the remainder were auctioned at the end of the trial.
For the puppy classes, the sheep were turned out on the hillside and fetched to the pen. Five ‘puppies’ (born after July 1 1874, and thus under 2 years old) were entered. The winner (£10 prize) was James Thompson from Bala, with Tweed. In the ‘All aged’ stakes, which equates more to a modern day Open trial, there were seven entries. The winner was also from Bala: John Thomas with Maddie (£15 prize), with R Roberts’ Nell second (£7 prize) and J Jones, Pentrevoilas’ Pentre third (£5 prize).
After the two trials classes, the winners took part in a runoff for the Champions’ Cup and a £15 prize. The two competitors were both from Bala, John Thomas running the All-aged winner Maddie, and James Thompson running the Puppy winner, Tweed, who also happened to be Maddie’s son. As John Thomas had been given Maddie by James Thompson, he asked to be allowed to retire in favour of Tweed, but the judges rules that the competition for the cup had to be run, even if they decided to share the prize money. In the event, Maddie was the winner, although Tweed had ”somewhat wild” sheep and had also been lamed during the train journey.
The list of entrants is interesting in that it gives a price for each dog. Apart from three ‘NFS’ (not for sale), they are given a value of between £15 and £105.

Eric Halsall states that this is the first trial held in England, albeit only by a few months, and in an unlikely location!

A second Kennel Club trial was held in 1882. An announcement in the Pall Mall Gazette for June 14th, covering the Kennel Club's 19th exhibition at Alexandra Palace which had started the previous day, mentions 109 sheep dogs in the dog show, and that a sheep dog trial is to take place at Alexandra Palace on (June) 16th.

George Barcroft competed at the third and final KC trial at Alexandra Palace in 1900. See the Barcroft chapter. The cutting above, which comes from Lloyd's Weekly for September 23rd 1900, shows that the sheepdog trials were one of a number of attractions on the final day of the event.

c1876: CARNWATH

Eric Halsall reports in ‘British Sheepdogs’ that although “a little hazy in accuracy of detail, the first trials to be held in Scotland were at Carnwath Agricultural Society’s show on the fringe of the Pentland Hills in Lanarkshire in the early 1870s. They were won by a young Pentland shepherd, James Gardner, with Sly, a pretty little black and white bitch with a strong ‘eye’.” Iris Combe gives essentially the same details in her 'Border Collies' but gives the year as being the same as for Byrness (ie 1876).

From 1876: CRICKHOWELL

The Otago Witness (yes, a New Zealand newspaper reporting on a sheepdog trial in Wales!) reports that the "recently introduced and useful" sheepdog trial competitions held in Bala and the Ochie Hills have, through a committee of "gentlemen and farmers" spread to Crickhowell, with considerable success. There were two classes, Local, won by Mr Thomas, and Open, which attracted thirteen entries. Mr MIll's dog was first and Mr Morgan's second (both unnamed). Although the report ends "The trials will probably become annual", the next Crickhowell trial we know of is not until 1893, where it is reported as a "new feature" for the Agricultural Show..

Jonathan Barcroft competed at the Crickhowell Agricultural Show trial in August 1893. See the Barcroft chapter.

The Western Mail for September 1st 1893 reports on the trial as a new feature which "proved to be of especial interest". The first prize went to Mr Thomas Evans, and in second place were T Jones, Cwmcrogan, Garth and J Barcroft (the report says Bancroft), Scout Moor, Bury. Mr T Griffiths, Pentwyn received a special prize. The judges were Frank Thomas, Wellfield and G Garnons Williams, Brecon. One of the competitors, J F Rickett, used a hunting whip to direct his dog.

The following year, the Western Mail for May 19th reports that the show and sheep dog trial were to be held on Mabon's Day, September 3rd.

The Western Mail for September 6th 1898 includes the result of the trial held the previous day in glorious weather. The joint winners were D Griffiths, Revel, Cwmdu with Hero and J Jones Llanwrtyd Wells with Lass. The second and third prizes, to which a further £2 in prize money was added, were shared between J Jones, Nantyrodyn, Llanwrtyd Wells with March, and Charles Rice, Llandiloes with Merry.

From 1876: MANCHESTER AGRICULTRAL SOCIETY SHOW

The Preston Guardian for September 9th, 1876, reports on the last day of the Royal Manchester, Liverpool and North Lancashire Agricultral Society Show (to give it its full title) at Southport. "The only novelty in Thursday's proceedings was the trial of sheep dogs. For the purpose, five sheep were allocated to each dog, and in each competition the "flock" had to be driven into three pens in different parts of the ring. Some genuine fun was created. A silver cup, given for the best dog, was awarded to J Turner, Ormskirk. Two of three extra prizes were taken by Joseph Jones, Park View, Neston."

This is at present the earliest trial I have recorded in the North West of England, predating Bell Isle, Windermere by a year.

In 1881, the trial occupied two days, and because of the large number of entries was held on a separate field across the river Darwen in Witton Park, Blackburn.

In 1882, the Show was held over the four days of September 5th to 8th at Moor Park, Preston, and included a sheepdog trial on the Thursday and Friday "a large number of entries having been received for this interesting eent". An area of between five and seven acres had been set aside for the trials. George Barcroft’s first recorded trial entry was at Preston in 1882, probably at the Manchester Show trial. See the Barcroft chapter for details.

1876: MONTGOMERYSHIRE AGRICULTRAL SOCIETY SHOW

The Western Mail for September 20 1876 announces that the Montgomeryshire Agricultural Society Show will be held on Friday. "There will be a grand trial of sheep dogs, and this being a central point for North and South Wales, we may anticipate a great gathering of shepherds." A detailed report of the 1892 trial appeared in the September 16 1892 issue of British Fancier magazine. There were local and open classes,

From 1876: SOUTH TYNE AGRICULTRAL SOCIETY SHOW

The Newcastle Courant for September 15 1876, reports that a sheep dog trial was held at Featherstone Park, Haltwhistle on September 9th in connection with the South Tyne Agricultral Society. Three prizes were on offer, a sterling silver cup for first, 40s for second and 10s for third. Fifteen dogs entered. The stewards were Mr Stobart, Asholme, Mr Clark, Featherstone, Mr Little, Haltwhistle, Mr Graham Wileysyke and Mr Pickering, Wydon. The prizewinners, "after a capital trial" were 1st Thomas Nixon (Whiteside) Rob, 2 years old; 2nd Jos Elliott (Allensgreen) Jack, four years; 3rd Robert Snowball (Oldalee) Ben, four years. The Agricultural Society annual report shows that the newly introduced shepherds' Dogs Trial was a financial success, with £5 6s 4d profit, and even though nobody could be found to sponsor the first and third prizes, there could be little risk in running the trial in future years. However, the show report of 1895 makes no mention of a sheepdog trial, which seems to have been abandoned by this date.

This is one of the first trials in England, and it is interesting to note that the South Tyne Show had included shepherds' dogs shows for several years, certainly from 1861, before they developed into sheepdog trials proper.

From 1876: UPPER REDESDALE SHOW (BYRNESS), NORTHUMBERLAND

Eric Halsall reports in ‘British Sheepdogs’ that the first English trial proper (as opposed to an event for the public, ie Alexandra Palace, was held in Byrness, in Redesdale in Northumberland, but the records are inconclusive: the winner was either Walter Telfer with his home bred old white dog, John Robson (one of the organisers) with Maddie, or Simon Rutherford’s bearded collie from Blackburnhead.

According to Barbara Collins in her 1994 'Guide to Sheepdog Trials in Britain & Ireland' the Upper Redesdale Show trial, by then being held at nearby Rochester, dates its origin to this trial of 1876.

The trials at Southport and Haltwhistle, both in early September, must also be contenders for the first English trial, the exact Byrness date being unknown. The Show is crrently held on the last Saturday in September.

1877: BELL ISLE, WINDERMERE

Barbara Collins in her 1994 'Guide to Sheepdog Trials in Britain & Ireland' quotes the Lake District SDT Association (see under 1891 below) Centenary proigramme which states that the first trial held in the Lake District was at Bell Isle, Windermere, in 1877, where a 'large and fashionable gathering' assembled at the invitation of Mr J R Bridson.

From 1877: DUBLIN

Freeman's Journal reports on the ICAC Public Trial and Dog Show, held on the Lansdowne Road sports ground. See article in International Sheepdog News Jan/Feb 2010. This is the earliest trial I have found in Ireland.

See also entry for Dublin Show 1888 below.

From 1878: NORTH WESTERN COUNTIES SHEEP DOG TRIAL ASSOCIATION

The Liverpool Mercury for October 2 1880 includes details of the Association's third trial on Hoad Hill, Ulverston, the previous day.. Lord Bective is mentioned as being on the committee of the Association. Rawdon Lee, in his 1890 "History and Description of the Collie or Sheep Dog" confirms the starting date as 1878, with Mr F Punchard, Kirkby Lonsdale, as secretary, with Lady bective being a great supporter and presenting the prizes.

The Newcastle Courant for September 23rd 1881 states that the fourth annual NWCSDTA trial will be held on Wednesday September 21st, with £40 in prizes and three silver cups.

In 1883, the trial was held close to Windermere Station on August 24th, with prizes totalling £60 plus special prizes totalling £24 open to all comers.

In 1888 the Association trial was held at Troutbeck. Bob, one of the dogs which competed in front of Queen Victoria at Bala in 1889 and which appeared at Woodstock in 1890, won "Lord Bective's trial" at Troutbeck in 1888.

A report from the London Agricultural Gazette, for which I am at present unable to find a date, reports that the Northwestern Counties Association is formed for the purpose of holding meetings at which liberal prizes will be given for the best working dogs. Hitherto, it goes on, trial have taken place on enclosed ground, but on Monday last they were held on Barbon Fell, "a wild mountainous place", with the letout pen a mile up the valley from the handler.

From 1878: LLANAFAN, ABERYSTWYTH

Barbara Carpenter reports in ‘Trials and Tribulations - the first 50 years of the South Wales Sheep Dog Trial Association’ that a popular trial today is held at Llanafan, where a trial was first held in 1878. This trial held its ‘centenary’ trial on the original course on Llanafan Farm in 1989. For some years the trials had been run on the lower two fields, but this centenary year the sheep were gathered from the third field high on the hillside, (the original course) and Maltese Cross style. The founders of this trial were Daniel Jones, Thomas Jones and William Protheroe. Llanafan Farm has been occupied by the same family for three generations, the first secretary being J J Jones, who held that office for 42 years and was succeeded by his son, Roy.”

Barbara Collins in her 1994 'Guide to Sheepdog Trials in Britain & Ireland' quotes the 1889 date and the trial's claim to be the oldest in mid Wales.

1878: WAITAKI (DUNTROON RACECOURSE), NEW ZEALAND

North Otago Times for October 3 1878 reports on this long looked for event which took place the previous day. "For what may almost be termed the first event of the kind in the county" there were 13 entries in the Aged Dogs class and five oin the Young Dogs. The Otago Witness for October 4 1879 carries a shorter report on the 1879 event, and the issue of 11th October a longer one reprinted from the North Otago Times. Mr Matheson's Lassie won the Aged Dog class in 1878 and was equal first in 1879.

The full newspaper reports are quoted here.

The Waitaki Collie Dog Club claims to be the oldest sheepdog trial club in New Zealand, and was started in 1885, with its first Club trial in 1886.

From 1879: BUILTH AGRICULTURAL SHOW

The Western Mail for September 13th 1879 that the fourth Builth Agricultural Show with trial of sheep dogs and hunters took place the previous Thursday. The result is given as 1st Mr W Jones Cleen, Rhayader with Mon; 2nd Mr E Rice, Dolelva, Rhayader with Bob; equal 3rd Mr Protheroe, Bwlchcellan with Mon and Mr Griffiths, Brynyoyes with Flora.

The Preston Guardian for September 17th 1892 gives a more detailed report of the sheepdog trial at the show. The outrun was of half a mile, and the trial was won by Mr Piggin with Ormskirk Charlie, who penned the three sheep in 8 minutes 11 seconds amidst great cheering. (No requests to keep quiet in the grandstands in those days!). The report gives Ormskirk Charlie's pedgree as having been bred by Richard Thornton of Gibstick Hall, Winmarleigh, sired by W H Stretch's Champion Christopher out of Prim of Winmarleigh. A number of other pups from the same litter are listed as having been successful in sheepdog trials or on the show bench, unfortunately, it does not say which was successful in which context. Those named are Truthful James, Marsden's Shep, Garstang Flower and Garstang Judy.

British Fancier magazine for August 26th 1892 gives another detailed report of the trial. The judges could not decide whether Ormskirk Charlie or R F Bowden's Turk was the better dog, so a runoff was held, with Turk the victor.

The Western Mail for July 26 1893 carries the above advertisement for the 1893 Show and sheepdog trial.

1879: CILCAIN, MOLD, CLWYD

Baner ac Amserau Cymri for September 7th 1882 carries the above announcement of the fourth annual Cilcain trial, making the first trial 1879. It lists the parishes which may compete in the District competition as well as the prizes in all classes.

Our Dogs for September 2nd 1910 carries the result of the trial held on August 26th. The judges were D P Jones and W Powell; the winners in the Champion class were W Williams' Young Bonnie and in the Local TT Evans' Monty.

1879-1881: FORBES SHOW (Australia)

Kathy Gooch reproduces in International Sheepdog News for May/June 2008 a report of the event from the August 1879 issue of ‘Town and Country’.
“At the trial of sheep-dogs today, there were seven entries, including some of the best dogs in the colonies. After some severe tests the judges divided between Mr Charles King’s Kelpie and Mr C F Gibson’s Tweed. The latter dog was sent for specially from Tasmania to compete. Both dogs worked magnificently, and it is likely that the amount of first prize (20 guineas) will be doubled, so that both owners will get equal money. Flockmasters came from distances of 150 miles to see the trial, and avowed that it was the grandest contest they ever saw. The dogs worked one and three sheep respectively, and notwithstanding the continuous rain, some hundreds of people watched the trials for six hours with unflagging interest.”
Another account appeared in the Parkes and Forbes Gazette dated August 8th-
“The trial took place in the outer part of the Show ground, the condition being that each dog should work 3 sheep, and without assistance from his master put them in a yard 10 yards square. Each dog was allowed a quarter of an hour, and no one, save the judges, were permitted to go within 100 yards of the pen.”
Further trials took place at the shows in 1880 and 1881.

1879: NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA (Australia)

Wayne McMillan's research indicates trials under the Society's auspices which were annouced for November 6 1879 (in the Argus for the previous day) and for November 4 1881 (in The Argus for February 22 1881).