Two locals at World Sheepdog Trials

Miriam Lettner and Ned O’Keefe from Kilkenny are set to represent Ireland at the prestigious World Sheepdog Trials, which is taking place from September 13 to 16 at Gill Hall Estate, Dromore, County Down.

Coming to Northern Ireland for the very rst time, the global event has been organised by the International Sheepdog Society and is expected to welcome more than 30,000 spectators alongside 240 sheepdogs and their han- dlers from all over the world, including Argentina, Brazil, Canada and Finland.

Miriam and Ned will join their fellow competitors all vying to be named as Top Dog with a World Champion announced at the end of the four-day event.

John McCullough, Chairman of the World Trial Committee said: “We’re delighted to have Miriam and Ned representing Ireland at this year’s trials. Miriam and Ned’s extensive experience and dedi- cation will be a great source of inspiration and encouragement to other competitors and we’re looking forward to seeing them put on the great performance we know they’re more than capable of producing.

“We’ll have some of the world’s best sheepdogs and their handlers descending into Ireland in September and it is sure to be a spectacle not to be missed!”

Isabel Branch, CEO of the International Sheepdog

Society, said: " e World Sheepdog Trials are very much the Olympics of the sheepdog world, so we are expecting extremely tough competition in each of the classes. is is a fantastic opportunity to observe the best of the best, and we can’t wait to welcome enthusiasts and spectators, from across Ireland and further a eld, to join us in this momentous occasion.”

*See www.worldsheepdogtrials.org