Gallery: Sheepdogs take a bow-wow at trials near Oswestry

Sheepdog trials are held across the country – but one staged in Shropshire yesterday was most definitely something special.

Sheepdogs, guided by their owners, had to shepherd the sheep around not fences but huge giraffe sculptures and past obstacles such as gorillas and elephants before collecting them in – not a pen but a gazebo.

The event was the second to be hosted at the British Ironworks Centre just south of Oswestry. Winner of the morning session was Kevin Dodd from Malpas with his dog Bill. They scored six points.

The winner of the afternoon session was Caroline Visser, from the Netherlands, with her dog Jess. They scored 11 points.

One of the organisers was Gayle Forrester, who describes herself as a hobbyist sheepdog trials competitor.

As well as being part of the organising team of volunteers Miss Forrester ran her young dog Edmund on the course.

Nearly 80 competitors took part, arriving at the centre from not only across Britain but from Europe.

Ms Forrester said: "Some of our competitors will be hobbyists like myself but others will be working farmers."

The tests that the dogs carry out in sheepdog trials are those that they will have to do when working with their handler on the farm or out on the mountains.

The dogs are put through their paces with the out run – sent off to retrieve the sheep, the pick-up and the drive, when they have to bring the sheep back to the shepherd and the pen.

Those taking part included men and women of all ages including those in their 80s.

Miss Forrester thanked all those who had given up their time to help organise and run the trials.

"There are people who organise trials on the Shropshire/Welsh border who have been very helpful in ensuring this event took place. We are grateful to the farmer to lent the sheep for the day – and, of course, to the British Ironworks Centre for hosting the trials," she said.