Young Man and his Dog

Iain Ferguson Eighteen-year-old Freddy Fulford from Glenloy has become one the youngest sheepdog handlers ever to join the Scottish National Team. Freddy and his dog Nelly were officially confirmed as team members after a recent trials event held in Thurso, competing against150 of Scotland’s very best handlers.

A relative newcomer, Freddy only started sheepdog handling three years ago, with guidance and advice from experienced farmers around his home in developing what is obviously a natural talent.

National Trials are organised by the International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) each summer in Scotland England, Ireland and Wales where handlers compete to represent their country as one of only 15 members and one reserve.

The Scottish National event took place over three days with fierce competition for a coveted place. At the end of the third day’s competition, there was also a runoff between the overall winners from each day to find the overall Scottish Champion and the Scottish team captain.

Freddy took part in the Singles Competition which involves a time limit of 15 minutes to complete the course of a set pattern – Outrun, Lift, Fetch,

Drive, Shed and Pen with a maximum of 110 points awarded by each of the two judges.

For those to whom these terms mean little, basically the dog is sent out, rounds up the sheep, keeps them in a tight group, take one out, put it back in, manage them around a twisting course and gathers them in a pen. This is a very complex operation requiring intense concentration and communication between handler and dog in such a short time. Once the points were collated at the end of the three days, places on the National team were awarded to the top 15 top scorers. Our young man and his dog competed on the second day, following the scoring as other competitors completed their runs. It became really nailbiting on day three, when depending on the outcomes, Freddy would have a good idea as to whether or not he would be joining the team. He said: “It was a really tense time watching each of the handlers taking part, hearing their scores and working out whether or not that would put me in the top 15. In the end I was absolutely delighted to get the 15th and last place on the National team. “It’s amazing!”

Ferguson

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