The 12th Annual Open Sheep Dog trials kick off this year’s New Hampshire Highland Games, held Friday, September 22nd through Sunday, September 24th at the Loon Mountain Resort, Lincoln, NH.
On Friday morning, sheep and dogs start their traditional obstacle course, where the goal is for each dog to run four sheep through five obstacles on the course. Each sheep is worth 5 points and a perfect run earns 100 points. Following an elimination round, the top 10 qualifiers compete to establish the order of victory. The winner of the event receives the Campbell Cup, a silver perpetual trophy donated by the Clan Campbell Society.
The most common sheep dog is the Border Collie, bred for the job centuries ago by farmers living in the Scottish border hills. The dogs are known for their intelligence, physical strength, agility, and stamina. Historically, they have toiled tirelessly to gather large flocks spread over great distances and will go to any end to recover an animal lost from the flock. During World War I, British soldiers depended on the Border Collie to deliver medicine and supplies through trenches and across the battlefields.
“The Sheep Dog Trials are a great event for children and animal enthusiasts of all ages,” said Donald Munro, managing director of the New Hampshire Highland Games. “From sheep dogs to Scottish dance and from piping to pageantry, we offer fun for the whole family.”
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