George was up early to judge this one and it turned out to be a long day with 89 dogs running the course. George is a well known sheepdog handler and judge. George has been the annual host of the Four Nations Nursery Final since its inception a few years ago. It consists of the best 40 nursery dogs from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales and it is a CSJ sponsored event. George has a dairy and sheep enterprise in Eccleshall in Staffordshire, England. George has judged sheepdog trials all around the world.

We have a quick chat about the course here at Steven Duckworth’s farm here in Lancashire. This is one of my favourite courses. it is a hillside course turned up on its edge making for great viewing. it has a few stone walls that handlers need to guide their sheep through. it has a long ‘dogleg’ fetch for about 300 yards after the lift which makes it fun to handle. this year it was run on three sheep with a single after the pen. time was tight so a run needed to be efficient if it was to get finished inside the time.

We have some drone and phone video footage to help illustrate George’s description of events.