Sheep dog trials in spotlight
A Highland Perthshire village is heavily featured in a six-part television series that began this week.
‘Farpaisean Chon-Chaorach’– Gaelic for sheepdog trials – features highlights from sheepdog trials across the UK, including the Scottish national competition, which was held last August in Ballinluig.
The programme, now in its 10th year on BBC Alba, will look at the highly-competitive world of national and international sheepdog trials, with the Highland Perthshire community leading the Scottish section of the popular Gaelic language series.
The filming in Ballinluig is presented by Donald MacSween and Catriona MacPhee.
Donald said:“It’s great to be back with all the best sheep handlers and sheepdogs in the world.
“Having been covering this community for the past decade, it’s given us an insight into sheepdog trialling and the people involved with it and I feel privileged to have been part of that.”
A spokesperson for the programme said the show promises all the tension and skill expected from the trial field, as well as Presenter Donald MacSween Pic: Lawrence Broadie extended interviews and features taking a behind-the-scenes look at the event with shepherds, and highlights from the international competition held at Lodge Park in the Cotswolds.
The first episode produced by Bees Nees Media, featured action from the Ballinluig trials and looked at preparing for sheepdog trials with George Campbell, a farm manager with Atholl Estates.
Tuesday’s first episode will be repeated at 9pm on Sunday, January 7. The next episode will be broadcast on the Gaelic language channel at 9pm on Tuesday, January 9.