Shropshire Star

One Man and His Dog winner Katy comes a cropper at trials

Everyone has what might be termed a "bad day at the office" but in this case it was very much a "baa-d day on the farm".

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Shepherdess Katy Cropper, who became the first female winner of One Man and His Dog in 1990, didn't have much success at the English National Sheep Dog Trials

Katy, who used to live in Burnhill Green, just outside Albrighton, was displaying her skills in Gloucestershire. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of her team of border collies, she lost points due to a runaway sheep, and later went on to lose her striking fur hat when it was blown away in strong winds.

The shepherdess, who quit the Shropshire countryside with her daughter Henrietta, now lives in Cumbria.

Her victory in One Man and His Dog led to her becoming something of a celebrity.

Katy has previously revealed what she misses most about life in Albrighton – a good Midlands balti.

"I love this place," says Katy. "But you just can't get a proper balti up here in Shap. So whenever my friends come to visit, they bring me a balti from Albrighton. They do a special one for me. I like it hot. Wonderful."

When she is not competing or displaying at shows, Katy spends her time training sheepdogs and shepherding on local farms.

One Man and His Dog, which first aired in 1976, featured sheepdog trials. Most famously it was presented by Phil Drabble and, at its peak attracted audiences in excess of eight million as it became a staple of BBC viewing on Sunday nights.

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