The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Young shepherd wins sheepdog trials with Jim
After three days of fierce competition at Ballinluig, a 26-year-old shepherd from Sanquhar and his rising four-year-old dog Jim won the Scottish National Sheepdog Trials championship.
Wullie Welsh claimed the title 30 years after his grandfather, Scottish triallist Jock Welsh of Dalrymple in Ayrshire, won the same title at Doune.
It is an achievement that triallists twice or even three times Wullie’s age aim for, and many have chased it since long before the current champion was born.
Wullie said: “I was trying to keep the lines as tidy as I could, and Jim took every whistle.”
Not far behind, in second, were Kinross shepherd Neil Campbell and Cass, who led for most of Saturday forenoon.
As well as Neil, whose dog Gus earned seventh, handlers from Crieff, Glenlyon, Bridge of Cally and Auchterarder are among a team of 15 and one reserve who will represent Scotland at the international trial in Gloucester next month.
Julie Hill of Heriot, won the brace class with litter mates Molly and Sid, who have only been paired since April.
Local chairman Jimmy Menzies, of Baledmund farm, Tulliemet, a competitor in individual and brace classes, praised Atholl Estates for supplying the sheep, and the work of the estate’s farm staff.
“I think it has been one of the best Scottish Nationals I’ve seen,” he said.