Monday, August 15, 2011

2011 World Sheep Dog Trial

I would love to go but for now, I will follow along on in spirit....thanks to Angie for such a wonderful job on the web!
from the official website....

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The picturesque Lowther Estates in Cumbria, England, is home to the 2011 World Sheep Dog Trials. Lowther Park is the largest outdoor events venue in the Lake District and in 2009 it played host to the International Sheep Dog Trials. To be held, September 15-18 2011, the World Trial will feature 240 dogs and handlers from 23 nations.

On of eve of the World Trials on Wednesday, September 14, there will be a parade through the streets of Penrith. It will be headed by the Penrith Town Band, which will be followed by a horse-drawn carriage driven by 19-times world carriage-driving champion George Bowman and carrying the Earl and Countess of Lonsdale. They will be followed by all the competing dogs and their handlers, who will be carrying their national flags. Many will also be dressed in national costume. Afterwards, they will all return to the trials site at Thrimby for a hog roast and live entertainment.

Starting at 8am on September 15 will be four days of sheep dog trials featuring the world’s top dogs and their handlers, with the grand final taking place on Sunday, September 18. The trials will be supported by an action-packed Food & Country Festival, with something for all the family to enjoy.

Made in Cumbria will be running a food and craft marquee for its members, showcasing the best the county has to offer. It will also include a cookery theatre and the organisers are hoping to feature a number of celebrity chefs.

There will also be a separate Country Festival marquee, which will shine the spotlight onto many country crafts and skills, among them dry stone walling, hedge laying, coracle making, rope making, wood turning, stick making, slate painting and pottery.

In addition, there will be stands promoting Herdwick and Rough Fell sheep, and Fell and Dales ponies. In the separate display arena, Fells ponies will be put through their paces to demonstrate their versatility and uses across the years. There will also be a working sheep dog display from the back of a Fell pony by Cumbrian triallist Katy Cropper, to date the only woman winner of BBC TV’s 'One Man and His Dog.' Other planned activities for the arena include lurcher racing, sheep dog demonstrations, gymnastics on horseback performed by ‘Jive Pony,’ together with displays of vintage tractors and horse-drawn carriages.


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