Sheepdogs and trials in the Lune Valley in 1950s and 1960s

Sheepdog trials began in the 1870s when farmers and shepherds found them to be an excellent way of comparing the abilities of their dogs.

England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales hold a national sheepdog trial annually in July and August.

From this, a team of fifteen goes forward from each region to the international trials, held in September.

Every year a different country hosts the international trials. The winner is crowned Supreme Champion. The course is over half a mile long and is a supreme test for both man and dog, resulting in a true champion.

Without doubt, it is a most prestigious event.

Farmers throughout the local area would regularly compete in sheepdog trials with considerable success and this still continues today.

During the 1950s and 1960s both Harry Huddleston of Park House farm in Wray and Joe Gorst of Mealbank farm, Wennington, were regular competitors at the trials.

The following text is taken from the August 1953 edition of the Farmer’s Weekly.

For the first time since 1937 the Lake District town of Keswick housed the English National Sheepdog Trials. It is rarely that there has been so close a contest as this year in the farmers’ championship.

In the morning Harry Huddleston, with Duke, had a run which was almost as perfect as it could be.

His gathering and driving were accurate; his work in the closing stages accomplished in quick time, although the sheep were, undoubtedly, more than usually helpful here.

By lunchtime it seemed as though only a ‘super run’ could deprive Harry Huddleston of his first national championship win.

Early in the afternoon however, came his near neighbour and relative J.K. Gorst with Bett.

Bett started with perhaps the best outrun of the trials and throughout the gather and driving she never seemed in the slightest danger of losing control of her sheep. Working immediately

behind them there was nothing in the way of pressing - only driving in the approved textbook fashion.

The sheep were perhaps not as helpful as Huddleston’s had been in the shedding ring, but Bett was in complete command. Ringsiders were divided on the merits of the two runs, and

not until the final result was announced was the issue, which gave rise to constant assessments and arguments throughout the afternoon, settled. Gorst had got home with one point advantage

- 108 out of 110 as against his rival’s 107.

It was a tribute to the drivings of both that they were selected to take part in the final test for the driving championship.

Here the best three driving dogs go over a special course and once again J.K. Gorst was the winner.

Lancashire, and indeed the Lancaster area was certainly well to the fore in the 1953 championships, for the third placed collie in the farmers’ championship was Tim Longton’s Dot, a former champion, sixth was the same handler with Roy and seventh Tom Longton (son of the above) with Massie.

The County Palatine thus supplied five of the twelve dogs that represented England.

Harry Huddleston farmed at Park House near Wray until May 1961 when he moved to Snab Green Farm at Arkholme.

In 1969 Harry won the International Sheepdog Trials at Chester. Bet, Harry’s winning dog, was a year old when Harry bought her and after only three weeks he realised she was a good prospect.

But it took another five years to reach the top. She had perhaps two more years before she became too old for first class trials.

Bet would spend every day with Harry about the farm, mostly fetching cows. She refused to work with Harry’s son, demonstrating that sheepdogs really are ‘one man dogs’.

Harry competed in the International since 1949 and came close to winning. Whilst he didn’t practice at home on a trial type of run, he learnt from his mistakes and consolidated his performance.

Being the champion in sheepdog trials is very satisfying as, unlike a sports champion, it means being a master of a craft that is also useful in everyday work.

It is the difference between doing something that is good enough to get by and doing the job well and properly.

In 1989, at the age of 72, Harry won the English National Sheepdog Trial with his dog Jim. He beat 150 other competitors from England to gain the title and trophy.