Episode 1 One Man and His Dog


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We've 12 top handlers and their champion dogs anxiously waiting to complete.

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The sun is shining, the course is set and this year,

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we even have a royal castle as a backdrop.

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Welcome to One Man And His Dog 2011.

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A warm welcome from Balmoral Castle and a very special One Man And His Dog.

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This year is our 35th anniversary.

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35 years on the BBC and so we couldn't think of a better place

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to host this year's competition than the grounds of Balmoral,

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the Scottish home of the Royal family.

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As usual, this year we've four countries competing,

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England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

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We have three challenging courses to test the nerve

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and the skill of our handlers and, of course, the dogs.

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First of all, we've got young handlers, all of which are under 18.

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Then we move on to the brace which is one man and two dogs.

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Then we've a round, the singles round, it's one man, one dog,

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but two flocks of sheep.

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Well, the man with all the knowledge is, of course, Gus Dermody,

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who set this course.

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Gus, not only did you set it, you've had a go of it. What are your predictions?

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Well, it's a little bit smaller than usual but it's difficult.

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It really is difficult.

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And maybe Scotland have got a slight advantage.

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They're on their home territory but we're also using

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-Scottish Blackface sheep which can be a little bit stroppy.

-They can be feisty.

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We're going to start with the young handlers and we don't make things easy for them.

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That's why we're putting them on first. Let's have a look and see what's on store for them.

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So, here's the course and it's worth a possible 100 points.

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To start, five sheep are set

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at the lift post at the far end of the course

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and heading in the direction of the castle, the handler sends

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their dog out on either a right or a left outrun to reach the sheep.

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There's a possible 20 points here.

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Then the dog approaches the sheep and moves them

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gently back towards the handler.

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That's the lift and it's worth 10 points.

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There's 20 points up for grabs with the fetch that all the sheep

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must go through the fetch gates

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and the handler must remain at the post to get maximum points.

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Next, it's the drive, hugely important

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and worth a possible 30 points.

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The dog needs to keep the sheep moving at a steady pace here

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so they don't miss the drive gates. It'll be points lost if they do.

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The drive ends when the sheep into the shedding ring

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and this is one of the many places where it can all go wrong.

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Here, any two sheep can be shed off and the dog must hold them

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until the judges are satisfied for a maximum of 10 points.

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For a final 10 points, all five sheep must be penned

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and the gate closed.

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The whole course must be completed within 12 minutes

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for maximum points.

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I'm not the only one with a pretty good seat in the house.

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Our judges Arthur Roberts

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and Barra O'Brien have a pretty good spot too and we've raised them up

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above the course so that nothing can escape their expert eyes.

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Earlier on, we did a draw to see

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who would be the first competitor of our 2011 competition

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and it turns out it's ladies first, Susan Venney from Ireland.

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My name's Susan Venney. I come from Ros Glas in County Down

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and this year I'll be running Jill in the competition.

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It's an honour to be completing with Frankie and Sammy.

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Here in Ros Glas, we're situated at the coast of County Down

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and we can see the mountains.

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Our farm has been in the family for generations.

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It's a beef and sheep farm.

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It consists of Limousin cows and Suffolk Cheviot cross sheep.

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Jill is a quite, good-natured dog and she was bred

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out of Frankie McCullough's craig and I've had her since a pup.

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Away.

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I learned how to handle my dog from Frankie and when I go to trials,

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I constantly watched the experienced handlers to learn more tips.

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I'm the only female competing in this year's One Man And His Dog.

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I'm very honoured to be representing my country

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and I hope we can show that women can do a good job.

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Doing it for the girls then, 16-year-old Susan Venney

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and three-year-old Jill.

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Jill, here. Jill.

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Now this is interesting because Jill, from that lower position, couldn't see the sheep.

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I wonder if she can clap eyes on them in this position.

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She might be able to. I don't know but that was good. I like that.

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-Absolutely allowed.

-Yes, oh, yes. And away she goes.

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There you can see our head of sheep, Malcolm, with his dog,

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just holding the sheep at the end.

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-Good start and that's the first worry over.

-Beautifully done.

-Yes.

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We're looking for that 12 o'clock position

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and she absolutely nailed it there.

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And the dog is responding to every whistle that she gives,

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left and right.

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The sheep are coming up rather fast now and she needs to push them

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further over towards the gates. Two have slipped.

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Full marks for the outrun, full marks for the lift

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but these sheep are going at some pace here.

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Yes, they're zigzagging a little bit and they've not turned.

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She didn't get them all through the fetch gates

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so there'll be points lost there.

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She's been given 12 out 20 for the fetch.

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She's got to go straight down the field towards those gates

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in the middle of the field itself.

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And they don't want to go straight, these Blackfaced sometimes,

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on the drive. You can see they're going left and right.

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Anything but go in a straight line.

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It's going to be points lost,

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but Susan is doing her best to try and keep them on line.

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That's better. That's better. And through they go but what a struggle.

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The judges will be knocking some points off there unfortunately.

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This is the bit that Susan is a little bit concerned about,

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this pull through. She's only ever done it once before and the sheep

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are going like the clappers here. Two have missed.

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Come by, lie down.

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And again, they're coming at a pace

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so the little dog has got to come round and head the sheep.

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21 points for the drive.

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So at the shed,

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Susan has to get Jill to separate two of the sheep from these five.

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It's worth thinking about these sheep

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out on these vast highland moors

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and what have you and confined spaces aren't really their thing.

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There may be a chance here, may be an opportunity.

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Yeah, it's looking for that natural gap. She might have one there.

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Yes, there's a chance coming now.

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The dog is waiting to be called in. Here's the opportunity coming.

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We've got two off on the right but she's going for the back two.

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Oh, I like it! But the judges, I don't think they'll accept that.

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Didn't hear a shout come because whilst she almost held them,

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she didn't actually come through and hold them away from the other three.

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She's got to do it again.

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Now, here we go, here we go! The dog has come.

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-And the judges have accepted it.

-Super job there. Well done, Susan.

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Four awarded for the shed so six lost.

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She's got to go ever so careful here.

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I hope that they don't nip down on either Jill's side.

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Susan looking after her side.

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Come by. Lie down.

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-Now then, she's in with a chance.

-There's one having a look there.

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Yes, that was the one that spun around before.

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It's gone to the back again. Now it's just might lead them in.

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It's coming down the far side. It's over now on Susan's side to our left

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but looking back at the dog.

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Jill waiting for the command. Here we go. This looks like...

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the others are going to follow. That's it, Susan shaking the rope

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and that's just enough to get them in and complete the first round.

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Nine points awarded for the pens

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and let's see what that does to the overall score.

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76 out of 100 for Susan and Jill.

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Relieved it's over.

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I think Jill done well getting the sheep to the top

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because there was a bit of a hollow in the field but disappointed

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with her missing the sheep in the gates but overall good.

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Our next competitor isn't just a promising young handler,

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he's also a keen sportsman. Obviously trying to get a win today

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and put the brakes on the these sheep that don't want to hang around.

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It's Llion Harries for Wales, with his dog, Bess.

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My name's Llion Harries. I'm from Crymych, which is in north Pembrokeshire

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and in this year's competition I'm running Bess.

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I live on the family farm.

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It's 190 acres,

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rolling countryside, and it's close to the Preseli mountains.

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Bess is a great dog.

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She's very friendly,

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she's very skilful, and she's very, very fast.

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Come by.

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She is a champion and her mother was,

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and this is the reason why she's so good

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because she's got a really good pedigree.

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When I'm not on the farm or not in school

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I enjoy playing rugby.

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I play with my local team which are Crymych and I play on the wing.

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I'm very excited to be competing on One Man & His Dog

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because I've been watching this series so much on TV,

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and I can't believe that I'm doing it now.

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Well, this obviously means a lot to Llion here,

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and what a place to step out

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for the first time on One Man & His Dog, in front of Balmoral Castle.

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Llion is 15. Here he is with his two-year-old dog, Bess.

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Opting to go off to the left.

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I think we should point out here that each competitor

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gets a new flock of sheep, so everyone's got the same chance.

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That's nice.

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WHISTLES

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He's managing quite well,

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just stopped a little bit short at the end of the outrun

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and so lost a couple of points.

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Two points lost for the outrun

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but a full 10 points for the lift.

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But he is doing well,

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got them nicely balanced right through the middle of the fetch.

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-Beautiful.

-And the pace is good.

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WHISTLES

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Get up.

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So switching to voice commands here.

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As he sheep round Llion.

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Well, I am impressed, up to now.

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And as you were saying, Gus,

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eight months into his training it's remarkable.

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Tremendous.

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Three points lost on the fetch.

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WHISTLES

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He's got them lined up now for the first set of drive gates.

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Well, look at this. This is a brilliant, brilliant performance.

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Yes, he is doing a good job here. He's had a better line

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down the first leg of the drive than Susan.

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He's doing well. Now he has got to turn them on to the crossdrive.

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The sheep are quite steady,

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well bunched together.

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Maybe he should've turned a little bit sooner

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so the judges might be penalising him here.

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It's a very difficult manoeuvre, this one.

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It's quite deceptive.

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WHISTLES

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But they're going a bit to the side of the gates, he's covered that.

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Will they go through?

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Yes. Nicely through and so steady.

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So steady.

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Well, they haven't missed an obstacle yet.

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They're coming towards the ring.

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And into the shedding ring they come.

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Get up.

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Llion back on to word commands now.

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Bit of frustration in his face there as he was looking at them.

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Get up, get up, get up!

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Come by. Come by.

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24 for the drive,

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just 11 points lost so far.

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That is great, and there is a possibility coming in here now

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that he's got the two,

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will he go onto the front two,

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will she go on, will the judges accept it?

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Come by.

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Yes, the judges have accepted it.

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Full marks for the shed, Gus.

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Oh, that's great. That's great.

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And she gives nice room here.

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This is where he's keeping the sheep calm.

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Just easing them now. Will she have enough? Will they turn onto it?

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At the moment they are looking the right way.

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Don't let them down the side.

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The front ones looking in.

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They're all pointing in the right direction here.

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Yes, Bess is doing a good job here.

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Well, they're both working well.

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He's got them looking right as you say, in towards the mouth.

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That's it, she's up on her feet again now.

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A little cheeky one at the front there.

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They're just going to...

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Don't want to start any stamping, girls, come on!

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This is where you could do with a 12-foot crook.

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-Yes!

-To just help the men.

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-Just one to go to turn round.

-A 12-foot gate!

-She is waiting.

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A 12-foot gate would help!

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But no, he's managed it and the gate is shut.

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What a good round for Wales.

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Just one lost

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for the pen there,

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that is a total of 88.

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I tell you what, there will be lots of older handlers out there

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looking from behind their crooks with raised eyebrows.

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I think it went great.

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I was a bit more lucky than Susan with the sheep,

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but I think that's really good, one of my best runs ever.

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I was really nervous to start with but I feel great now.

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Well, Llion and Bess are going to be a tough act to follow.

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But next up to the podium is a Scottish young handler

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who is celebrating his 14th birthday.

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Let's hope he leaves the field with a reason for a double celebration.

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My name is John Ramsay. I come from Glenluce in Dumfries & Galloway.

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I will be running my dog Glen in One Man & His Dog.

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This is a dairy farm here, and I enjoy milking the cows

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and working with the cows down here as well as

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I like working up with the sheep.

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This is Glen, and he's the first dog I ever had.

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I got him as a pup just before Christmas,

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I've just started working the sheep with him. A lot of people say to me

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I'll never have another one as good as him.

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He's a very loyal dog, he won't work for anybody else.

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And my grandpa, Thompson McKnight,

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he ran a lot of trials and he won lots of cups.

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He judged One Man & His Dog once.

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To run in One Man & His Dog,

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I'm quite nervous, but I know Glen will just do his best for me so that's all I ask from him.

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What an occasion to be celebrating your birthday, Gus.

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Isn't it just? Isn't it just?

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-Oh, dear.

-Dear, oh, dear. That's crossed.

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He started out going to the right then crossed to the left which is not allowed.

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He's put him right now

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but it depends what the judges are going to do.

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And he ended up behind the sheep all right.

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But the lift's good.

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And I like the bit

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where he said this dog never takes a backward step.

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And with that face,

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it's going to be an advantage.

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Both John and Glen

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are used to running these black-faced ewes.

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They have 650 of them back on their farm, Just near Glenluce.

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Just given one for the outrun. Nine for the lift.

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No doubt it was nerves when he was starting off.

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He just didn't set the dog up right to go off to the right-hand side.

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It's not bothering him now though,

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he's staying on top of the job and he's got these sheep

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under nice control.

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Three points lost on the fetch.

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Just a little bit zigzaggy now

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as they're going down this first leg of the drive.

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That's better.

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No, it isn't, I spoken to soon! Dear, oh dear.

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You can't have a retry

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at a gate once you have gone past the gate itself,

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so he's got to keep going now.

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WHISTLES

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Lie down!

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You can sense there in the voice that maybe

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Glen is getting a little bit too keen,

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doing his own thing a little bit.

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He's wanting to get round them, not wanting to drive any more.

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Oh, and he has come the side of the drive gate.

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So both the gates on the drive have been missed.

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And that will be a lot of points tumbling down.

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He's still trying.

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These sheep are coming up now

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in a good, straight line,

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and into the shedding ring.

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Sit down. Come by. Sit down.

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Nine given for the drive.

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9 out of 30.

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He's got these sheep spreading out.

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Look at that. When he has that in, that was a really good shed.

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Full marks, of course, for that shed.

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Yes, that was good. That was good.

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Sit down. Sit down! Come by.

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And it was the authority and the way the dog came through then

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and the confident way that he did it.

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This dog can do it,

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it's just not been his day today.

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Sit down, Glen! Sit down.

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Come by. Sit down.

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Come on.

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Come on, Glen.

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Now they're facing in.

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Ever so steady.

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One looking round at him,

0:18:340:18:36

Glen's just overflanked a little bit

0:18:360:18:38

and the sheep are looking round at him now.

0:18:380:18:41

Ever so gently will do it.

0:18:410:18:44

I don't think these are going to stamp at Glen,

0:18:460:18:48

because I think they know what he is about and he's done it.

0:18:480:18:51

An efficient pen that, wasn't it?

0:18:510:18:54

Eight points for the pen, lost two there.

0:18:560:18:59

A total of 54 out of a possible 100

0:18:590:19:01

for Scotland, John and Glen.

0:19:010:19:04

When Glen crossed over it was a bit disappointing

0:19:050:19:08

because it's not like him, he's usually very good,

0:19:080:19:10

but when he was out he was looking towards the left

0:19:100:19:13

so maybe I should have changed him.

0:19:130:19:15

After that he got things that together a bit, and ran quite well.

0:19:150:19:20

Pleased after that.

0:19:200:19:22

Well proving to be the trickiest obstacle

0:19:220:19:25

on the course so far are these sets of drive gates,

0:19:250:19:27

and it's this pull three.

0:19:270:19:28

You can see from the handler's perspective it's very difficult

0:19:280:19:32

to see when you turn these five sheep,

0:19:320:19:34

especially if they're going at a good, strong pace,

0:19:340:19:37

but hoping to get England cleanly through

0:19:370:19:39

is the youngest competitor of the day.

0:19:390:19:41

My name is Matt Carter, I come from Delabole in Cornwall,

0:19:460:19:50

and this is my dog, Blue.

0:19:500:19:52

Delabole is a bit windy at times and that. It's not far off the coast.

0:19:550:20:00

I wouldn't move.

0:20:000:20:02

My grandad, he's brought me up to dog trialling

0:20:040:20:07

because I used to always ride with him to trails.

0:20:070:20:10

And I've just learnt on and he's taught me a lot.

0:20:100:20:15

Blue's my first ever dog I've had, she's got a bond with me now

0:20:160:20:20

and we've been working and working.

0:20:200:20:22

My grandad, John,

0:20:240:20:27

he competed in the One Man And His Dog in 2002.

0:20:270:20:31

And he won this stick and I'm hoping to get as far as he did,

0:20:310:20:35

and follow in his footsteps.

0:20:350:20:37

On we go then with England.

0:20:430:20:45

This is Matthew Carter, 13-years-old, with his dog Blue.

0:20:450:20:50

-To the right-hand side then.

-Let's hope she stays out.

0:20:540:20:57

He stopped her early then.

0:21:000:21:03

Another stop whistle and now a walk on whistle.

0:21:050:21:08

So they'll just be a few points off the...

0:21:080:21:10

Ah, she nearly ran them then.

0:21:100:21:12

Ah, she's got herself wound up here.

0:21:120:21:15

A bit uptight. Whether it's the presence of another dog there.

0:21:150:21:22

She's just, unfortunately, too wound up altogether.

0:21:220:21:26

Matthew was saying he was a bit concerned about the lumpy

0:21:260:21:30

bumpy ground because he wouldn't be able to see what Blue was doing.

0:21:300:21:34

-17 scored for the out run. No points for the lift.

-Ah well.

0:21:360:21:40

To be expected, yes, what a shame.

0:21:400:21:42

And the sheep are coming up the field fast,

0:21:420:21:45

the dog just has upset these sheep

0:21:450:21:47

so he'll have to watch that he doesn't lose them altogether.

0:21:470:21:50

She's covered them they're not going to be escaping, thank goodness.

0:21:500:21:55

And she's coming onto them nice and steady now.

0:21:550:21:59

Can he keep them going on a straight line now

0:22:020:22:04

down to the first set of gates?

0:22:040:22:07

Ten points awarded for the fetch. That's ten out of 20.

0:22:070:22:12

He's got the first set of drive gates, now onto this second set.

0:22:180:22:22

How much do the judges take into consideration

0:22:220:22:26

when the sheep stop like this?

0:22:260:22:28

If you were judging a competition such as a national sheepdog trail,

0:22:280:22:33

then every time the sheep stopped you would be taking a point off.

0:22:330:22:38

They may not be quite as hard with it being Matthew, a young handler.

0:22:380:22:43

The line's good.

0:22:450:22:47

Now, she's gone very fast round, but he paid that time.

0:22:470:22:51

Wahey! He's through those drive gates, well done, Matthew.

0:22:530:22:56

-HE WHISTLES

-Come by.

0:23:000:23:03

22 scored for the drive.

0:23:030:23:05

That's good, he's making up points now.

0:23:050:23:09

But this is where you do want them to be nice and calm

0:23:090:23:12

and almost stopping, as long as they're not too bunched together.

0:23:120:23:17

Lie down. Way, way. Lie down!

0:23:180:23:20

Here's an opportunity coming.

0:23:220:23:24

Ohhh! I think that was just a yawn, wasn't it?

0:23:240:23:28

Oh, hang on.

0:23:290:23:30

Here's his opportunity, come on, in you come now.

0:23:300:23:35

Are the judges going to take it? Is she going to go on to those two?

0:23:350:23:40

Yes, yes.

0:23:410:23:43

-Seven for the shed.

-And so for the pen.

0:23:430:23:46

I think this will be one of the most difficult parts

0:23:460:23:49

of the course for him, to try and get these sheep into that pen

0:23:490:23:52

because he needs to push that little bit harder, but not lose her temper.

0:23:520:23:56

Lie down. Walk on. Come by.

0:23:560:24:00

Just edging in there, Blue.

0:24:000:24:01

Oh, and it's looking... He's...

0:24:100:24:14

Oh! Well done that man, and dog.

0:24:140:24:16

-What about that.

-Great.

0:24:160:24:18

The finest pen we've seen today.

0:24:190:24:21

Full marks for the pen,

0:24:230:24:24

let's see what that does for the overall score.

0:24:240:24:26

Matthew and Blue score 66 for England.

0:24:260:24:28

As I've seen all the other handlers run already

0:24:310:24:34

I had a bit more of an idea of how well I have to do.

0:24:340:24:38

It went OK, it was a bit of a shame about the lift, but other

0:24:380:24:42

than that she ran quite well and she kept control of the sheep well.

0:24:420:24:47

Gus, you always said this would be a tricky course,

0:24:470:24:51

are you surprised at how the young handlers coped with it?

0:24:510:24:54

I thought two of them did very, very well at it.

0:24:540:24:57

The way Llion and Susan managed things, they did well, yes.

0:24:570:25:01

You were surprised at the start with Susan getting Jill up onto

0:25:010:25:04

the podium, and that was a great little move, wasn't it?

0:25:040:25:07

She was perfectly entitled to do it

0:25:070:25:09

and it was to an advantage because her outrun was good.

0:25:090:25:14

A bit of a nightmare at those drive gates.

0:25:140:25:18

That is a really tricky obstacle.

0:25:180:25:20

Yes, it is and not many if them had done that before.

0:25:200:25:24

The actual pull through is rather difficult.

0:25:240:25:26

He's through those drive gates, well done, Matthew.

0:25:290:25:32

What do you think this means for Wales?

0:25:320:25:35

Llion's given them a massive score of 88.

0:25:350:25:38

-I think Wales could be the danger team now.

-Well, time will tell.

0:25:380:25:45

Guys, you can now relax. How are you all feeling?

0:25:450:25:49

What was the hardest part, Matthew?

0:25:490:25:51

It's the drive gates when you're going back across.

0:25:510:25:54

-You've got the dip and the dog goes out of sight.

-Right, OK.

0:25:540:25:58

John, a bit tricky at the start for the out run.

0:25:580:26:01

It's not like him at all, he's never done that in his life before.

0:26:010:26:05

Did you see Susan's trick of getting the dog up on the podium

0:26:050:26:08

to see the sheep, you didn't fancy doing that?

0:26:080:26:10

-I didn't see that.

-You didn't?

0:26:100:26:12

-Oh, John, that's the key, Susan, wasn't it?

-Yes.

0:26:120:26:15

How was the round for you?

0:26:150:26:17

Good, but just the pull through as well,

0:26:170:26:19

I thought two sheep would slip round the side.

0:26:190:26:22

-Do you wish you could do it again now?

-No, I'm glad it's over.

0:26:220:26:26

Just happy! Llion, yours was absolutely sensational.

0:26:260:26:29

-88 scored and you've only been trialling for eight months?

-Yes.

0:26:290:26:33

All the eights for you!

0:26:330:26:36

The second drive gate was the hardest bit, I think,

0:26:360:26:39

the dip was really tricky to get right.

0:26:390:26:43

Listen, you've given Wales a belting start.

0:26:430:26:46

Let's see how far ahead Wales are after the first round.

0:26:460:26:50

There it is, Wales on 88, but Ireland are not out of the running

0:26:500:26:55

just yet, only 12 points behind.

0:26:550:26:58

Even third placed England on 66 and Scotland,

0:26:580:27:00

the current champions, on 54 are still in with a shout.

0:27:000:27:04

Now before we see how the more experienced handlers deal

0:27:060:27:09

with these troublesome sheep,

0:27:090:27:11

let's meet the man who makes it all work behind the scenes.

0:27:110:27:13

Malcolm, you've been involved in One Man And His Dog

0:27:130:27:16

for over 15 years and you have this title of Head Of Sheep.

0:27:160:27:19

-It's very glamorous, isn't it?

-It is.

0:27:190:27:21

We'd be absolutely snookered without you

0:27:210:27:24

because the sheep don't just arrive by magic at the end of the field.

0:27:240:27:28

It's all you, your dogs and what have you.

0:27:280:27:31

This year we're running these traditional Scottish Blackfaces.

0:27:310:27:36

Yes, traditional for the area.

0:27:360:27:38

They've been in a glen nine miles long which rises nearly 3,000 feet.

0:27:380:27:43

-And they see nobody. So coming down here is a big shock for them.

-They don't even see dogs, do they?

0:27:430:27:48

No, cos you only round them up when you need them.

0:27:480:27:51

The young handlers seemed to do quite well with them.

0:27:510:27:53

They did very well, I was impressed.

0:27:530:27:55

Young handlers, obviously nervous, cameras, a field they don't know, sheep they don't know -

0:27:550:28:00

they did very well, they were excellent.

0:28:000:28:02

And the pressure's on for the older handlers to follow.

0:28:020:28:06

Yeah, they've set the standard, really.

0:28:060:28:08

Nobody knew what the sheep were, the older ones have an advantage

0:28:080:28:12

having watched someone else go round the course.

0:28:120:28:14

The young handlers were dealing with five sheep,

0:28:140:28:17

now we move on to the brace, where our handlers are dealing with 10.

0:28:170:28:20

It's one man and two dogs.

0:28:200:28:21

Let's look at what's in store with the course.

0:28:210:28:24

The stakes are higher in the brace. Now we're playing for 140 points.

0:28:240:28:29

This time, 10 sheep are set next to the lift post at the far end of the course.

0:28:290:28:34

The handler sends one dog to the left

0:28:340:28:36

and the other to the right on the outrun,

0:28:360:28:38

Each dog can be awarded a maximum of 20 points.

0:28:380:28:41

Both dogs approach the sheep,

0:28:410:28:43

and together get them to move gently towards the handler with the lift.

0:28:430:28:47

10 points are available for each dog.

0:28:470:28:49

The sheep are then taken on a straight fetch,

0:28:490:28:52

through the fetch gates towards the handler - 20 points.

0:28:520:28:55

The next hurdle is the drive, worth 30 points.

0:28:550:28:58

The sheep are driven around the handler's post and,

0:28:580:29:01

starting to the left, are taken on a triangular drive

0:29:010:29:04

through two sets of drive gates.

0:29:040:29:06

It's possible the handler may lose sight of one dog

0:29:060:29:08

along the ridge here on the crossdrive,

0:29:080:29:10

so this could be a tricky part of the course, and points might be lost.

0:29:100:29:14

The drive ends when the sheep entered the shedding ring.

0:29:140:29:18

The handler then chooses one dog to divide the 10 sheep

0:29:180:29:21

into two lots of five inside the ring, and that's for 10 points.

0:29:210:29:25

On completion of the shed, the handler uses one of his dogs

0:29:250:29:28

to move one group of five sheep towards an open pen.

0:29:280:29:32

Once the sheep are penned, the same dog must hold them

0:29:320:29:35

until the round is complete - 10 points.

0:29:350:29:38

The handler can then turn his attention to moving the final

0:29:380:29:41

five sheep into the gated pen with the remaining brace dog.

0:29:410:29:45

The trial is complete when these final five sheep

0:29:450:29:48

are in the pen and the gate is closed - 10 points.

0:29:480:29:51

And the course needs to be completed within 18 minutes

0:29:510:29:54

to be in with a chance of the big points.

0:29:540:29:57

Well, perched up on top of our commentary box are our judges,

0:29:580:30:01

Barra and Arthur, casting their eagle eye across the field.

0:30:010:30:05

Lads, you still happy?

0:30:050:30:06

Good, that's the main thing.

0:30:060:30:07

Finishing fourth in the last round was Scotland,

0:30:070:30:10

which means they're going first, and that falls to Jimmy Menzies.

0:30:100:30:13

Here he is at home with his dogs, Hope and Cher.

0:30:130:30:16

My name is Jimmy Menzies.

0:30:190:30:20

I farm in North Perthshire and I am running Hope and Cher in the brace competition.

0:30:200:30:27

Hope does all the work at the moment because Cher is in pup,

0:30:270:30:30

but by the time of the competition

0:30:300:30:32

the pups will probably be about three-weeks-old,

0:30:320:30:35

so Cher will be OK to run and compete.

0:30:350:30:38

Hope is an exceptional bitch.

0:30:390:30:42

Move anything anywhere for me, she'll do anything.

0:30:420:30:45

Farming's a seven-day-a-week job,

0:30:470:30:49

but when I'm not busy working on the farm or trialling with my dogs,

0:30:490:30:54

my pursuits are Scottish country dancing and I like a tune on the box.

0:30:540:30:59

ACCORDION PLAYING

0:30:590:31:04

Everybody needs a bit of luck.

0:31:040:31:06

If you get luck and don't have the dogs then you've no chance,

0:31:060:31:10

but if you've got the kit and you get luck, we'll do well,

0:31:100:31:13

because I know I have the kit.

0:31:130:31:15

Jimmy, then, with his two dogs, Hope and Cher.

0:31:180:31:22

Away.

0:31:230:31:24

Both dogs are away.

0:31:240:31:25

WHISTLING

0:31:280:31:30

Are they going to cross?

0:31:300:31:31

Yeah, they've crossed at the bottom.

0:31:310:31:33

-And arrived at exactly the same time.

-Spot on.

0:31:330:31:36

Top scores for both dogs on the outrun.

0:31:360:31:39

10 and 5 scored for the lift.

0:31:410:31:43

Wow, straight down the middle.

0:31:450:31:47

Jimmy qualified for the Scottish national team last year,

0:31:480:31:52

so certainly knows what he's doing here.

0:31:520:31:56

These dogs are both working nicely together.

0:31:560:31:59

WHISTLING

0:31:590:32:01

Starting off on the drive.

0:32:010:32:03

It's a job to get these sheep just onto the correct line.

0:32:030:32:07

WHISTLING

0:32:090:32:11

Three points lost on the fetch.

0:32:110:32:14

Oh, nicely through, so that was a good recovery from a bad stop.

0:32:160:32:20

They're starting on the crossdrive now from left to right.

0:32:200:32:24

What a comeback this could be for Scotland.

0:32:240:32:27

Yeah, the line is quite good at the moment.

0:32:270:32:30

Now they're at a little bit of a stalemate here,

0:32:300:32:33

because the sheep want to come up the field,

0:32:330:32:35

Cher wants to keep them down so they'll be able to be

0:32:350:32:38

pulled through the second set of drive gates.

0:32:380:32:40

She's done her job. Now he's got to bring Hope round pretty fast.

0:32:400:32:45

Hope coming in a wide circle around to our right.

0:32:450:32:50

They're certainly not keen on zipping through there, are they? They're just milling away.

0:32:520:32:57

There we are, all of them through.

0:32:590:33:02

Now we've got the 10 sheep coming up towards the shedding ring.

0:33:020:33:07

-It'll be a split five and five.

-That's it, yes.

0:33:070:33:11

20 of 30, then, for the Drive.

0:33:110:33:15

That's perfect. Get in there, quick.

0:33:160:33:19

And straight through, no problems, at all.

0:33:200:33:23

Oh, yes, problems! One just got back, that was a shame,

0:33:230:33:26

because the dog certainly came through.

0:33:260:33:28

By, by. Cher in, in.

0:33:280:33:31

In with a chance now.

0:33:310:33:32

That's it, very well-behaved sheep.

0:33:320:33:35

Oh, just one out of 10 for the shed.

0:33:370:33:39

This open pen a real challenge, cos there's no gate on this, so you can't funnel their end.

0:33:410:33:45

That's true.

0:33:450:33:47

Sit. Come out.

0:33:470:33:49

Sit, come. Come out!

0:33:490:33:51

Close, close, will that one go in?

0:33:510:33:54

And will it gets to the others?

0:33:540:33:57

Oh dear, dear, dear, it's all to start again.

0:33:570:34:00

He should put those sheep back together again,

0:34:000:34:03

so how the judges are going to judge this, I'm not too sure.

0:34:030:34:06

Away.

0:34:060:34:08

WHISTLING

0:34:080:34:09

-There we go.

-This is opportunity.

0:34:100:34:12

Away, down, in.

0:34:140:34:16

In, in, in, down, by.

0:34:160:34:18

Sit there. Sit!

0:34:180:34:20

Sit. Me. Sit.

0:34:200:34:22

Me. Between, between, between.

0:34:220:34:25

Come between!

0:34:250:34:27

Sit, walk, walk, walk, stay there.

0:34:270:34:29

Super job, Hope.

0:34:310:34:32

So that's half of the penning over with.

0:34:320:34:35

One out of ten for the open pen, our attentions turn to the gated pen.

0:34:350:34:39

The clock must really be ticking on now.

0:34:400:34:43

Out. Away, away.

0:34:430:34:45

-Oh, the other dog's moved from the second pen.

-Oh, no!

0:34:450:34:48

-Oh no!

-There they go!

0:34:480:34:52

Trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble.

0:34:520:34:55

Dear, oh dear, he's got to go back.

0:34:550:34:58

The others are staying near the mouth - in they go.

0:35:000:35:03

Now come on, Hope.

0:35:030:35:05

Between, Hope, between.

0:35:050:35:07

Stay there, now.

0:35:070:35:09

-Time is really ticking by.

-It is.

0:35:090:35:11

30 seconds. Come on.

0:35:150:35:16

The sheep aren't challenging this dog at all,

0:35:200:35:22

-so she's got the ability to do it.

-Come on!

0:35:220:35:24

It's getting extremely close.

0:35:240:35:27

Oh, nice and steady.

0:35:270:35:29

No! One down the side!

0:35:290:35:31

10 seconds left!

0:35:320:35:34

And he's telling her to stay out.

0:35:360:35:39

-What a shame.

-What a shame indeed,

0:35:420:35:44

but a very entertaining round.

0:35:440:35:47

Well, no score for Pen two.

0:35:470:35:50

Jimmy, Hope and Cher finish with a score of 94 for Scotland,

0:35:500:35:54

and that was out of a possible 140.

0:35:540:35:57

The dogs performed well, they were answering me all the time,

0:36:000:36:03

they never not took their commands.

0:36:030:36:05

I probably let slip one of Hope's commands when I was at the pen here,

0:36:050:36:09

and that's probably why she left and let them out.

0:36:090:36:12

It was maybe more my fault than the dog's fault.

0:36:120:36:15

Over the years, England's brace competitor has become

0:36:150:36:18

as much a regular feature on the programme as our Gus,

0:36:180:36:21

so no doubt he's already sorted this sheep to make sure he doesn't get a bad one.

0:36:210:36:25

Anyway, once again he's England's Richard Hutchinson.

0:36:250:36:28

My name is Richard Hutchinson,

0:36:320:36:34

I'm from Littledale near Lancaster and I'll be running Roy and Sweep.

0:36:340:36:38

I was born and raised on this farm,

0:36:410:36:43

and my family have been new for five generations, about 150 years.

0:36:430:36:47

Roy and Sweep are a father and son team.

0:36:480:36:51

Roy's the father, he's seven-years-old,

0:36:510:36:53

and Sweep is only three-and-a-half.

0:36:530:36:56

WHISTLING

0:36:560:36:58

There's no jealousy between them, so they're quite happy

0:36:590:37:03

to let the other dog do its work while they concentrate on their work.

0:37:030:37:07

Ashley's just getting to the age now where he can come out with me on the farm.

0:37:100:37:14

He likes to help me with a bit of walling,

0:37:140:37:17

and generally getting in the way, but it's great to have him about.

0:37:170:37:20

This'll be my third time in a row on One Man & His Dog,

0:37:200:37:24

and I haven't yet won it, so hopefully it'll be third time lucky.

0:37:240:37:28

Roy's the English National Brace Champion,

0:37:310:37:33

also the International Brace Championship winner,

0:37:330:37:36

so he's certainly got the pedigree, Gus.

0:37:360:37:39

He certainly has, yes, and here we go.

0:37:390:37:41

Roy's going way out to the right.

0:37:440:37:46

Sweep out to the left.

0:37:460:37:49

Now Roy comes across, there he is behind the sheep.

0:37:490:37:53

WHISTLING

0:37:530:37:55

And the sheep under way on the lift.

0:37:550:37:59

They're just turning round, looking at Roy.

0:37:590:38:02

Nice, steady walk up here.

0:38:020:38:05

Both dogs balanced on each corner.

0:38:070:38:09

And right through the middle.

0:38:090:38:11

14 and 20 scored for the outruns.

0:38:150:38:18

Lie down.

0:38:180:38:19

WHISTLES

0:38:190:38:21

10 and six given for the lift.

0:38:210:38:23

-Oh...

-There's a breakaway.

0:38:230:38:25

WHISTLES

0:38:250:38:27

Out.

0:38:290:38:30

Roy!

0:38:300:38:31

Roy, Roy, Roy.

0:38:310:38:33

-Sweep.

-Sweep on our left, Roy on our right.

0:38:330:38:38

Lie down.

0:38:380:38:39

WHISTLES

0:38:390:38:41

Just five out of 20 scored on that fetch.

0:38:430:38:46

Must be going through his mind that he's got a rogue sheep in there that could break again at any time.

0:38:460:38:52

WHISTLES

0:38:520:38:53

No doubt we'll see her again at the pen.

0:38:530:38:56

WHISTLES

0:38:560:38:59

Roy coming around,

0:38:590:39:00

followed by Sweep,

0:39:000:39:02

who's stopped there,

0:39:020:39:04

and now for the start of the crossdrive.

0:39:040:39:06

WHISTLES

0:39:060:39:11

Of course, Roy is the more experienced of the two.

0:39:110:39:14

Seven-years-old and he is actually Sweep's dad.

0:39:140:39:17

They need now to bring the sheep through those second drive gates

0:39:170:39:21

is what we call a pull through, so they come from the back

0:39:210:39:23

towards the front and they're nicely through.

0:39:230:39:26

Not forgetting there's 30 points available for this drive.

0:39:280:39:31

Richard needs every single point he can get here.

0:39:310:39:35

Lie down.

0:39:350:39:37

And so, it's the shed. Two sets of five we want here.

0:39:370:39:41

Interesting he's got both dogs on the far side.

0:39:410:39:44

Lie down.

0:39:440:39:45

Clawing points back here, 26 scored for the drive,

0:39:480:39:51

-just four points lost.

-Oh, that's good.

0:39:510:39:53

WHISTLES Stay there.

0:39:530:39:55

Lie down!

0:39:550:39:56

-Here we go.

-Oh. Yes.

0:39:560:39:59

Beautifully done.

0:39:590:40:01

It may well be... Yes...

0:40:010:40:04

Oh!

0:40:040:40:06

Well covered this time.

0:40:060:40:08

Lie down.

0:40:080:40:09

What he's going to do here now is push them well down the field.

0:40:090:40:15

WHISTLES

0:40:150:40:17

Well, Richard will be delighted with the 10 points for the shed.

0:40:170:40:21

So now he's using Roy to put the sheep into the ungated pen.

0:40:210:40:27

Lie down!

0:40:270:40:28

Oh, it's all happening on the other side.

0:40:280:40:31

Come. Stay there!

0:40:310:40:32

So he's in with a chance now of concentrating on

0:40:330:40:37

getting Roy to get this first five in.

0:40:370:40:40

Stay there.

0:40:400:40:41

-Rich just creeping in gently.

-Slight movement with his stick.

0:40:410:40:46

He's doing the little pen dance. There it is.

0:40:460:40:48

There's one down the side, what a shame, what a shame.

0:40:480:40:53

Start again.

0:40:530:40:55

See if can hold them this time.

0:40:550:40:58

Stay there. Out!

0:40:580:40:59

That's better.

0:40:590:41:01

That's better.

0:41:010:41:02

Oh!

0:41:020:41:04

And away.

0:41:040:41:06

Roy, get up.

0:41:060:41:08

WHISTLES

0:41:080:41:09

Well, Jimmy had trouble at the pen

0:41:090:41:12

and it's exactly the same situation here for the Richard.

0:41:120:41:16

He's lost points.

0:41:160:41:17

Even if he gets them in now, he's got them all looking in.

0:41:170:41:21

Stay there.

0:41:210:41:22

-Surely he's got them boxed now.

-Come on, girls!

0:41:220:41:25

That one at the back, just push forward.

0:41:250:41:28

Oh!

0:41:280:41:30

WHISTLES

0:41:310:41:33

Will she go in? Yes!

0:41:330:41:36

Stay there. Get her, get her.

0:41:360:41:38

Stay there.

0:41:380:41:40

So, Sweep goes round now to get the second group of sheep.

0:41:400:41:44

WHISTLES

0:41:440:41:46

Three scored for pen one. At this stage, Richard and Jimmy are level.

0:41:500:41:55

Lie down.

0:41:550:41:56

He's going to turn these sheep

0:41:560:41:58

and hope they don't get down the side... One going down the side.

0:41:580:42:01

WHISTLES

0:42:010:42:03

-Ay-yay-yay!

-Oh!

0:42:030:42:05

This clock really is starting to tick by now, so...

0:42:080:42:11

WHISTLES Lie down.

0:42:110:42:13

-It may happen this time.

-There's the proof.

0:42:130:42:16

Yes, there we are.

0:42:160:42:17

Seven points given from our judges for pen number two.

0:42:170:42:21

Let's have a look what that does to the total.

0:42:210:42:24

It comes in at 101 for England.

0:42:240:42:26

I felt I did as well as I could.

0:42:300:42:32

Sweep was disappointing on his left hand gather. He went straight, not what he usually does,

0:42:320:42:37

but could have done worse with the sheep.

0:42:370:42:39

I'm not just blaming the sheep,

0:42:390:42:41

I'm sure I could have handled it better, too. It's over and that's what I've done.

0:42:410:42:45

Now, another handler returning this year is the Irish brace competitor.

0:42:450:42:49

Mind you, he'll be hoping things turned out a little bit differently

0:42:490:42:53

to how they did last time.

0:42:530:42:54

Here's a reminder.

0:42:540:42:55

My name's Sammy Long.

0:42:590:43:00

I'm from Ballybofey in County Donegal

0:43:000:43:02

and this year I'll be running Moss and Sam.

0:43:020:43:06

My family's been in this farm for the past 50 years.

0:43:070:43:11

I've been working on the farm since I was a child, really.

0:43:110:43:14

Just sheep farm, we keep about 250 ewes.

0:43:140:43:17

At the moment, I have about 14 dogs at the house there,

0:43:180:43:21

and I have four pups as well which are very popular

0:43:210:43:24

with my grandchildren.

0:43:240:43:26

THEY CHATTER

0:43:260:43:28

Sam is five years old. He has a nice temperament, very friendly dog.

0:43:280:43:33

Moss is a similar age and he's a friendly dog as well.

0:43:330:43:37

Normally I'm quite confident bringing them two dogs.

0:43:370:43:40

They're both good outrunners but last year Moss let me down

0:43:400:43:43

by jumping the fence.

0:43:430:43:45

Unfortunately, Moss has cleared the fence

0:43:450:43:47

and he's going over towards the gorge.

0:43:470:43:51

I will make sure this year that I wouldn't be so confident

0:43:510:43:54

or take anything for granted.

0:43:540:43:55

On we go then with Sammy Long. Moss and Sam.

0:43:550:44:00

WHISTLES

0:44:000:44:03

Sam goes down the field. He needs to open out a little bit.

0:44:070:44:10

Moss is over on the right-hand side going down well.

0:44:100:44:13

Both dogs coming round and they've put themselves right.

0:44:130:44:16

WHISTLES

0:44:160:44:17

-This time they've stayed in the field.

-Yeah!

0:44:170:44:20

Now he's got them nicely out on the corners and the sheep

0:44:200:44:24

are coming right through the middle of the first set of fetch gates.

0:44:240:44:28

WHISTLES

0:44:280:44:29

16 and 24 for the outrun. 10 and eight for the lift.

0:44:290:44:33

The score to beat is 101. So far.

0:44:330:44:37

Let's hope they come round the podium

0:44:370:44:40

and don't try and do an exit stage left around our commentary box

0:44:400:44:44

because they certainly caught Richard out.

0:44:440:44:47

They're just milling,

0:44:470:44:49

they're ready to challenge the dog at any minute

0:44:490:44:51

but I'm sure these two dogs are up to it.

0:44:510:44:54

Just four points lost, Gus, on the fetch.

0:44:550:44:58

WHISTLES

0:44:580:44:59

Just as they go towards these first drive gates they're starting

0:44:590:45:03

to push a little bit to the right.

0:45:030:45:05

WHISTLES

0:45:050:45:08

-But on a good line here.

-Yeah, yeah, good line.

0:45:080:45:12

WHISTLES

0:45:120:45:15

Sam's just doing a bit of over flanking at the back of the sheep.

0:45:150:45:19

WHISTLES

0:45:190:45:22

I don't know.

0:45:220:45:23

Oh...

0:45:240:45:25

Seems there's always one.

0:45:260:45:29

This brace around, there's always one! Unbelievable.

0:45:300:45:33

If they think they're in with a chance of doing their own thing,

0:45:330:45:36

these blackface sheep, they will.

0:45:360:45:38

Moss has covered that well. Come on, Sam, round you come. Here he comes.

0:45:380:45:42

-Go on, perfect.

-Looking in, down on the floor. Followed by Moss.

0:45:420:45:48

And they've got them lined up now.

0:45:480:45:50

To pull them back through the second drive gates.

0:45:500:45:54

He may be losing the odd point here or there

0:45:540:45:56

for line and what have you, but he's getting them through the obstacles.

0:45:560:46:00

So, that the drive finished and the shed begins.

0:46:000:46:04

16 out of 30 for the drive.

0:46:040:46:06

Come back.

0:46:060:46:08

They are tightly bunched.

0:46:080:46:09

He's just going to have to let them string out a little bit.

0:46:090:46:13

Lie down, Moss.

0:46:130:46:15

-Oh, how many's that?

-Four and a six.

0:46:150:46:17

Moss, lie down, lie down. Lie down.

0:46:170:46:21

That's better now. Now he's in with a chance.

0:46:210:46:23

Lie down, lie down. Come in here, Moss.

0:46:230:46:26

There we are, he's got it.

0:46:260:46:28

Stand here, Moss.

0:46:280:46:29

Stand here. Stand here.

0:46:290:46:31

Calling Sam up now.

0:46:310:46:32

Here, here!

0:46:320:46:33

Come on, Sam, come on Sam.

0:46:330:46:35

-Oooh...

-Oh, well held, at the moment well held.

0:46:350:46:39

Well, impressive.

0:46:390:46:41

Full marks for the shed.

0:46:420:46:44

Oh, 96 he's on.

0:46:450:46:46

Stand here.

0:46:460:46:47

WHISTLES

0:46:470:46:48

He's doing the right thing, pushing them well down that field.

0:46:480:46:52

So now it's up to Moss.

0:46:530:46:56

Moss, Moss, stand here!

0:46:560:46:59

Moss doing a good job, oh, one down the side. He's covered it.

0:46:590:47:02

Back again.

0:47:020:47:05

This is the problem pen.

0:47:050:47:07

Stand here, Moss. Stand here.

0:47:080:47:10

Stand here, Moss. Come back.

0:47:100:47:13

Keep out, keep out, Good lad. Well done, got that one back.

0:47:130:47:18

Moss, Moss, come back, stand here. Stand.

0:47:180:47:20

Stand here, come by, stand here.

0:47:200:47:22

Moss, Moss, stand here.

0:47:220:47:24

Stand here.

0:47:240:47:27

-Yes.

-Oh, that looks better.

0:47:270:47:30

Stand here, Moss. Here, Moss, stand there. Moss, here.

0:47:300:47:33

Now don't let me down, Moss.

0:47:330:47:35

See now whether or not we can get Sam to get the last lot of sheep.

0:47:350:47:40

Spin them round and up we come.

0:47:400:47:43

-Woah!

-Steady, steady, lad! Steady.

0:47:430:47:45

My word. Just eased back a little bit now, he's just pushing too hard

0:47:450:47:50

and the judges will be knocking a lot of points off.

0:47:500:47:53

7 for pen one.

0:47:530:47:56

Ireland really need this pen if they want to try and catch Wales.

0:47:560:48:00

Come on up! Keep, keep!

0:48:020:48:04

Just see... Oh, that was close!

0:48:040:48:06

But he's got the sheep back.

0:48:060:48:07

Here, here, here. Here, here, here.

0:48:070:48:10

Round here, round here.

0:48:100:48:12

Now we're looking as if we could do something.

0:48:120:48:15

Time must be getting close.

0:48:150:48:16

Keep! Stand there. Keep, keep! Stand there.

0:48:200:48:24

No more breaks, don't want to over-flank, dog.

0:48:240:48:26

Don't want to over-flank!

0:48:260:48:29

-GUS CHUCKLES

-Away! Away!

0:48:290:48:32

Shoulder, belly, bum, in.

0:48:320:48:33

-And they're in!

-CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:48:330:48:36

Well, well, well!

0:48:360:48:37

Just two scored for the second pen

0:48:380:48:42

and he gets a total of 105.

0:48:420:48:45

Well, that's the highest brace score we've seen so far.

0:48:450:48:48

That makes me feel very good.

0:48:520:48:55

I didn't feel it was a risk bringing Moss back, no,

0:48:550:48:57

because what he done last year, I think, was a once-off

0:48:570:49:01

and both dogs have performed fairly well for me,

0:49:010:49:04

so I'm happy enough, yeah.

0:49:040:49:06

Believe it or not, this simple white post

0:49:060:49:08

is the most important part of the whole course,

0:49:080:49:11

as this is where the sheep are waiting.

0:49:110:49:14

Hopefully, the dogs arrive here in unison

0:49:140:49:16

and all of the characters

0:49:160:49:18

and personalities can meet for the very first time.

0:49:180:49:21

Next up, to find out what's in store

0:49:210:49:23

is a man who won the brace round and the single round

0:49:230:49:25

in the same year.

0:49:250:49:27

It's Colin Gordon for Wales.

0:49:270:49:29

My name is Colin Gordon, I'm from Llanrhidian on the Gower Peninsula.

0:49:360:49:41

The dogs I am running in this year's competition will be Mirk and Jess.

0:49:410:49:46

I've been on the farm all of my life.

0:49:460:49:48

I started coming out to the marshes

0:49:480:49:50

when my father was alive, on a pushbike, two dogs running behind.

0:49:500:49:56

Mirk is a very, very powerful dog.

0:49:570:49:59

He'll move sheep, he'll move cows and calves,

0:49:590:50:02

any job you ask him to do, his whole heart is in it.

0:50:020:50:05

Jess is a good bitch, she's always willing to give you a day's work.

0:50:050:50:11

I've been on One Man And His Dog one four occasions.

0:50:120:50:16

I've been lucky enough to win three times.

0:50:160:50:18

The trouble is, with a sheepdog trial, there's always luck involved.

0:50:180:50:22

Luck is a heck of a thing to have to rely on,

0:50:220:50:24

but it's a heck of a thing to be without,

0:50:240:50:27

and if your luck is gone, it's gone.

0:50:270:50:29

Well, I don't know how much luck is involved,

0:50:310:50:33

but Wales are winning at the moment.

0:50:330:50:37

-Can Colin Gordon and Mirk and Jess keep them there?

-Jess, stand there.

0:50:370:50:42

Jess is going to be running first, off to the left.

0:50:420:50:47

And Mirk is away to the right.

0:50:470:50:49

COLIN WHISTLES

0:50:510:50:52

Just an extra whistle to get Mirk round.

0:50:520:50:55

WHISTLES

0:50:550:50:56

Mirk! Come on, Mirk!

0:50:560:50:59

17 and 18 scored on the outruns.

0:51:000:51:03

Mirk on the right now, bringing these sheep right through the fetch gates.

0:51:040:51:08

Eight and seven for the lift.

0:51:080:51:11

It's quite good, they're slightly off-line

0:51:110:51:14

but it's been a good fetch.

0:51:140:51:16

Such an incredibly experienced handler, Colin.

0:51:160:51:20

He's won the Welsh National Brace six times.

0:51:200:51:23

Stand, ah-ah! Stand!

0:51:230:51:25

The sheep go down, and that's a nice start on to the drive.

0:51:250:51:28

Only three points gone adrift on the fetch.

0:51:280:51:33

-Milling and skewing all over the shop, aren't they?

-Yes.

0:51:350:51:38

Mirk's gone and what we call run the sheep,

0:51:390:51:43

he's gone right the way round,

0:51:430:51:45

so a lot of points will have been taken off by the judges there.

0:51:450:51:49

And he's crossed again.

0:51:490:51:51

Very unusual that a dog of Colin's

0:51:530:51:56

would ring with the sheep at this point, so he's in trouble here.

0:51:560:51:59

-This could be very costly for Wales.

-It certainly could.

0:51:590:52:03

He's got them bang on line again now and nicely through.

0:52:030:52:06

WHISTLING

0:52:060:52:09

And so for the crossdrive.

0:52:110:52:13

WHISTLING

0:52:130:52:17

Gently does it.

0:52:240:52:26

It's all either go or stop, it just isn't a nice, steady flow,

0:52:260:52:30

that he's obviously trying for.

0:52:300:52:34

Both the dogs balanced behind the sheep

0:52:360:52:38

as they come towards the shedding ring.

0:52:380:52:41

Just 10 out of 30 for the drive.

0:52:410:52:43

Yes, that'll be because of ringing the sheep

0:52:430:52:45

on this first leg of the drive, it's cost him dearly.

0:52:450:52:48

Now it's Jess who's going to be used

0:52:480:52:50

to split these sheep into two groups of five.

0:52:500:52:53

-Stand.

-Here, come here.

0:52:570:53:00

Beautifully done.

0:53:000:53:02

It's going, coming in, Colin.

0:53:020:53:04

HE LAUGHS

0:53:040:53:06

But he was ready for it.

0:53:060:53:08

Full marks for the shed.

0:53:080:53:10

This is that dratted ungated pen

0:53:130:53:15

that has proved so difficult for so many of the handlers.

0:53:150:53:19

Steady now.

0:53:190:53:21

Stand! Stand!

0:53:220:53:23

He's got to try and get them balanced

0:53:230:53:25

so that all of them are in the pen now.

0:53:250:53:28

And one tries again, but she covered well.

0:53:310:53:34

Now, this could be it, they could be in.

0:53:410:53:43

In they go.

0:53:460:53:47

Stand there. Stand there.

0:53:470:53:50

Just four points lost, then, on that first pen.

0:53:500:53:53

SHEEP BLEATS

0:53:580:53:59

And again they start blarting to one another. This could be dangerous.

0:53:590:54:04

Obviously its mate's in the other pen.

0:54:040:54:07

Here we go.

0:54:070:54:09

-And Jess has come out.

-Oh, Jess!

0:54:090:54:11

Back, get down. Stand there!

0:54:110:54:12

Look at that, that is good command,

0:54:120:54:15

he managed to get Jess back towards the other pen.

0:54:150:54:19

Well, these aren't settled, they're not settled.

0:54:210:54:25

Jess is on the verge of moving,

0:54:250:54:26

so we'll have to keep our eye on her...

0:54:260:54:29

-Oh, no!

-Oh!

0:54:290:54:31

We'll have to see what the judges decide to do about that.

0:54:310:54:35

Jess has moved, the other sheep are coming out.

0:54:350:54:38

Oh, they've come out the pen! Oh, dear me.

0:54:380:54:40

He knows full well he's got to now go back into the shedding ring

0:54:400:54:44

and start all over again.

0:54:440:54:46

So the points for the first time are now scratched, are they?

0:54:460:54:49

-No, they'll hold, it's the time that has gone.

-I see.

0:54:490:54:52

-This is an impossible task.

-It is, really.

0:54:520:54:55

Mind you, I say it's an impossible task, look at this.

0:54:550:54:58

Once they have been in the pen, there is a scent there

0:55:000:55:04

and the next ones are that little bit easier to get in.

0:55:040:55:09

Having said that, the time's ticking by, so...

0:55:090:55:13

Oh, dear, and another breakaway.

0:55:130:55:16

It's not looking good at all.

0:55:160:55:19

The clock is counting down now.

0:55:190:55:21

Stand.

0:55:210:55:24

-Time?

-Time, what a shame.

0:55:240:55:26

But he'll have his points to that particular stage.

0:55:260:55:29

No score for the final pen.

0:55:290:55:31

That is a total of 93 for Wales.

0:55:310:55:35

The shed was good, the first shed, got to the pen,

0:55:420:55:45

first pen wasn't too bad, and then things went haywire on the second pen.

0:55:450:55:50

I feel now a day older and hopefully a day wiser!

0:55:500:55:54

Let's have a quick reminder of the brace round,

0:55:540:55:57

and we had Jimmy and Colin both running out of time.

0:55:570:56:01

Yes, Jimmy Menzies as well, he had a good start

0:56:010:56:04

but he had real problems in the shedding ring and at both pens.

0:56:040:56:07

Then Colin, he got round OK, but it was just his final pen he struggled with.

0:56:070:56:12

Richard Hutchinson didn't do too bad at all with Roy and Sweep.

0:56:120:56:16

No, but unfortunately the sheep shot out by the judges' podium

0:56:160:56:20

and caught him unawares and everybody else, really,

0:56:200:56:23

so he was really hit hard for his fetch.

0:56:230:56:26

OK, then finishing up, of course, with Sammy Long,

0:56:260:56:28

who did a sterling job with Moss and Sam.

0:56:280:56:30

He did, he had me worried on the final gated pen,

0:56:300:56:33

I thought he was going to run out of time,

0:56:330:56:35

but he did it and had the best round of the lot.

0:56:350:56:38

Well, Sammy achieved a score of 105,

0:56:390:56:41

beating England's Richard Hutchinson into second,

0:56:410:56:45

Jimmy Menzies finishes for Scotland in third,

0:56:450:56:48

and then Colin Gordon for Wales with 93.

0:56:480:56:51

Jimmy, is it fair to say that Balmoral's front lawn

0:56:510:56:53

isn't really very well-suited to brace work?

0:56:530:56:56

Absolutely, the pens for a brace were too close, you a wee bit more out.

0:56:560:57:00

That's the challenge, man, isn't it?

0:57:000:57:02

Well, we've 50,000 acres on Balmoral estate,

0:57:020:57:05

and here we are crammed into two, approximately.

0:57:050:57:09

Excuses, excuses. Richard, this is your third time, isn't it?

0:57:090:57:12

-Wasn't third time lucky for you.

-No, I'm still thinking of some excuses.

0:57:120:57:16

Er, the wind was bad, that's it.

0:57:160:57:18

-And keeping an eye out for those midges, as well.

-That's it, yes.

0:57:180:57:22

Good stuff. Well, Colin, Sammy was triumphant,

0:57:220:57:25

what do you think his trick was?

0:57:250:57:27

He had better dogs on the day, suited the sheep better.

0:57:270:57:31

And coming here, the same sheep everybody had,

0:57:310:57:35

the same chance we had, but Sammy's dogs were better on the day.

0:57:350:57:41

Well, Sammy, huge congratulations.

0:57:410:57:43

How do you feel as our little brace champion?

0:57:430:57:45

I feel very good, aye, it's nice to win on the day.

0:57:450:57:48

As Colin says, my dogs worked on the day.

0:57:480:57:50

That's not saying they're better all the time, but maybe a bit better today.

0:57:500:57:54

Well, I don't know if any of you lads are mathematicians,

0:57:540:57:57

but it turns out that going into the final round

0:57:570:57:59

there's a dead heat between Ireland and Wales on 181,

0:57:590:58:03

England are in third, and Scotland have a lot to do in fourth.

0:58:030:58:07

What a wonderful way to start this year's One Man & His Dog

0:58:070:58:11

and a fantastic end to the programme.

0:58:110:58:14

A tie, it couldn't be any closer.

0:58:140:58:15

You'll have to tune in next time for the singles round.

0:58:150:58:18

That's one man, one dog, but with two flocks of sheep.

0:58:180:58:22

Only then will we know who'll be crowned the winners

0:58:220:58:24

of One Man & His Dog 2011.

0:58:240:58:27

Where else would you rather be?

0:58:270:58:29

So, from here at Balmoral, it's goodbye.

0:58:290:58:32

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

0:58:580:58:59

E-mail [email protected]

0:58:590:59:02

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