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TRIALS 1909 (See separate section for the 1909 International Trials)

1909: A LIGHT OF OTHER DAYS

by C Brewster Macpherson, as published in Adelaide Gosset: Shepherds of Britain (1912).

A wanderer on the Highland Border, I found myself recently within reach of an important sheep-dog trial meeting. Arrived there, I was soon deeply interested in the marvellous work of some of the best dogs from the Border. As I changed my position for a better view, my attention was caught by a solitary sheep-dog bitch, a matted tangle of an uncared-for thing. She lay apart by herself. Occasionally, she rose, and pushing her way through impeding legs, gravely contemplated, with critical eye, the various operations which were being carried out in the shedding, penning, etc., but made no attempt at assistance, except, when sheep which had been through the course were being taken by the last competitor to a field at the side, into which they were turned. On several of these occasions, for no especial reason that I could see, she would join in herding them in a very business-llike manner, and then return to her original position. Knowing the rule which requires all competing dogs to be on the lead, I thought she must be some drover’s bitch, some hanger-on of the auction mart who had come to see if the dogs were as good as in her day. I forgot all about the trials, and found myself continually watching her instead. I tried to scrape an acquaintance, asked her who she was and where she was from; but while receiving my advances with courtesy, she gave me clearly to understand she did not desire an immediate acquaintance. Thinking she looked bored, I sought a bit of meat for her in the tent. After regarding my face earnestly fror some time, she took it, and her manner conveyed a world of rebuke, and feeling I had done quite the wrong thing and advanced myself no whit in her estimation, I retired, abashed by her cold demeanour. The card is run through, a loud voice proclaims that an entry which had been overlooked in error will be allowed to run, and a broad-shouldered, good-natured-looking Borderer steps over the ropes - but where is his dog?
A chirrup! the tangled mat is alive, her lethargy gone; trembling with suppressed excitement, at his side she stands, the wisdom of ages in her beautiful eyes, which are fixed intently on her master’s face. And then followed the most masterly exhibition which the writer, who has judged at many such trials, ever witnessed. And though she only obtained the second place of honour, she confided to me, in a farewell interview, that she had never worked better, and did not see how the thing could be done better, with which opinion I most cordially agreed. An attempt to buy this light of other days was quenched by, “Na’, it’s no that a’thegiter, but ye see they a’ come after her pups an’ I mak a gey bit oot o’ her yon way.”

From before 1909: RHIW, PWLLHELI, GWYNEDD

Barbara Collins in her 1994 'Guide to Sheepdog Trials in Britain & Ireland' tells us that the Rhiw trial was established "over 85 years ago" ie before 1909. This trial, on the Lleyn Peninsula, continues to this day.

1909: INTERNATIONAL TRIAL QUALIFICATIONS

The announcement for the 1909 International indicates that all entrants have to be prize winners, and mentions that the winners of the East Country Cup and Highland Cup will be competing, but there is insufficient detail to indicate where either of those cups was to be won, nor whether any prize winner or only cup winners from major trials could enter the International. Possibilities for the Highland Cup must be the Sutherland and the Kingussie trials (qv).

From 1909 (or 1903): 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. It is nowadays a two day trial with an accompanying sheepdog shearing demonstration.

However, a programme in the hands of the current secretary of the trial for the 1912 event, held on August 3, describes it as the "fourth annual" trial, which would indicate 1909 as its first year. In 1912, there were three classes; Local (radius of 3 miles from Llangynog church), Discrict (parishes of Llangynig, Llanrhaiadr YM, Hirnant, Pennant, Llanwddyn) and Open (with a prize of a silver cup or £5). A special train was shown as leaving Llangynog at 7pm, presumably to take the crowds home after the event. Not having seen the evidence for the 1903 date, the 1909 date must at the moment seem more likely.

1909: MANCHESTER DOG SHOW, BELLE VUE

George Barcroft competed in this trial in 1909 in both singles and doubles. It was held in conjunction with the Manchester. Dog Show Society’s annual exhibition of show dogs. See the Barcroft chapter.

From 1909: SEDGWICK ESTATE, ENDMOOR, KENDAL

George Barcroft competed in this trial in 1909. See the Barcroft chapter.

Our Dogs for August 26th 1910 carries a report of the 1910 trial, held on August 13th and judged by J K Robinson (Kirkby Lonsdale) and Jos Wood (Selside). The Open (29 entries) was won by T D Handley's Wild Nellie and the Local (8 entries) by T Ridding's Ring.

1909: LANGWILL

The announcement for the 1909 International refers to James Scott’s Kep as having given an exhibition at the Langwill trial ‘two weeks ago’; ie around August 28th. I have been unable to find the location of Langwill.