0:00:02 > 0:00:03Across the country,
0:00:03 > 0:00:08thousands of farming families work tirelessly around the clock.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12Stop arguing, girls, give over.
0:00:12 > 0:00:13FARMER WHISTLES
0:00:14 > 0:00:16But there is one day each year...
0:00:17 > 0:00:20..where they get to leave the daily routine behind.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22Right, here we come, Dorset.
0:00:23 > 0:00:24These are show days...
0:00:24 > 0:00:27- ANNOUNCER:- A very, very warm welcome to Melplash Show.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29..when they come together as a community...
0:00:31 > 0:00:33..to showcase the fruits of their labour...
0:00:33 > 0:00:35I just love showing my girls off.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40..and try to win prizes for their breed champions...
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Smashed it.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44..and award-winning produce.
0:00:44 > 0:00:45That's really nice cheese, that.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50It was very good, darling.
0:00:50 > 0:00:51There will be highs...
0:00:51 > 0:00:54That's what we want to see - red, red is the best.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57- ..and lows... - She's not happy enough to go.
0:00:57 > 0:01:03..for the dedicated farmers who give everything to walk away a champion.
0:01:03 > 0:01:04Fingers crossed.
0:01:12 > 0:01:17There are over 15 million sheep and lambs in the UK,
0:01:17 > 0:01:19and herding them is a full-time job.
0:01:21 > 0:01:22Come by. Lie down.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28Shepherds Shirley Cropper from Lancashire...
0:01:29 > 0:01:31..and John Atkinson from Yorkshire...
0:01:32 > 0:01:35..are sharpening their skills for a showdown at one of
0:01:35 > 0:01:39the most prestigious sheepdog trials on the countryside calendar.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45A champion sheepdog is a calling card for its trainer,
0:01:45 > 0:01:47with prices running into thousands of pounds
0:01:47 > 0:01:49for a fully trained animal.
0:01:49 > 0:01:50That'll do!
0:01:52 > 0:01:55With just two days to go to the big show...
0:01:56 > 0:01:59..there is pride and silverware at stake.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11The magnificent Yorkshire Dales, just south of York,
0:02:11 > 0:02:13is home to shepherd John Atkinson.
0:02:15 > 0:02:20He looks after the feral sheep that roam the picturesque 8,000 acre
0:02:20 > 0:02:21Escrick Park Estate.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28Come by. I can't see the sheep, but she should be bringing them to us.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33That'll do, that'll do, come here.
0:02:33 > 0:02:34That'll do.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40The estate has been owned by the Forbes-Adam family
0:02:40 > 0:02:42for around 350 years.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48So I'm the 12th generation, which is quite a responsibility.
0:02:48 > 0:02:54I really want to hand it over in a better state than I found it.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00John's absolutely brilliant, as are his dogs.
0:03:00 > 0:03:07Skipwith Common is basically 660 acres of scrub woodland,
0:03:07 > 0:03:11ponds, reeds, bog, heath, everything,
0:03:11 > 0:03:13and without John and his sheepdogs,
0:03:13 > 0:03:16there's no way we would be able to look after the sheep
0:03:16 > 0:03:18on such a difficult stretch of country.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31John's love of man's best friend began when he was a young lad,
0:03:31 > 0:03:35and it's a passion he shares with his partner, Julia.
0:03:35 > 0:03:40Julia's the kennel maid, and a good one, she looks after the pups.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42What do they call those women that look after babies?
0:03:42 > 0:03:45- Wet nurse.- No, not wet nurse! What's the other one?- A nanny.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48No, not nanny. Midwife!
0:03:48 > 0:03:49- She's the midwife.- Midwife.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57Border collies are not the only dogs the couple keep.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00Julia has two very energetic pugs.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04Mimi. Mimi, Mimi, Mimi, Mimi.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09Those are Julia's dogs,
0:04:09 > 0:04:12they're more trouble than all the sheepdogs put together.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15They're not. You're not, are you, girls?
0:04:15 > 0:04:17Come on, my little pigs.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23No matter how you feel in life, a dog will always greet you happy.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25They have great affection for you.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27You should give that affection back.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29I don't know how I'd be without my dogs.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34What did I used to sing to her?
0:04:37 > 0:04:41# Oh, give me a home where the buffaloes roam
0:04:41 > 0:04:46# And the skies is all cloudy all day... #
0:04:46 > 0:04:49They do get a little bit excited when I sing to them.
0:04:53 > 0:04:5770 miles away, in rural Lancashire's beautiful south Pennines,
0:04:57 > 0:04:59there's another devoted shepherd.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04Shirley lives here with her pack of border collies.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06Come by, come by.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08Away.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12Mastering her dogs has become a passion for Shirley,
0:05:12 > 0:05:15but this is far removed from her first love.
0:05:15 > 0:05:20I was a hairdresser, and I did beauty therapy treatments.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24I did enjoy what I was doing, I must have had enough of that,
0:05:24 > 0:05:27and I must have been at a stage in my life
0:05:27 > 0:05:28when I was just ready for a change.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34Shirley's life did change one evening in a local pub,
0:05:34 > 0:05:38where she met the man who was to become her partner of 23 years.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40I met Jimmy Cropper.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44And that's how I got interested in the sheepdog trials.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47Jimmy, a former coalminer,
0:05:47 > 0:05:50was in fact one of the greatest sheep trial champions
0:05:50 > 0:05:52this country has ever produced.
0:05:54 > 0:05:55He's the best.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58I daren't say anything else.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03No, she came from a hairdresser's shop and a beautician.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05No, not a hairdresser's shop,
0:06:05 > 0:06:08I were a self-employed hairdresser and beauty therapist, excuse me.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12And then met an old fool like me, a fool on the hill...
0:06:12 > 0:06:14Yeah. That's right.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20When I first met Jimmy, I think that was the first place you took me to,
0:06:20 > 0:06:22a sheepdog trial, when I first met you.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25Yes, I was courting then, sheepdog triallers.
0:06:25 > 0:06:26A day out!
0:06:27 > 0:06:29We went to quite a few.
0:06:31 > 0:06:36I could see that Jimmy was doing something just a little bit special.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39I didn't think at first I wanted to do it even,
0:06:39 > 0:06:41I just thought it was marvellous to watch.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44And, bit by bit, I learned.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49And then I got my own young dog and started training that.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52Jimmy taught me a lot. Yes.
0:06:52 > 0:06:53Took some doing!
0:07:01 > 0:07:04Jokes aside, the couple have become an excellent team.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10They have 600 sheep on their 800 acre farm,
0:07:10 > 0:07:13which are managed by their dozen dogs.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15And there's also the raft of ducks.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20When you're working with sheep, that can be hard work.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26There's never a day goes by when you've nothing to do.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28Christmas Day, New Year's Day, any day.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36You just get on with it, don't you, you just do what you have to do.
0:07:39 > 0:07:45Back in Yorkshire, former salesman John is busy with his champion dog
0:07:45 > 0:07:46who has just had a litter.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Given they've inherited their mother's excellent genes,
0:07:51 > 0:07:53these puppies are highly prized.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01For any shepherd, the real skill is to find that special puppy,
0:08:01 > 0:08:05who could go on to become a fully trained champion.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08You know within minutes if that dog is any good.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14It has a feel for sheep, it's kind to sheep,
0:08:14 > 0:08:15yet it has a presence about it.
0:08:15 > 0:08:20When you get a dog like that, I just look to the heavens and say,
0:08:20 > 0:08:21"Thank you, God."
0:08:21 > 0:08:25A sheepdog's got to understand the commands from its trainer.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28Well, the dog has four commands.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30It has to go to the left, which is, "come by".
0:08:30 > 0:08:33Has to go to the right, which is, "away".
0:08:33 > 0:08:35It has to stop, which is, "lie down",
0:08:35 > 0:08:37and it has do bring the sheep to you - "walk up".
0:08:37 > 0:08:39When the dog gets further away from you,
0:08:39 > 0:08:42you then go on to the whistles.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45For the away and for the come by...
0:08:45 > 0:08:46Walk up...
0:08:46 > 0:08:48For the stop...
0:08:48 > 0:08:51Once the dog is dancing to the tune of his whistle...
0:08:57 > 0:08:59..John knows just where to market them.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03Farmers, shepherds, and triallists.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06The money is in the triallist, they want the top-notch dogs,
0:09:06 > 0:09:09they want the best, so they can win trials.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15Back across the border in Lancashire,
0:09:15 > 0:09:18Shirley has also got her work cut out,
0:09:18 > 0:09:21and having a former world international champion
0:09:21 > 0:09:25looking over your shoulder adds to the pressure.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27Walk up, walk up.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31Lie down. Lie down.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33Lie down. That'll do.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37Lie down. Lie down!
0:09:37 > 0:09:38Lie down.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44And Jimmy often finds it hard not to get involved.
0:09:46 > 0:09:51I get so excited when Shirley is running that I got her disqualified,
0:09:51 > 0:09:55I shouted Shirley's name. Whether she heard it or not, I don't know.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58- No, I didn't. - But I did shout her name,
0:09:58 > 0:10:00and the judges disqualified her.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02He gets too excited sometimes.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04It were really bad for her then.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07- I felt sorry about that. - He'll not do it next year.
0:10:07 > 0:10:12- No... She's going to stick some plaster across my mouth.- Duct tape!
0:10:20 > 0:10:24It's finally time for the two shepherds to start preparing
0:10:24 > 0:10:26to leave for the show.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30But at the forefront of their minds is the fact that they'll be
0:10:30 > 0:10:32coming up against each other.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38Lancashire and Yorkshire will be competing against each other
0:10:38 > 0:10:40at Nidderdale Show.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43John is on home turf in Yorkshire.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46His prefix for his dogs is White Rose.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49We are in Lancashire, so we are the Red Rose.
0:10:49 > 0:10:54It's not the War of the Roses, but it's competition, and hopefully,
0:10:54 > 0:10:56the red roses will win.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58Come by.
0:10:58 > 0:10:59I think Shirley Cropper's...
0:11:00 > 0:11:04..done fantastic. I think to come into sheepdogs knowing nothing,
0:11:04 > 0:11:06and within probably ten years
0:11:06 > 0:11:08she's virtually gone to the top of the game.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10I think she'll do well at Nidderdale.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14In fact, I think she could finish second, even, you know?
0:11:14 > 0:11:16Couldn't she, Queen, eh? Could she finish second?
0:11:16 > 0:11:19Come here, my favourite, my favourite, come here.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23Sometimes he beats us, sometimes we beat him.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26Nobody wants a Lancastrian coming into Yorkshire
0:11:26 > 0:11:28and winning Yorkshire... Excuse me. Yorkshire.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30Queen, are you going to do it?
0:11:30 > 0:11:32Are you going to do it tomorrow?
0:11:32 > 0:11:33May the best man win.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38Or best man or woman win.
0:11:38 > 0:11:39Best person win.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42Let the best person win.
0:11:46 > 0:11:51After all the months of preparation, it's finally time to set off.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55Little bit nervous.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58But hopes for today are to win the show and bring the trophy back.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02I hope she does well, White Rose Queen.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20The Nidderdale Agricultural Show has been a high point
0:12:20 > 0:12:24of the Yorkshire farming community's calendar for over 100 years.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29Contestants arrive from far and wide to compete for the many prizes
0:12:29 > 0:12:34on offer, none more hotly contested than the annual sheepdog trial.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42Before they can begin, all dogs have to be registered,
0:12:42 > 0:12:45meaning the two rivals meet at the tent.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48- Trouble!- Trouble!- Trouble's here.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50- John Atkinson.- Number 13.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52Number 13?!
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Number 13. Unlucky for some.
0:12:55 > 0:12:56- What number are you?- Ten.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00I'll be able to watch Shirley's.
0:13:00 > 0:13:01What number are you, Jim?
0:13:01 > 0:13:05- 21.- I'll watch your mistakes. - You're the devil.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09- 21?- He asked me age.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11LAUGHTER
0:13:11 > 0:13:12Who's put me down for 13?
0:13:12 > 0:13:13Me!
0:13:16 > 0:13:17Lucky for some.
0:13:17 > 0:13:18It'll be lucky for some.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28Sheepdog trials have been an integral part of the Nidderdale Show
0:13:28 > 0:13:29for close on 100 years.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34Like their predecessors,
0:13:34 > 0:13:37the 50 triallists here today are all trying their best to show
0:13:37 > 0:13:40how well they can train their dogs.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47Only ten prizes will be given out,
0:13:47 > 0:13:49and there's no results till the end of the day.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53Everybody that runs sheepdogs in this area
0:13:53 > 0:13:56wants to be in that trial, yes.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59So it does mean a lot, winning at the show.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01Out there lies the course -
0:14:01 > 0:14:05the challenge to all the handlers today.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08First the dog is sent out to collect the sheep
0:14:08 > 0:14:09and bring them under control.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14Then it must drive the sheep through two sets of gates,
0:14:14 > 0:14:18before circling the shepherd at their post.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Finally they are penned,
0:14:24 > 0:14:27and then let out and split.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30A lot for the judge to follow.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32He will be doing it all from inside his car.
0:14:32 > 0:14:37As a judge, I'm looking for straight lines and control of the sheep.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39Across the fields,
0:14:39 > 0:14:43Nidderdale is starting to fill up and the crowds are building.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49The sheepdog trials are about to begin.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53First up is Shirley and her nine-year-old collie, Danny.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56- ANNOUNCER:- Next up to run is Shirley Cropper. Thank you.
0:14:56 > 0:15:02She's been competing a while and she's a good competitor, is Shirley.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05Lie down. Lie down.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07Come by.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09And they're off.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12She will only have eight minutes to complete the course...
0:15:14 > 0:15:16..and all eyes are on her.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20SHE WHISTLES
0:15:20 > 0:15:22And she's got them through the gate.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28There's a lot of extra pressure on Shirley,
0:15:28 > 0:15:32as she is one of only a handful of female trainers in the country.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34I am in a minority.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37It's probably maybe 10% or 15% women.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39I was well nervous when I first started.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46The run's been going well, but suddenly Shirley is struggling
0:15:46 > 0:15:48to get the sheep into the pen.
0:15:51 > 0:15:52Lie down. Come by.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58Away. Lie down. Lie down.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03And they're in.
0:16:03 > 0:16:04Lie down.
0:16:05 > 0:16:06Lie down.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11The last thing Shirley has to do is to split them into pairs.
0:16:23 > 0:16:24She's done it...
0:16:26 > 0:16:30..just before the judge hoots to indicate that her time is up.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35I think it might be going to Lancashire!
0:16:35 > 0:16:37Not Yorkshire!
0:16:43 > 0:16:45Why wouldn't they go in the pen?
0:16:45 > 0:16:47You panicked.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52They don't tell you your score until the end of the day
0:16:52 > 0:16:54so I don't know how I've done.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57The trickiest bit for me then was the pen.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00They looked like they were going in straightaway
0:17:00 > 0:17:02and I think the dog just moved a tiny little bit.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06But I won't get the full ten points.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09To get the full ten points they've got to go in straightaway.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11Come on, Danny, get in.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13Go on, Shirley, get in.
0:17:13 > 0:17:14I'm not getting in!
0:17:17 > 0:17:20Unfortunately, or fortunately for me,
0:17:20 > 0:17:23she had one bad sheep out of the four.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25She's left plenty of room.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28As long as I get four good sheep, I should be OK.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31The competition's heating up.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34Shirley's set the bar and now it's time to see if rival John
0:17:34 > 0:17:37and his White Rose Queen can make a better run of it.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42Fingers crossed, everything crossed.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45Have to see what he can do.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48There's two good dogs coming on now and then that's the last.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52You've got to hope that the next man does bad,
0:17:52 > 0:17:54and we shouldn't do really, but you do.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57When you're trialling you think, "I hope he does bad."
0:17:57 > 0:17:59And it's...
0:17:59 > 0:18:02You shouldn't really think that way, but you do.
0:18:06 > 0:18:07And off they go.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12You are tense while you're running.
0:18:14 > 0:18:15There is nothing easy about it.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18You're concentrating on the sheep so strongly, you're not thinking,
0:18:18 > 0:18:20"This is fun."
0:18:20 > 0:18:24Concentration is paying off because within a few minutes,
0:18:24 > 0:18:25John's got them through the gates.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28Lie down. Come by.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30Now it's the tricky bit.
0:18:30 > 0:18:31Getting them into that pen.
0:18:31 > 0:18:32Lie down.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37Can he do it in better time than Shirley?
0:18:37 > 0:18:39Lie down.
0:18:39 > 0:18:40And he's done it like a pro.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42APPLAUSE
0:18:42 > 0:18:43Lie down, lie down.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47Now all that's left is to split them into pairs.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51But the sheep aren't interested.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53Away. Lie down. Come by.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55- Lie down. Away. - HORN TOOTS
0:18:55 > 0:18:56Time's up.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01Despite some good moves, John hasn't finished the run.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07We'll just have to see. He could still be in front of me.
0:19:07 > 0:19:08It was a very good run.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12It depends on the judge and what the judge likes at the end of the day.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14It's not up to us, sadly.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18It was a shame that I just ran out of time for the split,
0:19:18 > 0:19:20which is a big deduction.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23Queen, where are you going? She's going under the bridge.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26Come here. What are you doing? Where have you been?
0:19:27 > 0:19:31Come on, that'll do. Come on, my favourite. Come here.
0:19:31 > 0:19:32Stay there now.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40The Nidderdale Agricultural Show was founded in 1895.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51Each year the Meltham Mills Brass Band, led by the show officials,
0:19:51 > 0:19:54weaves its traditional route through the market town
0:19:54 > 0:19:56to celebrate show day.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01There was a committee of ten started it off.
0:20:01 > 0:20:06We now have a committee of something like nearly 80 and those wise men
0:20:06 > 0:20:11and maybe some ladies kept it going and it's grown throughout the years
0:20:11 > 0:20:14as much as it can. We can't hardly fit anything else in now.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18As well as the menagerie of animals here to compete,
0:20:18 > 0:20:21there are also dozens of opportunities for farmers
0:20:21 > 0:20:23to display their wares.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40After a very competitive start to the morning,
0:20:40 > 0:20:45the next triallist up will be the legend, Jimmy Cropper.
0:20:45 > 0:20:46Come on.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51I'll definitely watch the Godfather here, won't we, eh?
0:20:51 > 0:20:55Good lord! Favourite to win it, Jim? No pressure, then. No pressure.
0:20:55 > 0:20:56I'm too old for this job now!
0:20:56 > 0:20:58- Oh!- Jimmy Corleone!
0:20:58 > 0:21:01- Jimmy Corleo...! - I've got a new hobby.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05John's not the only one who thinks Jimmy might just have the upper hand.
0:21:05 > 0:21:11This man Cropper, I don't like to give any plaudits,
0:21:11 > 0:21:15but he's the Nelson Mandela of the sheepdog world.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17I said the Godfather - Nelson Mandela...!
0:21:17 > 0:21:20- Who's Nelson Mandela? - Nelson Mandela!
0:21:23 > 0:21:28So all eyes turn as the great man himself enters the field.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33Now in his 70s, it's not quite his heyday,
0:21:33 > 0:21:36but it's still a rare opportunity to see the master at work.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39Mr 100%'s coming up in a bit,
0:21:39 > 0:21:41so, yeah, I'll be watching him closely.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49She's getting that good, she's beating me every time.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52And I'm getting a bit fed up, I think I'll divorce her!
0:21:55 > 0:21:56Away.
0:21:56 > 0:21:57And he's off.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05But even a champion at this level can still feel the pressure.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10I know what I've got to do, but doing it is a different tale.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13The sheep will only allow you to do certain things.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16If you get a very wild sheep, then it's going to spoil your run.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20Jimmy's got them through the gates in no time.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26But there's something amiss going on at the pen.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35Come by.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37Away!
0:22:37 > 0:22:38Come by. Come by!
0:22:38 > 0:22:40Away. Away.
0:22:41 > 0:22:42Away.
0:22:43 > 0:22:44Lie down.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50Finally, he gets the troublesome sheep in,
0:22:50 > 0:22:52like the professional he is.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54Come by. Lie down.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57He just needs to spread the sheep, and he's home free.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00Lie down, lie down!
0:23:00 > 0:23:03But the clock is ticking away.
0:23:03 > 0:23:04Lie down, lie down!
0:23:07 > 0:23:10HORN TOOTS And suddenly, the judge calls time.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27I thought I'd had a good course,
0:23:27 > 0:23:29and I thought my time might be running out,
0:23:29 > 0:23:32cos I saw John's time run out.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35And when John's time ran out, he had quite a good run,
0:23:35 > 0:23:36and I thought my time might be going.
0:23:36 > 0:23:41So then, you start to panic and try and get 'em in the pen in a hurry,
0:23:41 > 0:23:43and that's when things go wrong.
0:23:43 > 0:23:47You've got to be steady with your dog on sheep,
0:23:47 > 0:23:49on a small course like this.
0:23:49 > 0:23:53And... But the time is always against you.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56Both John and Jimmy, they both had better runs than me
0:23:56 > 0:23:58out in the field.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00But it's a close competition.
0:24:00 > 0:24:01It is, it is.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05They won't be... They might be still in front of me...
0:24:06 > 0:24:09..but we'll just have to see, see what the judge prefers.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17But John and Shirley won't have long to wait now.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20Across Nidderdale, the show is beginning to wind down.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22And in the fields, the sheepdog trials are over.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30All they can do is hope, while the judge tots up the scores.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33The judge doesn't look like he knows himself yet.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36So I wouldn't like to say, cos he's turning pages over,
0:24:36 > 0:24:41going back and reckoning it all up, so I don't know.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43Mmm. Mmm.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50Both John and Shirley have given their all.
0:24:50 > 0:24:51But it's out of their hands now.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01Finally, the judge has come to a decision.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09Time for the Nidderdale Singles Champion to be crowned.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22OK, so, here are the results for the 2016 Nidderdale Show
0:25:22 > 0:25:24sheepdog trials.
0:25:26 > 0:25:27In reverse order.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32In tenth place, Sandy Beaton, on 68.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40- Thank you very much.- OK.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44In ninth place, we have John Atkinson on 70.
0:25:44 > 0:25:45I thank you!
0:25:47 > 0:25:48Thank you very much. Thank you.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51John's a winner, but not quite what he was hoping for.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57I got lost in the time.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59Because I'm concerned about the sheep
0:25:59 > 0:26:03and being caring for the sheep - being a shepherd, that's my job.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06Trying to be careful with them and kind to them,
0:26:06 > 0:26:11and because I was caring for them, and trying to be gentle with them,
0:26:11 > 0:26:13I ran out of time at the trial,
0:26:13 > 0:26:15and I should think more about the competition.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20John and White Rose Queen were very unlucky, actually.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24He was just beeped out for time.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Which lost him ten points, cos the shed was fine,
0:26:29 > 0:26:31but it was out of time.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35Which would have made him into third place, actually.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39With first prize still up for grabs,
0:26:39 > 0:26:42Shirley's in the running for the coveted cup.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51And in first place, we have Shirley Cropper, on 106.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56For this former hair and beauty stylist turned farmer...
0:26:56 > 0:27:00- Oh, thank you!- ..to break through at this level is a real achievement.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12I think Shirley's done very well.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14Very well. Yeah.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24It's always good to finish on a high,
0:27:24 > 0:27:29and to do your best and to get the best out of your dogs,
0:27:29 > 0:27:34and come away with some lovely silverware!
0:27:34 > 0:27:36Shirley doesn't really need to improve on anything.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39She is a very accomplished handler.
0:27:39 > 0:27:44Even if I'd done the final exercise, where I'd split the sheep,
0:27:44 > 0:27:47I wouldn't have won the trial, I would have been second to Shirley.
0:27:47 > 0:27:48So...
0:27:49 > 0:27:50Tough luck!
0:27:52 > 0:27:55I feel really proud to see her win everything, I do.
0:27:57 > 0:27:58- Vice versa!- Yes.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04The trip home, we'll probably have steak and chips.
0:28:05 > 0:28:07Might have a bit of sweet cake.
0:28:09 > 0:28:13For Shirley and John, it's time to put the rivalry to bed,
0:28:13 > 0:28:15for the time being at least!
0:28:15 > 0:28:17- Well done, Shirley.- Thank you, John.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19Well done to you as well.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21Hey, look! Red rose, white rose!
0:28:21 > 0:28:23Unfortunately, she's the winner!
0:28:23 > 0:28:25LAUGHTER