Episode 1 One Man and His Dog

The course is set - the sheep are ready and the handlers and their

dogs waiting. It can only mean one thing - welcome to One Man and His

Dog 2012 and this year we're challenging ourselves, because

Well hello and welcome to Penrice Castle, on the beautiful Gower

peninsula. For the first time in its 36-year lis tri, One Man and

His Dog comes to you live. Yes, you did hear that right. We are light

and frankly anything could happen. But don't worry, all the normal

rules apply. We still have our four competing nation of England,

Ireland, Scotland and Wales and that he very challenging courses to

challenge the handlers and dog. you're new to the sport, don't

worry, we will explain Eigg. Our competitors have arrived, looking

very calm. But I reckon there is a bit of tension in the air as the

handlers and the dogs eye up the competition. Some have competed

against each other before, because these guys are the best in the

business. There is a lot of hand shaking going on, not sure how long

that will continue. First thing today the young handlers were out

and they didn't disappoint. You can see it all on the red button at the

end of the programme. But here are That look like a beautiful lift.

What a recovery. He has, he has turned them. Oh dear is the dog

going in? This is some run, this really is. Well she was asking for

that. They're very tricky sheep. Whoops! That is what you call line

jumping, not line dancing. A possyibt here. Oh I like this, come

in, turn on to the other two though, that is it. Oh the judges won't

lake that. Come on girls, just spin round and help out. It is really

tight point-wise. Surely that's got to be 10. What a pen that was, my

word it went right down to the wire. It is literally one man and his dog.

It was action packed and we did have a souper morning. You can see

all that in full on the red button after this show. Here are the

scores after this morning's young As always on One Man and His Dog

the man with the inside knowledge, our expert Gus Dermody. It was a

good morning. Yes. How do you think they did? Ireland started off and

Sean McCorrigan put in a good run and I didn't think it could be

beaten until the Scottish competitor came in. Ireland are in

the lead, but everything to play for. It really is. It is still

close. There is a long way to go. If you have a burning question

about One Man and His Dog, we would love to hear from you. We will put

Gus on the spot. The hardest questions put them in. Our e-mail

Matt and Gus is is time you went to the box. I have three thing to say

to you, - away, come by and lie down. Now we prepare for the next

stage of the competition. First let me introduce you to our judges,

they are Shirley co pep and Kenny Donald from Ayrshire. -- Shirley

Cropper. We have raised them up so nothing can escape their expert

eyes. On with the live action. Next brace round, that is one man with

two dogs. We will give you all the detail once the competition gets

under way. But here is the man the task of leading the way, finishing

in fourth after the young handlers's round was Stephen

Longton from England and so his second cousin is Michael Longton

and he is first with his dogs, Todd and Don. I am running this year's

brace competition. The Longtons have farmed here since my great

grandfather and it's passed down the general raigs. Now I live here

with my wife and two children and my parents. I'm the fifth

generation of Longtons to run sheepdogs on trials. It is said

that a Longton baby is born with a whistle in its mouth and doesn't

need a dumby. I have my father to give me advice. Without him I don't

think I would have done half as well as I have done in my trialling

career. I hope my daughter, Eva, follows on in the family foot steps.

Todd is a great dog. He is unflappable. He is good at trials

and work. He is great to have around. Don's a little more

unpredictable at times. But he is a great partner to Todd in work and

they seem to complement each other. I have competed on One Man and His

Dog before against Kevin and John from the Wesh team. I hope this

time the rivalry will come out with England on top. Michael Longton

walks out and making a bit of history, Gus, as the first handler

on a live One Man and His Dog. His dogs Todd and Don. Todd with the

blaze on his face and the, there he goes to the left. He has got Don,

the darker heavier, with a bit of tan. He has gone very wide. Good to

see he has gone on the outside of room. Both dogs are doing well.

Let's hope they end up behind the sheep together. I can see Todd

coming around at the bottom. Perfect timing. Stopped up a bit

short. Yes, he did. But they both arrive now. They don't have to

cross at the bottom. Don is going to be working this right hand side

with Todd work out on the left. There's Todd. Yes it is a very

careful lift. He is trying to keep these sheep nice and calm.

whole idea of this lift is to Celt the tempo for the rest of the run.

At the moment, well the sheep certainly don't lack too bothered.

They're just having a little nibble. He is being that bit overcautious.

Very good outruns to start, a 19 is a steady start. There is only 12

and a half minutes to get through the whole thing. These are the

fetch gates you can see half way up the screen. The sheep want to come

on a nice central line, go through the gates and then come all the way

up to Michael at this post. He is probably taking it extra steady

until he gets the sheep through the fetch gates and then he will put

pressure on the keep the sheep moving faster. At the moment

they're nicely balanced. It is interesting you're using the term

balance, it is a phrase you will use quite a bit. Yes, I and balance

are two of the phrases we use. The balance is where the dog is keeping

the sheep in line towards the hander. The sheep are nicely

balanced on the corner. The shift - - lifts are when the sheep start

moving from the posts. That wasn't bad. The judges have knocked a

couple of points off for the dogs not coming on strong enough. But

Mike -- Michael didn't want them come on to fast. When they approach

Michael, we will get the third score for the fetch. The whole

distance as the sheep will turn around Michael and head off to the

gates on his left. This is where the sheep could slow down a bit, or

get stropy and they don't want to come around the post, because of

the pressures of us at the end of course. We are in a commentary box

just behind the sheep. It keeps them contained, but also slows them

up a bit. They're now on to the drive. This is the idea of the

drive. To leave Michael to go up to the gates on the left. They will

then turn right and go across the field, all the way to the other

drive gate and then be pulled through those. Of course before you

get there, and it will prove difficult, because the woods up

there will be making it a tight squeeze, but first of all to

negotiate these. Well the line's very good. Wow look at that Gus, a

19 out of 20 for the fetch. This is a good start. As long as he doesn't

go too steady. The line is good, the sheep are right in the middle.

They're walking, they have not stopped. They're not strung out.

Both dog independence -- both dogs come out here. Michael is very

experienced. He was on One Man and His Dog in 1996 as a young handler.

But what a wealth of knowledge his family have got. As they go across

here, he has got to watch they don't go too close towards Michael.

In orders they -- in other words they stay behind the wood. Because

they have got to go behind the second drive gates. They're part

way across, but they're all nicely bunched together. About seven

minutes to go and he is taking things very steady. But as we saw

with the young handlers, it just takes one moment to light a spark

and these sheep are off. They really are. That is what he will be

careful of. Now, you got to get those sheep around. Whoops! The dog

is making sure that the sheep stay behind that gate itself and it's

looking good. Oh that is perfection. Can the other dog come around? Oh

dear, Don just pushed a bit too hard then. That is a shame.

managed to get six through! Yes, he did. It only took one dog to make

one false move and this caused the problem. You can see Michael has

left his post and he is waiting for the sheep to arrive. This is what

you're aiming for with a shed. Having to split them in half. So

your looking for five and take them outside of the ring and leave the

remaining five in the ring. It sounds simple, Gus. It does, but

you know Michael is good at this close work. I think this is where

he will make up a bit of time. It is not there yet. He is using Don.

21 out of 30 scored for the cross drive. Here we go now, let's see

how his maths are going to make sure we have got two sets of five

here. It is coming up. Does he get that? The other dog's coming in now.

Has that been accepted? We think it Kenny and Shirley are looking down

over the action. They have confirmed that was good enough.

Lie down. Lie down, Don. That was a successful shed. I don't

know how many points the judges are going to award. It is now to the

ungated pen. So, the whole idea with this pen,

Gus, it is quite a large area, but there is no gate on it.

No, not at all. So Michael has to stand one side. The dogs get them

in on the other. One almost down the side... This close work is good.

Well, he is not doing bad at all. Four minutes to go.

So, this is a real test of patience for Don now.

He is keeping the dog. He has to stay in the open pen to stop the

sheep from coming out. While he stays there at the open pen, which

he has maximum points for. That is brilliant. The dog is starting to

move away! Yes, you have to certainly keep an eye on Don.

So, maximum for the Open Pen, but if any sheep escape, points will be

deducted. Don is looking eager to get involved in the action that is

happening across the field. I like a lot of Michael's close

work. We will see if this second dog can get the sheep into the pen.

Three minutes left. A little flirty here.

Oh, that was the dog challenging the sheep.

Now, obviously, the natural instinct of the sheep is to stay

together. These are keen to get across to those waiting in the pen.

They certainly are. He has to keep them calm and settled.

The other sheep, hopefully they stay in the pen and the other dog

stays there. He has two-and-a-half minutes to go. He has the time to

do it. The hardest thing is that Michael

is unaware of the time. He knows he took his time earlier, but this

looks great. There we are! Time to spare! That

will do. Don, that will do. Well, England will be delighted

with that. Let's find out how things have gone

at the pen as far as the judges are concerned, but, I tell you what,

Gus, the patience paid off, didn't it? I am always impressed with

Michael's close work. This is where it has shown today.

He lost three at the pen. Michael, you should be proud of

that. Your family has a long tradition of being on One Man and

His Dog. They will be applauding you. That was a good round.

Yes, I was really pleased. There was only one place where you

lost a few points at the second gate.

Yeah, trying to be too smart, like I do. Never mind.

It started off so well. The sheep were so calm. The dogs worked so

well together. Yeah, they worked as well as they

ever have done, I think. Are they used to working together?

At home, yes. It is own the second competition I have done this year

with them. Well, that was a very good start.

Any idea what you may have scored? I don't know what it is out of?

120. Well, 117. That was a great score.

Well done. Let's see what the guys thought about that.

That is a very, very good benchmark, but it can be Beatlen.

It can be, but he has set the standard now.

All of the other brace handlers will be watching how he managed to

tackle the cross-drive. Look at tackle the cross-drive. Look at

that, right down the middle. Yes, everything under control. That

was great. Really good.

We wandered if the drive would be too slow. He managed to curve them

around the face. Unfortunately, Don moved too soon.

That was a shame. He pushed them around the back side.

Well, 21 points for the cross-drive. Then we wandered -- wondered if he

would have the time, but he nailed would have the time, but he nailed

it into the pen! Good close work. Well, a very good start from

England and from Michael. Well done to him. Who is next? Well, it is

Wales and our eldest, or should I say most experienced competitor.

74-year-old John Griffith with his dogs, Roy and Fang.

My name is John, I come from North Wales. This year I am running Fang

and Roy on One Man and His Dog. I was born on a small holding up on

the hill. I've been walking up and down the hills ever since. There

has been slate in this valley for a long time. There used to be 3,000

men working in the valleys. Not a single one anymore.

Such a big change in the valley. I bred Roy and Fang myself. Roy as

a young dog was very, very tough. Then all of a sudden he started

listening. He has never looked back since then, but Fran was so good

from day one. She is so good to handle. Now I'm training young

sheepdogs. When the sheep are in the middle of the field, nice and

quiet, I let the dog rules and I give them the lay down command. If

you have that little bit of control, you are on your way.

I have been around now for 51 years training dogs. I'm still looking

for the perfect dog. I think if I'm here another 51 years, I'll still

be looking for the perfect dog, but be looking for the perfect dog, but

it is fun trying! Well, to me, John is the perfect handler. He really

is vastly experienced as you heard from all of that. This is his

seventh time on One Man and His Dog, running Roy and Fan.

They are getting everything set up. He is so well known in Wales, they

just say JR. just say JR.

Away goes Fan. So this is the perfect timing.

Holding on to Roy and he sends them off now. Hopefully looking for the

dogs to arrive at a similar time. Fan going well. He is holding Roy

back. He has kicked him wide now. Let's hope that they arrive at the

bottom at the same time. Fan is coming around now nicely, behind

the sheep. She's there. There is Malcolm, our Head of Sheep.

He is holding the sheep at the post at the top there.

He is there to welcome the other dogs. There we are, and the trial

begins. Well, that is a good start. The

dogs have stepped to their own sides. They have not crossed to the

bottom. They are entitled to do that. Now that the dogs have set

off with Fan on the left and Roy on the right, that is the side that

they must stay throughout this particular trial.

The sheep are gently moving towards the line once again to go through

the middle of the fetch gates, but nothing too drastic at the moment.

At the moment John is giving all whistle commands. It is interesting

how they will talk to one in English when it comes to the word

commands and the other in Welsh. Look at that, the dogs for the

outruns, perfection! An excellent start.

Easy as you like. Yes, he has won a couple of big

competitions recently. I think he would love to win this particular

brace competition. Fan is about to retire, but things are going well

at the moment. Yet to lose a point! This is text-

book trialing. So, switching to voice commands.

They are very much within reach. It often gives the dog a little more

confidence to hear you. Yes.

And the fact that he does not need a separate set of words. He has won

on English and one on Welsh. They are looking at Roy. Fan on the

left, Roy on the right. You have to keep them moving on to

the end of the fetch. You may notice that some of the

sheep are wearing colours. They have radio mics in there.

That's a good turn. He is not going to lose many points on that fetch,

that is for sure. No. It is good at the moment.

The maximum scores all the way along.

And look at the pace of it as well. Gently pushing them towards the

first of the cross-drive gates. Come on, let it be a 20.

Oh! It's a 19! Now, where did Kenny and Shirley take off from there,

Gus? I think that is when the dog blinked.

Right! Now this is good. Just a reminder, 12-and-a-half

minutes to complete the course. He can't ease off too much, but he

has to line up all of the sheep properly. To get all ten through.

The gap between the two gates is about seven yards.

It's in a bad position to stop at the moment. He has them going again.

What a trial this is. I know you were saying earlier on that John is

due to -- that Fan is due to retire and Roy coming of age at seven-and-

a-half. He is the stronger of the two. That

is who John has to watch, but Fan has lots of experience. This is

where they can gain experience. This is where the wood can be

difficult as they get to the end of the cross-drive.

It will be interesting to see who comes into the brace team when Fan

retires. You are always looking for that perfect partnership.

They take some finding, but John loves to work brace. He does well

at it. Let's have a word on the woods here.

It has caused some of the sheep to come down. Obviously there is not a

lot of room for the dogs to get between the trees and the sheep?

It will be interesting to see if Roy goes through the wood or cuts

it fine and pushes the sheep high. He needs to go wide. He has gone

through the wood. He had come round there. What a great job he has

done! John! I bet the other competitors are groaning now!

Coming up to the halfway mark as far as time is concerned. No

pressure there. It is a good return. John goes to

the edge of the shedding ring. Now he can walk into the ring itself.

Will he let Fan do it as it is her last time, or will he save her

moves that you see in the everyday life of a shepherd. Splitting the

flock. Getting the sheep into a pen you can split the flock and put one

in one field or one in another. If you have one with bad feet or

something like, that that is how you single one off. Here ewe are

looking for five and five. And they have to stay within the

sawdust ring. Although it seems big on the screen, when you are there,

out in the shedding ring, it is not very big at all. He must keep the

sheep within the ring until he does the shed. Then things should be

get one to join them. Here it comes. Here is the gap coming. He wants to

bring Roy through, Roy comes in. Great stuff, come on Roy! Don't let

that you get back she is going to challenge! Well done! Roy just let

her know who is boss. The sheep are coming in behind him. She is

awkward. That is a shame he has got to regroup them all now and start

again. The reason they have to be regrouped and start again is

because five of them have to go into one pen and five go into

another. So it all starts again and he will laws points there. Yes, --

he will lose points there. Yes. So there is some pressure now on the

time side of it. Because really I would have been liking something

like five minutes at this stage to get things done. So he is under

pressure now. Let's hope that one is in the first group. Roy's come

through well. Surely that's been accepted? He will work like steam

now. John behind you! He can't hear us, Gus, he can't hear us! They

certainly don't want to stay apart. John's got his work cut out here.

think he will take them way away and to stop any temptation of a

return. Can he do this in three minutes? I don't think so no, I

would be wanting four now. There is some sheep actually in a holding

pen at the right hand side and that sheep has run off. She's gone right

up. Oh dear me look at that. She's jumped in. That will be the end of

the course. They say that the sheep was off the course. We will have to

see what the judges say. We cannot pre-empt anything, but we're to

wait and see if they wave their hands. Yes. John's not sure what

should happen now, but I think he will carry on. He is going carry on.

Well I tell you what, you can't beat this live trialling. It never

goes smoothly! We just need confirmation from the judges that

there has been a disqualification. Thank you! There is the call.

was a real shame. Really was a shame. Look at that, he was 20,

2010, 10, 19, 27 on the cross drive and suddenly straight into the

shedding ring and bang. Yes, he will have his points up to that

going wrong. So although he has been disqualified, he will keep his

points. Here is confirmation of a very good figures -- first half. He

picked up three points in the shedding ring, but after that it

was game over. 109 out of 140 for was game over. 109 out of 140 for

John Griffiths. John I just want to give you a hug. We were watching,

going that is a near perfect round. With the out run, the lift and the

fetch, you only lost four points then what happened? Disaster. One

of them things. It is the sheep. My dog did their best. I think you had

a horrible rogue sheep that jumped the fence and that was disqualified.

The sheep in the shedding damaging the dog. I don't like my dogs

gripping sheep, it's not right. So I told them not the grip the sheep.

Because what do they do in that situation. Fan is 12, that is the

last time. Yes she is retired now. Well it was fantastic at the

beginning, wasn't it Gus and Matt. Of course and we wish Fan the best.

They did work their hearts out. That was a brilliant run-up to the

stage of the shedding ring when we stage of the shedding ring when we

them through that had been a superb trial. Everyone was thinking how

can we beat this guy? But there was the key - she was the one. Yes. A

real rogue sheep. He was given three for that shed any way. So he

got points for all of the work before the break happened. Yes, he

would have lost some points, but there gos that same you again. This

time she's got round and once they jump into the pen like that, then

it is disqualification. It shows how athletic these sheep are and

how much they can change in the blink of an eye. So a disappointing

round for John. 117 is what we need to beat. That is the England score

for Michael. Who is up next is somebody representing Scotland and

who has won the brace in the nationals four years in a row. It

nationals four years in a row. It is Ewan McKinnon with Roy and Nan.

Ray I leave e live near Loch Carron and I'm running Nan and Roy. It is

a super area to enjoy the outdoors, wildlife and walking. There are

lots of B & B and holiday cottages to service the tourist industry and

craft shops. That is the main economy of the area. Especially in

a time like this, we're needing tourists to visit. We get weather

like this all of the time, honest. I'm encouraged to go to a local

trial about 40 year ago and really a year after that I started going

to open trial and snow balled from there. Roy is nine years old and he

is a brother of Nan. Roy is laid back type character. Nan on the

other hand is a more determined dog than Roy. All my dogs are on the

same whistle. That can pwh a problem. Specially in brace

competitions, but I use a slight variation and that usually works.

When it doesn't, I have to resort to shouting. I have been invited to

take part in the competition in previous years, but for one reason

and another I haven't been able to. The first year I was invite and I

had lost my dog just before the competition. Think year I'm hoping

the post, Ewan with Roy and Nan. This is live and I was having a

word with Ewen, he said, I'm shaking in my boots. Roy to the

right, Nan to the left. Hurtling down to the sheep that are waiting

at the post. You may catch a glimpse of Malcolm at the bottom

with his dog, Sam. They just bring the sheep on to the top of the

field. The two dogs that are rung down. There they go. And arriving

with perfect timing. They haven't crossed again. We still have Nan on

the left, Roy on right as they start at the end of the out run on

to the lift. That seems quite a good lift. Phenomenal brace

competitor is Ewen. He has won the brace competition in the nationals

every year since 2008. And Nan, well they're both nine years old,

they're both from the same litter, which is quite something, Nan has

been involved in every one of those wins. On a good line, Gus? Yes,

excellent. Nan even working on her own, she came fourth at the

international supreme last weekend. So she is a superb bitch. Here she

is working with her litter brother. Just two points lost from the two

dogs then. An 18 and a 20. They're looking at roifplt Roy's coming up

darefully. He has got to -- Roy's coming up carefully. One ewe has

turned, Nan is lying down on the left, but the sheep are starting to

move. Roy, don't push too hard! Oh! Six three and four missed. That was

Roy pushing too hard then. But as we saw with John Griffiths, all is

not over until the sheep are in the pen. 10 out of 10 both for the lift.

We are back to normal again. It shows you that bit too much

pressure from Roy, he got them moving, but pushed that bit too

hard and it slipped. I do like Nan. I think she's got a lovely way

about her. She does remind me of my old dog, Meg. Does she? Great! I

think if Ewen had a favourite it would probably be Nan. She has

certainly done him well over the years. She's a very careful sort of

bitch. She's got the power to do this. But she is so careful in

starting. She doesn't want them to burst. Roy watching it all,

intently, look at the intent. he is moving on again. Both dogs

lie down and the sheep are on the move again. Thank goodness. I one

just thinking is it in with a chance. That is probably the end of

the fetch. The points will come shortly. From Kenny and Shirley.

Away they go. 13 out of 20, so seven lost on the fetch. It was

deductions with the six through and the four. He is just having a bit

of trouble trying to get the sheep to keep flowing. He is challenging

the dogs and bringing Roy around as well. We did ask the questions at

the start. One from Kevin, he said I have a six-year-old Colly cross,

do the dogs have to be full Collys to compete? They can use a cross

breed in ordinary trials. But they can't run it in the national

competition. They have got to be registered. So the Kennel Club

version of sleep dog world is the international sheepdog society and

they have got to be Reger theed -- registered with them. A bit of zig-

zagging, but oh! Only two! majority through. Yes the majority

through, now they're racing uphill. There is a battle on here. Roy

lying down, Nan looks after her side. They're taking a wide fling.

So unfortunately Nan has crossed, the judges will be taking points

off here. Roy is coming around. They're stringing back towards the

pen. Again I think they have spotted the sheep in the holding

pen at the right of the course. Well they have been stopped now.

Roy moving now. Coming back with their heads up and they have split.

Roy getting up. Roy on the left, Nan on the right. That is Nan now.

Both dogs coming on towards these sheep and the sheep determined to

push towards the end of the field. And now they know their friends are

in the corner. It will be hard to get them to spin around. I think

these dogs can do it. I think they will do it. But the time is tick by.

That is the worry. Both dogs working together. We're just coming

up to the half way stage, as far as time is concerned and Nan, just as

she was earlier, edging sloely be losing valuable time.

Look at that for a shot. That is wonderful.

. Yes, brother and sister. Working together.

They are all staring! It's a stair- off.

-- it's a stare-off. Now he's moved to the shedding ring.

He is waiting at the shedding ring for them to come there and do the

next stage. We're on the last part of the drive.

You just sense awkwardness from the sheep. When u you get that lift at

the top, you start assessing the sheep if you get one, your heart

sinks. It does. It really does. I bet Euan

has never worked so hard, getting these dogs together, but he is

winning. Coming past the ungated pen.

Their off-line, but they are coming into the shedding ring. So that now

is the end of the drive. It is fine for them to stop here.

The whole idea is that it is steady and then you can do this. You are

aiming to split them down the middle, five on one side and five

on the other. Take five out and leave five in the ring.

So, it is Nan to do the shedding. Only one dog can do it.

Four minutes left on this round. A drive score of five out of 30.

We were talking about heart sinking. If you saw the scoreboard. So, so

disappointed. He is using Nan. Just the one dog

is allowed. Looking for that opportunity.

There is no deductions for how long it takes to do the shed, but there

are deductions if an opportunity passes by.

That's right. He is trying to get them to string out a little bit in

the ring. Here is the chance coming. Now he has to keep them separate.

Keep them separate but try to get them back together as well.

Oh, dear oh, dear. That's exactly what happened with

John. So they have to be re-grouped. Put back into the ring and split

again. So, more points will be lost in

that shedding ring. The clock keeps on ticking. It really does.

It is not looking good now. Oh, dear, Gus. Just two-and-a-half

minutes to go. The way that these sheep are, they

are not wanting to be split, even when the dog comes between them. He

still has problems. So he has to start all over again.

There is a chance coming again now. Here we go again. I thought they

were going to hurtle straight in. And for the third time he has to do

the split. Well, what can you say about these

sheep, Gus? Well, John is watching. He is commiserating, no doubt with

him. He knows what it is like. John scored 109.

So far, 76 forb E uan. -- 76 for Eaan.

He has one minute to try to get the rest of this trial in.

There is another one trying. They really are testing sheep.

It looks like the other set are going back. They are. They are

trying for the back pen. There you can see from the clock

there is really not much time to recover this. Just half a minute is

left. The first sheep are going through

the cross-drive gates eat the top of the field.

We are down to 12 seconds... Ten seconds. It is not looking good.

That is it. What a shame.

Indeed. Oh, my word! What can you? Well, Roy and Nan did their very,

very ebest. Everybody know it is is just the luck of the draw with the

sheep. It certainly is. It certainly is.

Nan sa is saying, "Look, though, Dad." Unfortunately, the clock was

the one that finished everything. And the other lot are in the woods.

There is a similar tale for Ewan. That is it for Ewan, a score of 78

That is it for Ewan, a score of 78 out of 140.

Ewan, you worked so hard in that round, but disappointing for you, I

bet? Yeah, it is. How do you feel? Disappointed, but

we tried our best. It went so wrong early on.

Yes. Just at my feet there. On the fetch, but around my feet both dogs

seemed to take the eye off the sheep. That was it.

Is that what happened? It was not a sheep being stroppy, because they

were strop I sn. They were stroppy, but the dogs just didn't like the

sheep. The way that the sheep were behaving. The dogs didn't like it.

When they get like that, they take the eye and it is very difficult to

get them to move. Well, I don't even want to tell you

your final score. It was 78, but thank you very much for competing.

I'm sure it's a disappointing round. With John it was a great first half.

It all happened at the shed. We have to do something with this

shedding ring. In order to get to the shedding ring you have to get

through the second drive gate. They were coming at some pace.

Yes. They tend to dash across this course and of course the dogs cross,

the sheep did not stop. They challenge the dogs. He had to get

both dogs to do their best to try to push them away. They had

problems. We have put sheeting up against the

sheep being held in the pen on the opposite side. Still they can

contact them. They can hear them. Maybe they are desperate to get

back to them. They have had to re- group. This is one of the many

group. This is one of the many attempts.

A lot of dogs would have gripped there. She didn't. It was a shame.

He couldn't keep them into the ring itself.

And as we saw, just out of time. Well, disappointing for Ewan.

Disappointing for John from Wales. 117 is the score to beat. That is

what Michael got. He was representing England. Let's see how

our final competitor does. He is representing Ireland. He first

appeared in One Man and His Dog in 2002. Let's meet him.

It is Frank Cash tonne. I come from County Wexford. I am

running this competition with Jip and Claire.

I have had a family farm that's been in the family for three

generations. We have been getting a lot of rain

at the present, but on the bright side we have lots of grown grass

growing for all of our hungry growing for all of our hungry

animals. When I moved here in 1990, my wife did the herding on

horseback. I did not like to venture on horseback. I thought it

safer to stand on the ground. That is how I ended up with the

sheepdogs. Claire is eight years old. She is very keen to get on

with the job. Sometimes she can get a little exited. Jip is the

opposite. He is a cool customer. He is six years old. He is a nosey

type of dog, he loves to run down, jump in and have a good swim for

himself. I have a lot of help on the farm from my daughters to feed

the chickens, hens, ducks. We also have a pot-bellied pig, which is

quite hungry! I'm really looking forward to this year's competition.

There is some great competitors in it. I'm looking forward to the

And Claire -- Clare is named after one of his daughters, Clare.

Great stuff. So, Clare e and Jip.

Clare off the right and there goes Jip. Frank is a carpenter by trade.

Let's see eif he can work his magic here.

She is experienced at brace running. I've seen him have some brilliant

runs. At the moment things are going well. The dog is going down

nicely there. Clare on the left. He has three national Brace titles

to his name. Clare is over to the left.

Jip is on the right. Again, he is trying for a steady

lift. Clare coming up nicely. Look at that. That was a good lift.

A nice start. Well the key here is literally to

get round, isn't it? Let's not get past the shedding ring, he'll be

doing incredibly well. He may well. He has the ability. He

has the dogs to do it, but will the sheep allow him.

So, as Michaela said, a score of had seen what had happened to the

previous handlers would you push on if the first section to give you

more time in the end or try to keep it calm? I would do more or less

what Frank is doing now. He is not letting them stop, but there is a

yew on the right-hand, looking all the time to escape. Jip is keeping

the pressure on to her. So far, keeping them in check. I

would be worried about the two sheep on the right.

Those two sheep on the right now, those are the ones I would be

worried about. If you were not careful they could bolt off the

coursement, but they are being held. They are keen to go on the right of

think Gyp's up to it. She is holding her ground. It's started.

This is the awkward sheep. Here is the battle on. Are the dogs going

to convince this sheep the best thing to do is turn around and join

the others. Should I? Yes I think I will. Get the two of them on board.

That is the way. A bit more pressure now. Claire just a bit

flirty. There is another one in there that is keen to have a go.

Gyp's coming on nice and steady. Well that is the first hurdle over.

Now on to the drive. All these handlers making it look so easy.

But there is a real knack to working a brace. There is, if

things are going right, you feel great. But two dogs, if things go

wrong then it is double trouble. is doing his best to keep them nice

and steady at this stage. The fetch score is 18 out of 20. So scoring

well. Very good. You have got to stop here and try and ease them

forward. They're not shy, are they? No. Oh Claire. Claire is the one

now, the smooth-coated dog lying down that he with can see. There is

Gyp coming saying, I'll give you a hand Claire! Frank won the

international in 1997 so there won't be any situations he has not

been in. But these sheep are wanting to challenge the dogs.

very good to just get them off and running again. She is going to have

to stop them coming on the right hand side of the gates. She is

lying down waiting for a command. That looks good to me. That is it.

Round comes Gyp. Now let' hope they don't go racing across and they are

again. He has got to really now get Claire to run fast up the inside 5

keep them back. This is the tricky thing to stay in contact with them

and not push them and go. He is going right round the back of the

wood. So I think they're going to miss. It is a tremendous run. He

has come round. He has covered them. The sheep have gone past the

obstacle, so there will be points lost. Whether he can get them back.

But they have gone past it, but they haven't on the line gone

through the line as such. There is enough room to bring them back in.

He is still in with a chance. We will see whether he does try to get

them through the second drive gate. He is getting them back. It's over!

Oh no they have come through. So unfortunately all the sheep then

have missed the second drive. As they come back down. But I think

there the rough coasted Gyp did a tremendous job. He has bossed those

sheep and in they come into the shedding ring. Let's hope we have

no breaks to the right. I wonder if Frank was thinking to himself, I'm

not going to push things and just bring them up to the shedding ring

and crack on. I think he would have done. Cut his losses really. Well

16 out of 30. Not too costly Cor -- considering. There are still three

stages to do yet. Let's see how he does. I'm very impressed with the

way the Gyp dog is working. That is the one he is using to split these

sheep now. There is a lot of people out there who are keen to give

their dogs a go. People are asking are any other breeds ever used in

sheepdog trialling. Maybe not on the field but in the yard at home.

Even in sheepdog trialling we get some bearded Collys that are still

working. We were talking last night about Jack Russells being heel

Nippers. But yes from a trialling point of view I have never seen a

Jack Russell in the trial ring, apart from one that has escaped. We

have got kelpys that are used, but they often work too close to the

sheep and are not strong enough really. Well Michael Longton from

England at this stage in the trial just one point ahead. But he did

very well. After this stage. So all is not lost yet. Four minutes to go.

It looks like he has been successful. Now, can he keep them

separate? Is the main thing. There is one wanting to come back and

join them. Split them and get them as far away from each other as

possible. We still haven't had confirmation from the judge that

that shed had been accepted. Oh dear it's happened again! They're

break again. Are they going to get together. Oh my word. Now... And

she came the wrong side then. Claire came on the wrong side of

the sheep then. So we're back to now what happened to Ewen. Troubles.

Ewen and John. This is just incredible. Yes. Even if that shed

was accepted, it is irrelevant now, because Michael, he knows he's got

it. Kevin from Wales. He knows. The brace is his. Well this is where

Gyp, after all this good work could well lose her temper and do a grip,

which we don't want. But he is working well. At least Gyp has that

bit more push than Claire. That is why he is using them. So back into

the shedding ring they have got to come. Well we have only got two

minutes to go. It's not looking good. Absolutely no chance. You

would think it could happen once, but three times. Yes, very

disappointing for all the handlers no doubt. Frank very patiently

starting all over again. Oh it is a hat off job! Trying Eigg now.

Encouraging the -- Trying everything now. Encouraging the

sheep to split. They're breaking like mad. But she will, Gyp will do

it and stop those sheep. Done a great job there. Oh back together

again! There is a minute to go and still it looks as if nothing's

happened in the shedding ring. That is just extraordinary. What a shame.

There is nothing he can do with 45 seconds to do. But they will come

back into the shedding ring and no doubt Frank will do his best to

finish with his head held high. know one of the local handlers said

the biggest trouble with these sheep will be splitting they will

and he was right. They don't like being separated. They just want the

try and stick together. But it's not looking good now. Oh dear we

are down into the last quarter minute. 10 seconds now and below

that. There will be nothing awarded here. Time! Unfortunately time up.

What a shame. What a shame indeed. But again it is the same story,

John knows exactly how he feels. As does Ewen. Well the international

champion, the former international champion from 1997 runs out of time.

So confirmation then of the same story a brilliant start and then

come to the shedding, and it all goes drastically wrong. Finished

with three zeros, that is a score of 92 out of 140. So that is third

of 92 out of 140. So that is third out of four. Ray Oh Frank! You had

the same problem as John didn't you? Yes. It was all going

brilliantly until the drive and then what happened? It started when

I got through the gate here. They were testing the dogs. They got

through the gate and took off. And the dog went to side and they

couldn't catch him quick enough and the shedding ring is off. They went

whield the sheep. Ewen said the problem was the dogs took their

eyes off the sheep. But that is not what happened with your dogs.

the dog went wide and when they got to the shedding ring, then I took

the chance to maybe I would split off Faye and push them on. I

thought I had pulled the other dog in, the minute I went to call her,

everything went. It was a good start, disappointing finish. Let's

see what Gus and Matt have to say about that. Another disappointing

round. MATT BAKER: A great effort. None of them let anyone down it was

just the sheep. Bolshy is the word to describe them. Oh dear just...

There is two cogst -- dogs and that ewe was challenging from the word

go. There is not much you can do when they start stamping and

looking and saying, you don't bother me. But there is the first

bother me. But there is the first of the cross drive gates. And then

they tend to race and they race across here. They're probably

hurtling to the higher ground, because the right hand side of the

course is higher and sheep will naturally go uphill. Because they

can sense action with the sheep in the corner. And the trouble was the

dog went very wide, but did stop them get eight way and then we had

this problems in the shedding ring. Even they separated them, the best

that they could, city still got back together. -- they still got

back together. The sun came out for the finish, but unfortunately they

the finish, but unfortunately they didn't end up in the pen. Ray after

those incredible performances let's remind ourselves of the score tpwrs

that round and see what happened to England are in the lead. A the

others had disappointing rounds. 78 was the lowest with Ewen.

Everything went wrong for poor o' - - old Ewen. Look at the final

scores, Ireland at the top with 127 when we add the brace scores to the

young handlers. Actually remarkably close aren't they? Look at that,

there is just one point in pit. It is extraordinary. I can't believe

that happened three times. I can't believe the whole competition today,

pause so many people had rounds they just didn't expect at all.

It feels so calm now, but you have to mention the fact that this has

been live. And the composure for us to be out thr was something. But it

doesn't end. There is more excitement tomorrow when it is turn

of the singles competition thasm --. That is one man and one dog. There