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

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20th CENTURY TRIALS 1900 - 1905

c1900: ABER AND LLANFAIRFECHAN (PENMAENMAWR), GWYNEDD

Barbara Collins in her 1994 Guide to Sheepdog Trials in Britain & Ireland tells us that the Aber and Llanfairfechan Sheepdog Society has been running this trial since the beginning of the (20th) century.

Our Dogs for September 16th 1910 gives the result of the trial held the previous Friday. Winners were: Open: J Moses, Class 2 (Open to local counties) Wm Jones; Class 3 shared between O F Jones and Owen T Owen.

1900: BAILDON SHOW, YORKSHIRE

Jonathan Barcroft competed at the Baildon (Yorks) & District Horticultural and Fanciers’ Show trial. See the Barcroft chapter.

1900: BRADFORD

A demonstration trial was put on for delegates of the British Association meeting at Bradford in 1900, located somewhere between the city of Bradford and Wharfedale, at which shepherds from Yorkshire, Cumberlands and the Highlands of Scotland took part. The trial is reported in the September 13th 1900 edition of the (London) Daily News.

From 1900: CASTLE DOUGLAS AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY SHOW

'Our Dogs' for October 27th 1906 carries a report of the Castle Douglas Agricultural Society Show trial, stating that collie working trials had been introduced previously, but had been dropped and were now bieng revived. There were two classes, confined, won by R McMorran, and Open, won by J Moses' Nip. There was also a demonstration of Brace work by George Barcroft. The dogs are not named, but there is an interesting list of all the competitors.

Tony Iley, in his "Sheepdogs at Work" quotes the diary entries of William Caig on the 1906 trial, where there was an entry of 31 dogs, 14 of which were from Wales and England, and also refers to what must have been one of the earlier trials referred to in the Our Dogs report of 1906 - this being in the first week of April 1900 when William Caig records watching a demonstration at the trial held in conjunction with the cattle show where Joseph Moses worked two dogs.

1900: ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF VOCTORIA ANNUAL EXHIBITION (Australia)

Wayne McMillan records an advertisement in The Argus for September 8 1900 for a trial to be held on that day.

From 1900: STOKESLEY (Middlesbrough)

Barbara Collins in her 1994 'Guide to Sheepdog Trials in Britain & Ireland' indicates that the Stokesley Show trial was first held in 1900 and annually until the present day in conjunction  with Stokesley Agricultural Society Show.

1900: LLANDOVERY, CARMARTHENSHIRE

The above report appeared in the Western Mail for August 25th 1900, making the date for the trial the previous Friday as August 24th.

'Our Dogs' for September 7th 1901 includes a report of the annual trials on August 30th. In the Champion (Open) class, the winner was J Benent's Bonny, from W Williams' Fly and G Barcroft's Bob. In the second (Novice) class, the winner was George Barcroft's Sep.

1901: BEDFORDSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY SHOW TRIAL

'Our Dogs' for July 20th 1901 carries the earliest report we have of any trial in this part of the UK, held at Luton Hoo on July 17th. In the Open class, four of the competitors did not turn up, leaving just two handlers with a number of dogs each, namely George Barcroft (Bury) and W Akrigg (Sedbergh). The judge, R S Piggin, "after a somewhat tedious contest", put George Barcroft's Brown Bob first, Akrigg's Lady and Laddie second and third.

It is reported by Walter Baxendale (see under 1910) that this ‘perambulatory event’ was proving successful.

Our Dogs for July 29th 1910 reports on the 1910 trials held on July 21 at Colworth Park, Sharnbrook, and judged by R S Piggin. Most of the competitors came from the North country and Wales. In the singles, the winner was J B Bagshaw's Jed, a small black Beardy, gaining maximum points (32), and in the doubles, the prize was shared between S Batty's Hemp and Laddie and J B Bagshaw's Jed and jennie, both on 22 points.

Our Dogs for July 28th 1911 carries a report of the 40th annual show, held at Luton Hoo Park and judged by R S Piggin. The trial was won by S E Batty with Hemp, second Wm Jones from Wales with Lassie, third J B Bagshaw's Jed, "a noted trialer that has many first prizes to her credit". Fourth was Mr Barcroft's Ben, having run out of time at the second part of the Maltese Cross. There was also a Brace competition with nine entries, won by S E Batty's Hemp and Laddie, second W Akrigg with Moss and Ray and third J B Bagshaw's Jed and Nell. The sheep were a Cheviot and Border Leicester cross.

1901: RANELAGH

George Barcroft won a trial here in 1901, organised by his great rival R S Piggin. It seems most likely that the venue was Ranelagh Pleasure Gardens, rather the school in the Bracknell Forest area, or (most unlikely) the area of Dublin, as many different entertainments were laid on in the gardens for the well to do at the time. The gardens now form part of the Chelsea Hospital grounds, and are where the Chelsea Flower Show is held. See the Barcroft chapter.

From 1902: WORSTHORNE TRIAL

George Barcroft competed in Open and Doubles classes at the Worsthorne Trial in 1904. A ‘record entry’ of 36 is described in the Open class, indicating that there were trials there in earlier years.The picture above is reproduced in Eric Halsall’s ‘British Sheepdogs’. The image, which is cut down from a larger photo was used as a postcard to promote the 1904 trial, and shows George Barcroft penning. The picture must therefore have been taken in an earlier year. The complete version of it (reproduced in the Barcroft chapter) shows a second handler at the right with, amongst others, George Barcroft's White Bob. A report in the Western Mail for September 20 1900 includes the information that the famous dog which appeared before Queen Victoria (ie White Bob - see under 1875 Llangollen) was dead. This would indicate that the photograph was taken much earlier.

'Our Dogs' for September 11th 1908 reports on the 7th annual trials at Worsthorne on Septmber 7, indicating a first year of 1902. There was another record entry of 70, and the trial threatened to go over to  the following day. The Open class and the new silver cup were won by J Mason's Gyp; the Novice by George Barcroft's Bell, with his Jack third, and the Doubles by W Akrigg's Laddie and Lady.

A silver cup shown to us by Margaret & Graham Phillips, the Worsthorne Grimshaw Challenge Cup, with winners for 1911, 1913, and, in 1914, W Ackroyd. The lack of any later dates and the fact that the cup has for many years been in private hands indicates that the last trial will have been in 1914.

From c1903: CUMREW, CARLISLE

'Our Dogs' for October 27th 1906 reports on the fourth trial here, hence the tentative start date of 1903, on a field close to the Cairn side. There were two classes: Local (10 miles) Novice and Open. There was no time limit (unlike many earlier trials where time was a factor) and the " decisions of the judges were largely based upon the working merits and methods of the dogs". The Local winner was E Ivinson, Cumrew; the Open winner was J Murray, Smale.

From 1903: CWMAMAN

Barbara Carpenter reports in her book 'Trials and Tribulations' that trials began at Cwmaman in 1903, with 15 dogs entered. Both Open and Novice classes were won by J Evans and Boy from Graigwen, Aber. A gold medal awarded to Mr Johnson at the 1912 trials is still in existence.

'Our Dogs' for October 27th 1906 includes a report of trials here in October 15th. There were 53 entries in two classes, judged by Peter Jones, Abergavenny; Thos Williams, Pontypridd; and Thomas Evans, Porth. Thos Williams and Toss won the Open class and John Evans with Scot the second class. Both were timed classes. The gate was said not to be as high as the previous year.

The index to Our Dogs for June to December 1908 lists a report of the trial at Cwmaman. Details to follow.

From 1903? or 1904: KINGUSSIE (INVERNESSSHIRE SHEEPDOG TRIALS ASSOCIATION )

Barbara Collins in her 1994 'Guide to Sheepdog Trials in Britain & Ireland' tells us that the trial began in 1903 and was run annually until the 1960s, when there was a break, but has since been revived.

Our Dogs magazine for September 22 1906 reports on the third trial on September 15th, thus indicating a 1904 start year. The venue is described as being at Glen Banchor on the MacPherson estate. There was a large entry, and the judge was R S Piggin, assisted by C B MacPherson. The Challenge Cup and the County Medal were won by D Macrae of Falls of Truim; the County Stakes by Charles Anderson, junior of Chapelpark, Kingussie, and there was a special prize for the dog which worked best to whistle commands alone, awarded to Alex Urquhart.

Our Dogs magazine for September 11th 1908 reports that the trial was held in Balavil Park, owned by the Invernessshire Association's President, C B Macpherson. There were three classes, the County Stakes, with a 350 yard outrun, the Farmers' Class and the Open Class. The judge was again R S Piggin. There is a further report in the September 13th 1912 issue of 'Our Dogs' when again R S Piggin was judging. The event is described as the ninth annual trial, again pointing to a 1904 start. The trials are described as being one of the leading attractions of the North. Again there were three classes, County, Farmers' and Open, attracting entries from the Scottish Borders and Derbyshire. The winner was Joseph Tagg from Sheffield with Bet; S E Batty and Flossie second.

From 1903 or 1909: LLANGYNOG, BERWYN MOUNTAINS, POWYS

Barbara Collins in her 1994 'Guide to Sheepdog Trials in Britain & Ireland' tells us that this trial was first run in 1903. However, it appetrs more likely from a 1912 programme which states that it is the "fourth annual trial" that the actual start date was 1909, under which year most of the information on this trial will be found. It is possible that the 1903 trial was an earlier isolated event, separate from the trial which started in 1909 and continues to this day.

1903: NORTH OF IRELAND COLLIE CLUB

In her 1997 essay on Irish Collies & Sheepdogs, Iris Combe reports that a North of Ireland Collie Club was set up in 1903 with a strong bias towards sheepdog trialling (as opposed to the 1893 Duboin based Irish Collie Club which was mainly show based). A Northern Ireland Sheepdog Trial Society was mooted in 1908, but never came to fruition.

From c1903: NORTH WALES SHEEP DOG SOCIETY TRIALS

In her chapter on the Barcrofts, Sylvia Barcroft noted that George had success with dogs competing in the North Wales Sheep Dog Society trials at Llangollen on both the Tryncelyn and Vivod sides in the ‘open to the world’ Cambrian stakes and in the doubles in 1903, and competed again at the Society’s trials in 1905, held in the Glyn Valley, near Chirk, where there were 41 entries; 19 in the open to the world stakes, and also a doubles class. He also competed in the North Wales trial at Vivod Park in 1911.

The role of the North Wales Society in this description is not clear. The trial at Vivod in 1903 appears, like that listed for 1911, to be a straightforward running of the Vivod Trial (see under 1885 Vivod).
See the Barcroft chapter, and under 1897: Llangollen.

From 1905: ELLEMFORD, DUNS, BERWICKSHIRE

Barbara Collins in her 1994 Guide to Sheepdog Trials in Britain & Ireland tells us that the Lammernuir Pastoral Society has held a trial at Ellemford annually since 'about 1907'.

However, John Robinson, the holder of the cup in summer 2010, says that the earliest holder's name engraved on the cup is for 1905, W Linton, who also won the cup in 1907.

1905: GATEHOUSE OF FLEET, KIRKUDBRIGHT

Barbara Collins in her 1994 Guide to Sheepdog Trials in Britain & Ireland tells us that the Gatehouse of Fleet trial commenced early in the century, lapsed and was revived in 1926.

A report in Our Dogs for October (date uncertain) 1910 gives the details of the annual trial at Nursery Park, Gatehouse on Fleet. There was a good entry, with 19 handlers competing (by implication, some with more than one dog). The judge was W A McTurk and the winner of the Open class was Ben Murray, Dalry. The confined class winners were W Caig, James Gillespie and W Thomson.

Tony Iley, in his "Sheepdogs at Work" quotes from the noted handler William Caig's diary to the effect that a dog Show had been held at Gatehouse Town Hall with a class for shepherds' dogs, where Caig won a prize in 1904, but was uneasy at having his dog tied by a chain to a ring in the floor all day. A local resident, Mr Grimshaw, was of the same mind, and offered a cup for a proper sheepdog trial. This was held on new year's day 1905 and won by James Halliday, Laghead with Clyde. There is no reference to a 1906 trial, but the 1907 and 1908 trials were won by Ben Murray, Minnigryle. It was in 1907 that the trial was made open to all comers and not confined to Kirkudbrightshire. There is a later reference to Caig's brother's dog, Tyne, winning at Gatehouse in 1921, so it is not clear exactly when the lapse in trialling before 1926 occurred.

From c1905: GOLSPIE, SUTHERLAND

Barbara Collins in her 1994 'Guide to Sheepdog Trials in Britain & Ireland' tells us that the Sutherland Sheep Dog Trials Association was formed in 1909 and the trial, which started in 1909 as a one day event is now held over two days to accommodate the number of runners.

However, 'Our Dogs' magazine for September 8th 1906 carries a report of the annual trial at Golspie with 50 entries over the four classes - 1: all comers from Caithness and Sutherland; 2: tenants on Braemore and Langwell, Caithness; and, most interesitng, 3: confined to the Bearded Collie pups presented by Lord Arthur cecil at last year's trials. Class4 was for the best kept dog. There must therefore have been a trial in 1905, and perhaps earlier.

From 1905: HOPE SHOW, HIGH PEAK, DERBYSHBIRE

Barbara Collins in her 1994 'Guide to Sheepdog Trials in Britain & Ireland' indicates that the Hope trial was first held in 1905 and annually until the present day in conjunction with Hope Show.

The 1905 date is confirmed by a report in 'Our Dogs' for September 16th 1910 on the sixth annual trial, held "in very favourable circumstances" on September 7th in a field near Castleton. The winner of the all England Open class was G Barcroft's Bell; Local, Jos Tagg's Bet; Novice: B Eyre, jnr's Tell.

Our Dogs for September 13th 1912 reports on the trial again with three classes: Open, won by Joseph Tagg with  Bet; Local, where Joseph Tagg took first and sceond with Rap and Bet, E Priestley's Queenie third; and Novice, where again Joseph Tagg was successul, with Jed.

1905: RUABON, WREXHAM

George Barcroft competed in this ‘open to the world’ trial in 1905. See the Barcroft chapter.