In the Pen

He travelled to Hutton, near Driffield, to an open trial held at Low Green Farm.

It was an enjoyable day for all.

As the Mule gimmer hoggs worked well over the nice-sized course, the running was good.

Along with this the weather was bright, sunny and warm.

Mary Heaton, of Brandsby, near York, judged the entry of 61 dogs.

As the course was very slightly dome-shaped she sat in a tractor and from this elevated position had a full view of the proceedings.

The competitors stood on a pallet.

Frank ran his bitch Peggy at number 33, the first to go after the sheep had been taken back.

He sent her to gather right-handed, the side favoured by most.

She ran out well to have a faultless gather and lifted her sheep to perfection.

Applying just the correct amount of pressure, Peggy never allowed her hoggs to stray off line over the fetch of 240 metres.

Her turn at her master's feet into the right-hand drive was so tight that two sheep skipped over the corner of the pallet.

It was only in her driving that she could be faulted.

As her sheep approached the first drive gates, Frank thought they could turn on the inside.

He flanked Peggy to the left, which put them through the obstacle.

However, this resulted in a slightly wide turn into the cross-drive, as the sheep increased their speed and Peggy had a long way to run round to the right to turn them.

For this, and being marginally high over the cross-drive, three marks were deducted.

She lined her hoggs up to have a perfect pen, then finished clean at her single, where she had to take any one of the four and hold it.

With a highly polished trial that scored 97 out of a possible 100 points, Frank and Peggy took the title clear by two marks over John Atkinson and Bob in second place.

Frank, who is a builder by trade, has been trialling for approaching 20 years.

During this time he has received much help and advice from Tommy Brownrigg, of Newbiggin on Lune, and they continue to travel together to the trials.

Frank and Peggy have won numerous open titles, including the prestigious Farlam open, held near Brampton.

Although she is now ten years old, Peggy is still very fit.

She was bred by Morris Evans, of Criccieth on the Lleyn Peninsula, out of Fly, a granddaughter of Alan Jones's Roy and sired by Jaff, a son of Sidney Price's Supreme Champion, Davy.

Peggy has an excellent temperament and is good to handle.

Frank thinks she is probably the best bitch he has ever owned.

Results

Low Green Farm Open, Hutton, Driffield: 1 Frank Satterthwaite (Brough) Peggy, 97 of 100; 2 John Atkinson (South Milford) Bob, 95; 3 Malcolm Mason (Driffield) Kate, 94, OLF; 4 Derek Scrimgeour (Lonscale) Ben, 94; 5 Neil Jones (Thwing) Gyp, 93; 6 Sandy Beaton (Nun Appleton) Selby, 92.

l ONE Of Cumbria's best-known shepherds has produced a video demonstrating sheep dog training techniques.

In the video, Derek Scrimgeour, who has represented England at international trials, shares his techniques for training dogs to flank, lie down, outrun, drive, shed and go back.

The video, A Hill Shepherd Trains his Border Collies, is available by contacting Ruth Tott at Farming Books and Videos Ltd, Po Box 536 Preston, PR2 9ZY or by calling 01772-652693.