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Countryfile (1988) Season 37 Episode 39
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00:00This so far looks like a good run from Derek and Sweep.
00:03Yeah.
00:04Oh, that's good. That's a good recovery.
00:07And through the gate.
00:08Outstanding.
00:10Not without its moments, this trial, that's for sure.
00:30This is the highlight of the sheepdog trialing calendar.
00:47It's the one that all competitors have been working towards.
00:50But this isn't just any old trial, because this is the Supreme.
00:55The rural backdrop of the Brinkinald Estate near Wrexham is where top contenders go head-to-head
01:05in a thrilling showcase of the most skilled sheepdogs from across our four nations.
01:11The ultimate test of precision, patience and partnership,
01:16where both handlers and dogs are pushed to their limits.
01:19But only one can claim the ultimate title of Supreme Champion.
01:23Every round is packed with tension, strategy and heart.
01:30This is the International Supreme Sheepdog Championships,
01:33with organisers, judges, competitors and, of course, the incredible dogs at the centre of it all.
01:40Is this the point at which you start getting nervous?
01:42It's when he actually walks onto the field, then I start hyperventilating.
01:47There's two there, she's got them.
01:50She has them.
01:51She's got them.
01:52Good one.
01:53Oh, she's got them, Ben.
01:54Good job.
01:55Well done, Joel.
01:57Oh, springy one's in there.
01:59Right, get this group in the pen.
02:01Job done.
02:02Come by, lay down.
02:03Come on, come on.
02:04Yes.
02:05Come.
02:06Come by, lay down.
02:07Come by, lay down.
02:14Throughout the year, around 1,300 handlers and their trusty dogs
02:18have battled through gruelling qualifying rounds across the country to get here.
02:24From 1,300, just 60 remain.
02:28Now they face the semi-finals, all chasing a coveted spot as one of the top 15 who will compete for the ultimate prize, the Supreme.
02:38This isn't just a competition, it's a legacy.
02:41For nearly 120 years, competitors have fought for the honour of being here.
02:47Well, today I'm meeting someone who has been in a fifth of them.
02:51Scottish-born Derek Scrymgear stepped onto the trial field at just 17.
02:57In the four decades since, he's judged trials, written a book about trialling...
03:01Lie down.
03:02..and honed his skills, bringing him here to his 23rd semi-final.
03:11And he's joined by his team-mate Sweep.
03:14Sweep loves working his sheep and hanging out with the grandchildren, but hates really hot weather.
03:20Today is his second semi-final, and thankfully, the weather is just right.
03:25Morning, Derek.
03:26Morning, morning.
03:27Hi, how are you?
03:28I'm good.
03:29I thought at this stage, you'd be sort of lying in a darkened room on your own, having deep thoughts about the course.
03:34I do various things. The best thing is to just go and stand still and hope that nobody wishes me luck.
03:39Oh, really?
03:40Because when they wish me luck, I think, oh, go away. I'm just concentrating, so...
03:44It is, though, your 23rd.
03:46It's 23 times I've represented England, with about, I think, with about 12 different dogs.
03:51Which is incredible, but you must sort of know the ropes.
03:54It's not easy.
03:55You know right away, if you get a bad sheep, you think, OK, it's not going to be my day-to-day, and you just have to go through the procedure.
04:00But if you get nice sheep, you've got to think, don't mess this up, don't mess this up.
04:04Yeah.
04:05Over the years, you must have seen a change in the competitors that you're up against.
04:09There's more people who are doing it as a hobby and have more time to put into the training.
04:14Like, it first started off with farmers, and farmers are busy doing their work and don't have time to train.
04:20But now there's people who are doing it as a hobby, and they've got much more time, so they're much more polished.
04:25Now, you're actually representing England today, even though you're clearly Scottish.
04:29I knew you were going to ask that question.
04:31It's because you have to run for the country you live in.
04:34Oh, I see, and you're up in Cumbria.
04:35Yeah, but I've been in England now for 40 years, so I'm not sure what I am.
04:39I'm representing my dog. I want to do the best for my dog.
04:42I hope Sweep's listening to this. You're paying attention here.
04:45He's a good, sound, solid dog. Yeah, honest.
04:48He may not be a superstar, but he's close, he's close.
04:51I feel really bad talking to you at this point.
04:53That's okay. Do you want to go and think deep thoughts?
04:56Yeah, probably as well, just to go now, because I'm next on.
04:59Right, okay. Okay, but thank you.
05:00I'm not going to say anything.
05:01No, no, don't say good luck.
05:03No, no. Okay, thank you.
05:05I was about to say that, but I'm now not saying anything.
05:09As Derek gets set for his run, I'm meeting another competitor, hoping to secure their place in the final.
05:17Let me tell you that this competitor is something special, with a story that proves that passion,
05:22dedication and a bond with your dog can take you all the way to the top.
05:27Miriam Lettner is originally from Salzburg in Austria, but has called Ireland home for the past 12 years.
05:34She's a director of services for a disability provider during the day, and in her spare time loves working her dogs with their sheep on the farm.
05:42This is her third time in the semi-finals, representing the Irish national team at the Supreme.
05:49Miriam's faithful dog, Tory Hill Joe, is a six-and-a-half-year-old border collie, who loves nothing more than managing the farm's mixed flock of 200 lanark and Wiltshire ewes.
06:01He's already represented Ireland at the 2022 Internationals and the 2023 World Sheepdog Trials.
06:08And when he's not competing, Joe's happiest at lambing time, or jumping in water troughs after a hard day's work.
06:15Miriam, how are you doing?
06:18Good morning.
06:19Oh, we've got our dog already in the back.
06:21That's Joe.
06:22This is Joe.
06:23He's waiting for his run today.
06:24Yeah, and how are you feeling?
06:25I'm feeling very good.
06:26Good.
06:27I had a good night's sleep, and yeah, I can't wait to get out now.
06:30Well, huge congratulations on qualifying.
06:32Thanks so much.
06:33To get here.
06:34So, how long have you been doing this then, Miriam?
06:36God, I do it quite a while. I think I got my first dog over 20 years ago.
06:41I saw sheepdogs walking the very first time when I went on a holiday to Scotland with a few friends,
06:47and one morning we woke up in a farm B&B and I heard somebody whistling and shouting,
06:52and I thought, what's that?
06:54And I went out and I saw a farmer gathering up sheep with his dog.
06:58Yeah.
06:59And I thought, that's what I want to do.
07:00Had you had dogs before?
07:01No dogs.
07:02Nothing?
07:03My grandmother had German shepherds on a farm, that's all.
07:06Right.
07:07I had absolutely no dog sense and no idea about how to get there and what to do.
07:13Wow.
07:14Austria's not a big sheep country either, and sheepdog training and handling back then was in a very different place.
07:20Right.
07:21Yeah.
07:22Wow, what a story.
07:23So, did you get a dog that was trained already?
07:25No, I made probably the worst mistake you can make.
07:28I was a beginner and I got a pup.
07:30I got a pup from my...
07:31In it together.
07:32That's the way.
07:33And both to learn.
07:34Gosh, and you've had, well, quite a few dogs since I imagine.
07:37I had a good few dogs since, yeah.
07:39Yeah, yeah.
07:40And I learned from every single one, still learn from every dog.
07:42And how did you end up competing for Ireland then, if you're from Austria?
07:46I came over to Ireland a good few years for holidays and trialing and training my dogs.
07:53And then I met an Irish farmer and got stuck.
07:56So, it's all for love.
07:58Yeah.
07:59Wonderful.
08:00Is it time for Joe to maybe stretch his legs, have a little wander?
08:03Yeah.
08:04Absolutely.
08:05I'd love to see him.
08:06I'd say he'd be delighted to come out here.
08:07Come on, let's have a little look.
08:08What's he like character-wise?
08:09Um, he's very focused on me.
08:11Is he?
08:12Is he?
08:13He really doesn't...
08:14Oh, he is.
08:15He really is not interested.
08:16He's stretching himself.
08:17Oh, he's stretching.
08:18There's a good boy.
08:19There you go.
08:20Yeah.
08:21He's a mummy's boy.
08:22And how old is he?
08:23He's six and a half now.
08:24He's six and a half, right.
08:25So, he's a good age then.
08:26He's well experienced.
08:27Yeah.
08:28He's a dog that likes to be kind of on his sheep.
08:31He has a nice hold on sheep and he can also be a very sensitive dog in ways.
08:36Well, I have to say, Miriam, he's looking very relaxed at the moment, isn't he?
08:40He is, yeah.
08:41He knows.
08:42This is just free time now.
08:43Yeah.
08:44Because the minute I take my crook out and my hat, he just gets much more tensed up
08:49and he sometimes stands there and his whole body is shaking.
08:52And I look at him and I'm thinking, what are you shaking?
08:55I'm the one that should be nervous, actually.
08:59Of course, it's not only the dogs and handlers in the spotlight.
09:03The sheep are just as important to the trial.
09:06Each run uses five fresh sheep with a new round every 20 minutes.
09:11Doug and his dog, Cassie, are the dream team behind the scenes,
09:15holding and releasing the next set at the start of every round.
09:22Doug, nice to see you, mate.
09:25Oh, I tell you, all the hubbub's going on up there.
09:27But, well, you're the most important man in the whole field here.
09:30Plenty going on down here as well, don't you worry.
09:32Yeah.
09:33So this lot are primed and ready to go next up then, are they?
09:35Yeah.
09:36We just sort them into five and then we put collars on any two random,
09:38whichever two are easy to put the collar on.
09:40We don't pick a sheep for the job.
09:41Okay.
09:42And then open the gate and it's up to them.
09:43And you've got help down here as well.
09:44So who's this?
09:45Yeah, that's Cassie.
09:46Cassie, come here.
09:47Come and see me.
09:48There you go, Cassie.
09:49Oh, you're lovely, aren't you?
09:51And Cassie's been doing a lot of work today.
09:53Yeah, she's only a young thing.
09:54We try hard to get the sheep out as quiet as we can
09:56and not disturb them for the handler.
09:58So we need a dog that'll stop and not give them much grief.
10:00Well, listen, we're talking away here.
10:02You've got to keep your eye on what's going on, haven't you?
10:04Are you going to pop the collars on two for me?
10:05Yeah, yeah.
10:06Absolutely.
10:07Any two?
10:08Any two?
10:09Nice and steady.
10:10Nice and steady.
10:11It'll just click.
10:12You'll hear it click and close.
10:13Steady and steady.
10:14There.
10:15Yeah?
10:16And another one.
10:17Let's go with...
10:18Shall we go with you, sweetheart?
10:19There we go.
10:20Steady, steady.
10:21Is that the right two, do you think?
10:22I hope so.
10:23That one's got some go, hasn't it?
10:24That one's got some go.
10:25Yeah.
10:26And then we just let them in here.
10:27Yeah.
10:28And then they're ready.
10:29They'll stand and relax for a minute.
10:30Of course, yeah.
10:31So that's all we do.
10:32And you're trying to get them in a...
10:34Yeah.
10:35Yeah.
10:36Yeah.
10:37And you're trying to get them in a nice spot then.
10:40So where are you aiming for?
10:41We've got...
10:42To park them.
10:43We have a marker out here so the sheep are all in the same spot.
10:45Yeah.
10:46So we just walk them and then we try and control them when we get to the other end.
10:50Right, girls.
10:51You're off.
10:53Steady, steady.
10:54Steady, steady.
10:55Ooh!
10:56Ooh, springy one's in there.
10:58Close that up, ready for the next lot in.
11:01But fascinating to get an insight of what's going on behind the scenes here.
11:05You know, if it wasn't for this team and these dogs here.
11:08The international trial.
11:10It wouldn't happen.
11:17And what a spot for it all to play out.
11:20The 760 acre grounds of the Brinkinald Estate.
11:24Today, the stage is set for the semi-final runs.
11:27Gateway to tomorrow's supreme final.
11:30Each run must be completed in just 15 minutes.
11:34Five sheep start at the top, with the handler and dog waiting at the bottom.
11:39The dog's first big test is the outrun, running wide to get behind the sheep,
11:44and it's worth up to 20 points.
11:46The way the dog introduces itself to the sheep, the lift, is marked out of 10.
11:51Then, the dog will fetch the sheep 400 yards through the middle of the fetch gates,
11:56earning a maximum of 20.
11:58While turning the sheep around the handler's post, the dog must move them in a packet,
12:03on a 450-yard route through two sets of drive gates, scoring up to 30 points.
12:10They'll then end up at the shedding ring, where two sheep not wearing collars must be separated from the group,
12:17gaining 10 points.
12:19All the sheep must then be penned, earning 10 more.
12:22The sheep then need to return to the shedding ring, and to finish,
12:26one collared sheep must be singled out from the rest, worth 10 more points.
12:30Everything is marked by four judges, one from each nation, giving a maximum of 440 points.
12:36It's just minutes until Derek and Sweep take to the field, and here, for moral support, is his wife, Helen.
12:48Morning, Helen.
12:49Hello.
12:50How are you doing?
12:51Good.
12:52Is this the point at which you start getting nervous?
12:55Not quite.
12:56It's when he actually walks onto the field, then I start going hyperventilating.
13:02You've been married for what, 40 years?
13:0440 years.
13:0540 years.
13:06You must have got used to it by now.
13:07Oh, yeah, yeah.
13:08It must take up a lot of time, because he's so good, isn't he?
13:11Well, it's been a bit of a problem retiring.
13:14He's not felt quite right about doing it.
13:17Most farmers don't, but it's really good, because he's got this to do.
13:21So, it's just a whole new lease of life.
13:24He's always done it, but now he can really concentrate on it.
13:27It's all very much luck, you know, whether you get good sheep, whether the weather's good,
13:32whether your head's in a good place, whether your dog's in a good place.
13:35And if your head's not in a good place, the dog senses it.
13:38So, you know, it's all those types of variables.
13:40So, you can't get all tense, because Sweep will know if his shoulders are going up.
13:44Oh, absolutely.
13:45Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
13:46For this run, I shall be standing by your side asking stupid questions.
13:49I'll hold your hand.
13:50Tight.
13:51Exactly.
13:52So, we'll be fine.
13:53And actually, we've got someone who's going to help us through it.
13:55So, let's go and stand a bit closer.
13:56Yes, yes.
13:57OK.
14:00While the official judges keep score, I'll be getting expert insight from Angie Blackmore,
14:05a former Supreme Judge with almost 20 years' experience.
14:12Morning, Angie.
14:13I feel I'm interrupting.
14:14How's it going?
14:15OK, it's going good.
14:16Super course, isn't it?
14:17Isn't it?
14:18So beautiful.
14:19Brilliant.
14:20What's the standard like this year?
14:21It's good.
14:22The sheep are excellent.
14:23It makes a good standard.
14:25What makes an excellent sheep?
14:27They've worked beforehand.
14:28They've come off a farm that use dogs for general farm work.
14:32And the next round is Derek Scroogeab and Sweep.
14:36So, the sixth competitor of the day.
14:39I hate this, actually.
14:40We'll be Derek Scroogeab and Sweep.
14:42I do.
14:43I'd prefer not to be here now.
14:45That'll do.
14:46That'll do.
14:47I know.
14:48Send manifest good vibes.
14:50I always do.
14:51I always do.
14:53The judges are set.
14:55Scorecards are at the ready.
14:57And Derek and Sweep are poised.
15:05That's a good line so far.
15:07Don't jinx it.
15:08He's looking in, mind you.
15:09It's giving them enough room there.
15:12The sheep must always be moved in a tight packet without strays running away.
15:18They've got to go through the fetch gates.
15:20They're supposed to.
15:21If any sheep run off course, Derek and Sweep will lose crucial points.
15:26And you try and get as close to the middle of the gap as you possibly can.
15:31He needs to push them across.
15:33That's better.
15:34There we go.
15:35Oh, they're splitting up on them.
15:37Some of them are trying to go back on the track.
15:39But this is not nice.
15:41Next, Sweep needs to usher the sheep along the designated 450-yard route through to the
15:47first of two drive gates.
15:49Right, here they come.
15:51I would say he's a bit offline here.
15:53He's too far this way.
15:54He needs to be around there to come round.
15:56To be fair, there is one sheep that is determined to come this way.
15:59I know, but that's what makes or breaks it, isn't it?
16:02Yeah.
16:03He's got one awkward sheep in there.
16:04Yeah.
16:06Miriam is also watching closely before her run, sizing up the course and the competition.
16:12This so far looks like a good run, Derek and Sweep.
16:15Yeah.
16:16Yeah.
16:17It looks as if you had two.
16:18Oh, they've split apart a bit.
16:19Come on.
16:20Oh, that's good.
16:21That's a good recovery.
16:22He got them back together and through the gate.
16:26Outstanding.
16:27Not without its moments this trial, that's for sure.
16:30Sweep's next task is to separate the two sheep without collars from the packet.
16:35Here we go.
16:36Here we go.
16:37Now he's got it.
16:38Job done.
16:39With just over 90 seconds left on the clock, the penultimate task is to enclose all five
16:44sheep into the pen.
16:46I don't think this is going to go too well, because they're not bunching together.
16:52Sweep's doing his job.
16:53Yeah, it's just the sheep.
16:54It's just...
16:55I didn't get the memo.
16:56He's working his side.
16:57Hmm.
16:58Derek's working his side.
16:59Goodbye.
17:00Away.
17:01Away.
17:02Lay down.
17:03Keep...
17:04Lay down.
17:05They're in an awkward place now.
17:08Lay down.
17:11Time.
17:12He's run out of time.
17:13That is frustrating.
17:16Left a lot of points out there.
17:18What a shame for Derek.
17:20Done.
17:23Now they've gone in now.
17:24I'm really surprised.
17:25I'm surprised.
17:26It must have been slower than we thought.
17:28Yeah.
17:31Without finishing the course, Derek and Sweep's hopes of reaching the final are over.
17:38Hello.
17:39Oh, hi.
17:40How are you doing?
17:41I'm good.
17:42I'm good.
17:43Yeah.
17:44What didn't quite work there?
17:45Eh...
17:46The dog ran really well.
17:47He got sheep that were quite difficult, but sheep can be difficult.
17:50He ran out of time at the pen.
17:51That was a bit disappointing.
17:52Yeah.
17:53But the dog worked really well all the way around the course, and I was really pleased with him.
17:58You just needed better sheep.
17:59I needed another half a minute at the pen.
18:02The sheep were okay.
18:03He made a good job of handling it.
18:05That's kind of everything about what the Sheepdog Society is about.
18:08It's not always about the winner.
18:09It's about seeing good dogs doing their work really well under difficult circumstances.
18:13And what's next for you?
18:15The next one is, next year there's a world trial.
18:18And he's qualified for the world trial.
18:21Poor old Sweep.
18:22He's been very patient.
18:23I know, he needs a drink.
18:24You need a drink, don't you?
18:25He does.
18:26Oh, we'll let you get on.
18:27Thank you very much.
18:28No, thank you.
18:29It wasn't to be this year for Derek and Sweep.
18:39But how are Miriam and Joe going to fare?
18:41They're up next.
18:43Miriam, you have your hat.
18:45You've got your stick.
18:46Everything.
18:47It means it's time.
18:48Everything, isn't it?
18:49Are you all right?
18:50Yeah, I'm fine.
18:51Are you sure?
18:52And we wish you all the very best.
18:53Thanks.
18:54Go for it.
18:55Have fun out there.
18:56Thanks so much.
18:57Joe, do your thing, my friend.
18:59I know you will.
19:02All those hours of preparation.
19:04And it boils down to this.
19:06The question is, what's that little flock of sheep going to be like?
19:11Next to run, representing Ireland, Miriam Letner and Tony Hill Joe.
19:17I'm joining Miriam's partner and fellow trialer from back home, Ned.
19:21Already on the stopwatch, 15 minutes.
19:24Come on, everything's crossed.
19:26Circling all the way around the outside and now here comes the stop.
19:31Perfect.
19:32Here comes the lift.
19:35That's a very good start.
19:37This is a great start.
19:39After a super outrun and lift, they keep the momentum going through the fetch gates.
19:45Joe's doing ever so well here.
19:47Yeah.
19:48He's got a beautiful floor to him, hasn't he?
19:50He glides.
19:51They go around the handler's post and through the drive gates without a hitch.
19:56Round you go.
19:57Round you go.
19:58Good.
19:59Miriam and Joe successfully separate off the sheep without collars.
20:04Come by.
20:05Sit.
20:06Sit.
20:07Get up.
20:08There's two there.
20:09She's got them.
20:10She has them.
20:11She's got them.
20:12Oh, she's got them, Ben.
20:13Pen is next.
20:14She'll know she's got plenty of time.
20:15So just don't rush this bit.
20:16Gently, gently, gently, gently, gently.
20:17Come by.
20:18Sit.
20:19But time is slipping away and the pressure is building.
20:20Push him in, Miriam.
20:21Push him in, Miriam.
20:22Get up.
20:23Push him in, Miriam.
20:24These Welsh mountain sheep are proving particularly stubborn.
20:26There's a bit of a stalemate going on here.
20:27Yeah.
20:28Stand off.
20:29Stand off.
20:30Stand off.
20:31They're just adamant they don't want to go into that pen.
20:32Get up.
20:33Come.
20:34Come.
20:35Stand off.
20:36Joe's been very, very patient.
20:37He's not running in, is he?
20:39It's a bit of a still, mate, going on here.
20:42Yeah, stand off.
20:45They're just adamant they don't want to go into that pen.
20:49Joe's been very, very patient. He's not running in, is he?
20:52No, no, he's cold.
20:54He's doing his troubles.
20:57Come on.
21:00Stand out.
21:02Oh, dear.
21:04In the final few seconds, Joe gripped one of the stubborn sheep.
21:08It didn't suffer any harm,
21:10but that action results in an instant disqualification.
21:16Unfortunate. What a shame.
21:18It was going so, so well.
21:20Yeah, very good to the pen.
21:21Got to the pen and suddenly everything...
21:22Stalemate. That's sheepdog twirling.
21:25Absolutely.
21:30After Joe cooled down in a well-earned bath,
21:34I got a final word from Miriam.
21:35Ah, sure, no, I'm happy enough with him.
21:40I'll tell you, it was brilliant.
21:43I mean, that first part of that run,
21:45and he was so calm, wasn't he, through?
21:47He was a good lad. Well done, son.
21:50But it's awful when you are there at the pen,
21:52and I could see my time going down,
21:54and then I push the sheep too hard,
21:55and you can't push them.
21:56Yeah, yeah, but I'll tell you what, what a partnership.
22:00I mean, he did you proud.
22:01It was very, very impressive,
22:03and I can only apologise on behalf of those Welsh mountain sheep.
22:06The qualifying heats are well underway,
22:17as every handler and their dog fights for a coveted place in the Supreme final.
22:22It takes military precision to bring an event like this to life,
22:26and we went behind the scenes to see how it all comes together.
22:32This year, the Supreme has landed on the home turf
22:35of Welsh president and local hill farmer, Glyn Jones.
22:39With a busy team of more than 30 volunteers,
22:42Glyn's got an eye across everything,
22:44from the course layout, to signage,
22:46and perhaps most importantly, the sheep.
22:50I've just brought the mobile sheep pens, ready for tomorrow,
22:54and then there's a couple of things we need to chat about
22:57where the trade stands and stalls
22:59with a couple of members of the local committee.
23:02I live in the top end of the Kiriog Valley,
23:04and I've been trialling for many years now,
23:07and it's just a privilege to stage the international here locally.
23:13The first recorded trial was in Balla, in North Wales, in 1873.
23:19So Wales has a long history with sheepdog trialling.
23:22There's a lot of pressure to get this right
23:24because there'll be people from all around the world,
23:26sheepdog handlers and enthusiasts.
23:29I'm feeling a bit nervous about it
23:30because we want to try and get this right.
23:32I get one shot at the international.
23:38Working a sheepdog is unique.
23:40I don't think you can find anything quite like it
23:43because you've got three beings here.
23:45You've got the human being,
23:46a dog, border collie,
23:48and stock, sheep, cattle.
23:50It's truly unique.
23:51So we've got two years preparing for this event,
24:11raising money,
24:11and then the actual work of setting up the event.
24:14So it's nothing without the local committee.
24:31100 acres, four nations, one challenge.
24:34It's now up to Glyn and his fellow trials committee from Scotland, England and Ireland
24:40to agree and shape a course worthy of the Supreme.
24:44There is a standard size for this course, but we've got dips and hollows in this field.
24:50So we want everybody to enjoy the course and see all the gates.
24:54So it's not quite straightforward as just setting the gates at that distances.
25:01And now we're waiting for the sheep to arrive.
25:05Because the estate is a dairy farm, there are no sheep here.
25:09So Glyn has volunteered his own sheep for the big event.
25:12And the job of transporting them safely from their family farm falls to Glyn's son, Elgin.
25:18So we're going to put about 100, 110 sheep on this trailer.
25:22Obviously the sheep's welfare is paramount to the sport.
25:25Each competitor will have five fresh sheep for the first two days.
25:29And then after a nice break on Friday night, they'll be rerun then for the Supreme Final on Saturday.
25:35We try and make it as fair as possible.
25:36If they were rerunning sheep, then obviously they would be perhaps a bit more tamed to the next handler.
25:42So it does definitely make it a fairer competition to have fresh sheep.
25:45The sheep don't have far to go, about 14 miles down the road to the bottom of the valley.
25:50It's marvellous to have both the sons.
25:56We work together as a team, really.
25:59These are the sheep that will be in the competition tomorrow.
26:02I just hope they work consistently to be a bit of a challenge tomorrow on Friday.
26:08You know, they've got to be challenging to test the dog's abilities, but they've also got to respect the dogs as well.
26:15If you do get a rogue sheep, you know, that's trialling.
26:18You know, you get a stropy ewe.
26:20As competitors, we accept that.
26:22And it's just bad luck on the day.
26:24Let's hope there's no rogue sheep in this bunch, really.
26:27The sheep stewards are going to just hold the sheep in the middle of the course.
26:35You know, there's a lot of things there that could spook them tomorrow.
26:39You know, they're not used to tree guards at home, so we're just getting them used to the lay of the land, really.
26:50It would be marvellous for a home win, yes, of course it would.
26:53But who knows who'll come out as champion wide open.
26:57It's much more than just sheepdog trials, really.
27:12Yes, we're having a lovely day today.
27:14I think everyone's enjoying it.
27:16They're like wizards with sheepdogs.
27:19They'll be fuelled on Welsh cakes.
27:23Maybe not the sheep, though.
27:24Hi.
27:28How are you? You all right?
27:29Are these the same sheep as the ones that they're using today?
27:32Yeah, the same breed, yeah.
27:34So this is a Welsh mountain?
27:35Yeah, the Welsh mountain, yeah.
27:36And why do you guys keep them?
27:37We're a hill farm.
27:39Yeah.
27:39And where they graze, no other breed will survive, probably.
27:42No, no.
27:43The competitors today just have a small number of sheep to try and move around.
27:47When you're working with these sheep in your docks, how many have you got to work with?
27:52I would gather over 600 ewes on the lambs, so you're well over 1,000 in one go.
27:58We have seen one or two stubborn Welsh mountain sheep, haven't we?
28:04Is that a trait they're known for?
28:07Yes.
28:08Yeah, probably.
28:09They'll have a bit of, you know, life in them, in the breed.
28:12You know, it's very important to look for a bit of, you know, go in them.
28:16So how do I say that, the name in Welsh?
28:19David Munydd Cymraig.
28:20David.
28:21Munydd Cymraig.
28:23Munydd Cymraig.
28:23Munydd.
28:24Munydd.
28:25Munydd.
28:25Mountain.
28:25Mountain.
28:26Mountain, obviously.
28:28Brilliant.
28:28Thank you guys very much indeed.
28:37As the biggest event in the sheepdog trialling calendar, the Supreme draws crowds and producers
28:42from near and far.
28:44And this year, one tent in particular has caught my eye.
28:51Border Collie Rescue.
28:53How are you doing?
28:54I'm Matt.
28:54Hi, I'm Barbara.
28:55You're Barbara.
28:56I'm Luke.
28:56Nice to meet you.
28:57And who have we got down here?
28:58TJ Bonney.
29:00TJ and Bonnie.
29:01Hello, sweethearts.
29:02Aren't you lovely?
29:03So, Border Collie Rescue.
29:05Yes.
29:05Tell me all about this concept.
29:07It's the Freedom and Spirit Trust for Border Collies.
29:09We rescue, we rehabilitate and we rehome.
29:12What kind of situations are you rescuing from?
29:15Some are from farms.
29:17There might be a young dog that won't work or it could be an old dog that's retired.
29:20It can be where somebody elderly has passed away.
29:22Sometimes it's through divorce.
29:24Sometimes they just can't cope with the dog anymore.
29:26Right.
29:26So we take them in and retrain them.
29:28We currently have about 36 dogs there at the minute.
29:31Yeah.
29:31And so how do you go about finding suitable homes for them?
29:34I'm strict.
29:35Well, Barbara's the queen of assessment.
29:37Right.
29:37Okay.
29:38Yeah.
29:38I'm strict.
29:39We vet people very carefully.
29:41And when they've gone out, the dogs have our backup for the rest of their lives.
29:45Okay.
29:45So they can come back for free training.
29:47We can give them guidance over the phone.
29:49What is it about Border Collies then?
29:51Of all the breeds, why have you focused your life on Border Collies?
29:54They're amazing and when you see the Supreme Champion and you see what these dogs can do and how hard they work, I just think there will be a soulmate for the person who gets inside that head.
30:06Oh, I couldn't agree with you more.
30:08And you're beautiful, aren't you?
30:09At the moment, you're very into licking.
30:11Well, listen, all these Border Collies are very lucky to have you and your team.
30:16And you've got some fine ambassadors down here, I'll say that.
30:19Another little lick before I go?
30:21Yeah, why not?
30:24Well, the conditions for trialling are pretty good today.
30:30We've got blue skies, it's not too hot and the whistles are carrying beautifully on the breeze.
30:35But the question is, what's the weather got in store for the week ahead?
30:38Let's find out with the Countryfile 5-Day Forecast.
30:48Hello there.
30:48If you're looking for more of this dry and sunny weather, you need to be across south-eastern parts
30:53of the UK this week.
30:55This is the rainfall accumulation.
30:57Ignore that blue.
30:58That's today's rain.
30:59Focus more towards the northwest because this is where the rain is going to be coming over the week ahead.
31:04Northern Ireland and western Scotland.
31:06And the reason for that is because that's where weather fronts are getting steered in from the Atlantic.
31:11Getting blocked off to a certain extent by high pressure that covers most of England and Wales.
31:17Now we did have some drizzly rain across eastern England earlier on today.
31:20The clouds breaking up from that.
31:22We're going to have clear skies overnight.
31:24And maybe a bit of mist and fog forming that will take a little while to clear away tomorrow morning.
31:29With light winds, it's going to be quite chilly.
31:31Probably the coldest night of the week ahead with temperatures down as low as one or two degrees in eastern Scotland.
31:37Here there'll be some sunshine in the morning across northern Ireland for a while.
31:41And western Scotland, we will be clouding over.
31:43A bit of rain towards the northwest.
31:45Some of that cloud will push into England and Wales.
31:48But the sunnier weather is going to be across eastern England.
31:51And that means for East Anglia in the southeast, it's going to be warmer than today.
31:54Otherwise, those temperatures not really changing a great deal.
31:58We've still got high pressure blocking things off across England and Wales.
32:02Hardly any ice bars.
32:03Very light winds.
32:04But there is a weather front approaching the northwest.
32:06It's very weak though.
32:07There's not going to be a great deal of rain on that for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
32:10But there will be more in the way of cloud.
32:12For England and Wales, Tuesday looks like it should stay dry with some sunny spells.
32:16The best of the sunshine southern and eastern parts of England.
32:20But I think wherever you are on Tuesday, temperatures will be a degree or two higher.
32:24We're drawing in some milder air on a southwesterly wind.
32:27But that is also pushing in some weather fronts from the Atlantic.
32:30And this one here could bring some more rain across Northern Ireland and Scotland on Tuesday
32:35night, even into Northern England by Wednesday morning.
32:38Worst of the rain will be first thing.
32:40It will tend to become drier through the day, I suspect.
32:42Further south across England and Wales should stay dry.
32:44Maybe a bit more cloud around on Wednesday.
32:47But the air is still quite mild.
32:49So we've got temperatures typically 18 or 19 degrees.
32:53But as we head towards Thursday, there are some more weather fronts coming in from the Atlantic.
32:57And again, they're getting steered towards the northwest of the UK.
33:01The winds may be a bit stronger overnight and into Thursday.
33:04I'm going to find some outbreaks of rain developing in Western Scotland.
33:08Also Northern Ireland, Eastern Scotland seeing very little rain.
33:10And again, England and Wales may well stay dry.
33:13With the sunnier skies towards the southeast, temperatures could reach 19 or even 20 degrees.
33:20So far, so good.
33:21But by the end of the week, we have a huge spanner in the works.
33:25Even more uncertainty than normal.
33:27And that's because there's going to be an ex-hurricane coming in from the Atlantic.
33:31When you get these, they throw in a lot of heat and energy into the atmosphere.
33:35Something computer models always struggle to deal with.
33:38Our favoured computer model is the EC computer model.
33:41This is ex-hurricane Humberto.
33:44That's where it's forecast to be on Friday.
33:46Pushing in ahead of it some wet weather and some stronger winds.
33:49That's one scenario.
33:50Look at this one.
33:51This one looks really scary.
33:52Probably a more extreme solution perhaps.
33:55This is Humberto further north, further away from the UK.
33:59That's going to bring some really windy weather perhaps.
34:01Perhaps more unlikely, we're not really sure what's going to happen by the end of the week.
34:05But before then, it's more nailed on.
34:07The drier, sunnier weather across the south and east of the UK.
34:10Wetter, windier at times in the north-west.
34:12For all of us though, it will be turning a bit milder.
34:15We're following the highs and lows of some of Wales, England, Ireland and Scotland's top handlers and their dogs.
34:33All chasing one thing.
34:34A place in the grand final.
34:37The Supreme.
34:37And next week brings another big event.
34:44The Countryfile Ramble for BBC Children in Need.
34:47Here's John and Pudsey with how you can get involved.
34:53Let's get ready to ramble.
34:55The Countryfile Ramble for BBC Children in Need 2025 will be on your screens on the 5th of October.
35:02And we're going to be rambling on a farm.
35:06That's great, Pudsey, isn't it?
35:07A lot to see and do on a farm.
35:09Have we got everything?
35:11Ah, yes, our BBC children in need bobble hats.
35:16How could we forget these?
35:18Off we go.
35:19To order yours, go to the Countryfile website for more details.
35:26This year, Pudsey is asking you to challenge yourself and help us make life lighter for children.
35:33Only with your support can we continue to help to lighten the load for hundreds of thousands of children when they need us the most.
35:42Children like Grace.
35:45So how was your day, Patskill?
35:48Good to you.
35:4816-year-old Grace is one of around a million young carers across the UK and lives in Perth in Scotland.
35:59I live with my sister Erin and my mum and my dog Peg.
36:05As a family, we're very, very close.
36:07We do everything together.
36:09We go on a lot of mystery nature walks.
36:11We get lost pretty much every single time, but we kind of just take the path and see where it takes us.
36:17I love my family.
36:19I'd never change it for anything.
36:22I'd do anything for them.
36:24Grace is showing that love for her twin sister in the most extraordinary way, as a carer for Erin, who has regular seizures.
36:34Erin was just seven years old when she was diagnosed with something called absence seizures, which means she needs extra support.
36:56She's using the ingredients.
36:57She's using the ingredients.
36:57She's using the ingredients.
36:58She's using the ingredients.
36:58In absence seizures, it is where the electrics in the brain kind of stop Erin.
37:05Erin, she could be in the middle of doing an activity,
37:08she would stop immediately and just stare into space.
37:12Some of them can last seconds, some of them can last minutes,
37:17which then bring on her short-term memory loss as well.
37:23When she was younger, she used to just forget where she was
37:26and just stood still and didn't say a word
37:30and kind of just blanked out.
37:34Erin has bad days and good days.
37:36She has days where she does get upset.
37:39She has days where she gets frustrated, angry,
37:43because it just stops from her doing her daily activities.
37:47It means you can go for a walk, I mean, yeah.
37:50But luckily for Erin,
37:52she's always had a caring sister by her side.
37:55Grace has always been there for Erin.
37:59Grace, when she was a toddler, spoke up about Erin
38:02because of Erin's speech, Erin's not got good speech.
38:06It's just kind of second nature, really, for Grace.
38:09She's always kind of been there.
38:11Being a care for my sister, it is hard because it's quite a lot to take.
38:16Then, three years ago, Grace found herself taking on even more caring responsibilities
38:22when her mum, Kate, suffered a life-changing injury.
38:28We went on a family holiday.
38:30We went on a log flume.
38:32I had an accident, and I bashed my head that I was OK to fly home,
38:38and then things progressively got worse.
38:41As in, I couldn't lift my head up off the pillow.
38:46I couldn't talk.
38:47I couldn't walk.
38:48Kate was diagnosed with a lifelong condition called Meniere's disease
38:54that affects her balance and leaves her with debilitating fatigue.
39:02It makes me dizzy, feeling nausea.
39:05There is days where I'm not able to get out of bed, let alone do anything else.
39:11She can be very, very poorly the majority of the days.
39:14You know, she can come away from her computer at work
39:17and just completely, like, go to sleep.
39:20Or sometimes she just says,
39:22Right, OK, I can't physically, like, cook tea. I need to go.
39:30But there's no way they can get out, though.
39:32Every day has been a challenge.
39:34Grace has to step in.
39:36She's just had to become an adult within days.
39:41So the first thing I do is I write my mum up
39:43so I know she's up and getting ready for work.
39:46And then I make sure she's got her computer
39:49and then I kind of make sure she's got water and stuff for her work.
39:52Grace has missed out a lot of childhood.
39:55She's missed out on sleepovers, activities for school.
40:01She just takes it in a stride, never, never moans,
40:05even when she does miss out on these good things.
40:08It affects me when my mum's having a bad day
40:11because I kind of don't have my wingmen to help me.
40:14Especially when I come home from school, I've had a busy day.
40:17I just kind of want to, like, lie down,
40:19but I know I need to help my sister.
40:21I have a lot of huge mum guilt.
40:25It's got me down.
40:26It really has.
40:28So I need to do it on this one.
40:33For the past three years, Grace has been supported by PCavs,
40:38a local charity part-funded by BBC Children in Need,
40:41which helps the young carers' community in Perth and Kinross.
40:46PCavs have helped me in loads of different ways,
40:50but I usually do one-to-one sessions,
40:52and you could tell, like, from the first time I walked in,
40:55I needed someone, like, to speak to.
40:58Go on, Grace.
40:59Grace connected with PCavs support worker
41:02and fellow football fan, Madison,
41:04whose role is funded by BBC Children in Need.
41:07Well done.
41:09Madison's lovely.
41:10She's also a Liverpool fan as well.
41:11I see Madison, I'd say, twice a month.
41:15We kind of...she comes to the school in my three periods,
41:19and we kind of just have her to talk about everything,
41:22about school, family, football.
41:25Are you happy about last night's result?
41:27Yeah. I was like, I have to ask you.
41:29Yeah.
41:30To have someone there outside the family to talk to is...
41:34For me, it's probably one of the most important things.
41:36Oh, yeah, that's tomorrow, isn't it? Yeah.
41:39When I first met Grace, she was quite shy,
41:42but then as we got talking, she opened up,
41:44and she's just very open about what she does for her carer and all.
41:48For many of our young carers, home life is very stressful,
41:52and they've not got that person to turn to,
41:54whereas when they have us, they can ask us anything.
41:58Madison helps me to deal with a lot of things.
42:01I feel like she understands me quite a lot.
42:03She just sits there and listens and, like, interacts with me.
42:06It makes even better.
42:07If I had a bad school day,
42:09she lets me just get all of that, like, out of my system.
42:12Better than me.
42:13And that's kind of helped me a lot.
42:15Get ready to receive voices as well, please.
42:18Names.
42:19Chats with me, like, it's her chance to offload things,
42:21maybe not what to say at home,
42:23because sometimes people feel they can't tell their parents
42:26about how they feel about things,
42:27because they don't want to burden them.
42:29Grace, I would say, since I've known her,
42:31she's just grown as a person and just in her abilities.
42:34Grace has now found the confidence to even become a sports ambassador
42:39for her school and local council.
42:41She's a fantastic girl.
42:43She has a love for football
42:44and she's so passionate about her sports.
42:47And what she does as a young hero is absolutely fantastic.
42:49She is like a little superwoman.
42:50For all the PCAVs, I, you know, I didn't really open up to people.
42:55I thought I can, like, kind of master it myself,
42:58kind of, like, sleep on it or, like, cry it out.
43:04I've changed for the better, I think.
43:06They've made my life happier.
43:07Now I know I'm not by myself in these dark places
43:10and I always have someone to speak to
43:12and they'll never judge me for what I am.
43:20Local charities like PCAVs can help change the lives
43:25of young people like Grace,
43:27and this is where you can help.
43:31You can donate any amount of money online
43:33to BBC Children in Need
43:35by scanning the QR code on your screen right now
43:39or head to bbc.co.uk forward slash countryfile
43:43or to donate 5, 10, 20, 30 or 40 pounds,
43:50text the word 5, 10, 20, 30 or 40 to 70705.
43:59Text will cost your donation amount
44:01plus your standard network message charge
44:04and 100% of your donation will go to BBC Children in Need.
44:08You must be 16 or over
44:11and please ask the bill payer's permission.
44:14For full terms and more information
44:16go to bbc.co.uk forward slash countryfile.
44:20Back at the Brinquenalter State, the semi-finals are over
44:39and now the very best face their ultimate test.
44:43And this is it, the final of the Supreme,
44:49the culmination of a year's worth of trialling and training.
44:53About 1,300 dogs and their handlers
44:56started the process to try and end up here.
44:59Only 15 dogs and their handlers will run today on this course,
45:03which is absolutely massive
45:06and to my eyes at least, really difficult.
45:09In just a few hours,
45:12the Supreme Dog and Handler of 2025 will be crowned.
45:17But to earn that title,
45:18they must take on two packets of sheep
45:21across a bigger course with even bigger challenges.
45:26To begin, the dog must perform a curved outrun
45:29to fetch the first packet of sheep worth 20 points.
45:32The way the dog introduces itself
45:34and moves the sheep the first lift is worth 10 points.
45:38Then they must go through the fetch gate,
45:41which is worth another 20 points.
45:43The dog has to repeat this with the second packet
45:46and join them with the first group worth 50 points collectively.
45:50The dog must then move all the sheep towards the handler
45:53and turn them around and through the first drive gate.
45:56Then take them across and through the second drive gate
45:59on a 600-yard route, bringing them into the shedding ring,
46:03worth another 40 points.
46:05Then 15 unmarked sheep must be separated from the group,
46:09worth 20 points.
46:10Then the rest are penned, scoring up to 10.
46:14All within a time limit of 30 minutes
46:16under the watchful eye of four nation's judges,
46:19who will combine their marks to give a maximum of 680 points.
46:24One of the few to have won a place in the Supreme Final is Ben Smith,
46:30who Adam met last week.
46:33He's worked with dogs since childhood,
46:35taking four previous dogs to the semi-final.
46:38And now he's joined by his fifth teammate, Roy.
46:43Roy is eight years old, loves the water and playing with a ripped ball.
46:47He's represented England three times and now faces his first Supreme.
46:52Nice to see you. Hello.
46:53Hey, you too.
46:54Hey. How are you feeling about it? Because that course is huge.
46:57Yeah, it's one of the best ones we've had for a long time.
46:59Yeah, really big course. A lot of areas where it can go wrong.
47:02But yeah, it'd be a very good test.
47:04How special a dog is he?
47:06He's probably one of a kind really because he loves the trialing.
47:10He kind of comes alive when we're at a trial and kind of thrives on it.
47:13So how many sheep would he normally be working with then?
47:15He will have been on numbers of 1,200 ewes at certain points, you know, in a mob.
47:19So 20 will be fine.
47:20Well, you barely say that. It's a bit more precision on 20.
47:23To be honest, sometimes a flock moves easier and it's free for the dog.
47:27There's not as much tension in the brain.
47:29When it's narrowed down, obviously there's a lot more focus.
47:31How do you get him ready for this?
47:34Well, normally through work, but we've been crazy dry this year and the ground's been cracked.
47:39So I've actually had him to a physio friend who has a water treadmill.
47:43So he's been going twice a week running through water.
47:45And yeah, one minute in water is 12 minutes of running.
47:47So he's been doing 20 odd minutes at one go at eight and a half miles an hour.
47:51So he's covered kind of quite a bit.
47:53What does it mean to you to be here again?
47:56Because actually this is your second year in a row in the final of the Supreme.
47:58Yeah, second year. This is most prestigious.
48:00You know, you've got the best of the best. A lot of good, good handlers.
48:03Yeah, but some achievement.
48:04Well, good luck.
48:05Yeah, thank you very much.
48:06And we'll catch up with you after, yeah?
48:07Lovely.
48:09The final is in full swing.
48:12And the handlers and their dogs are determined to do their nation proud.
48:18On the field right now is Wales' hotshot, Dowie Jenkins, better known as the Welsh Wizard, and his dog, Clwyd Bob.
48:28To find out the further challenges the handlers and their dogs face in the final, I'm rejoining Angie Blackmore, who's been judging sheepdog trials for nearly 20 years.
48:41Hi, Dan.
48:43Hi, Angie.
48:44Hello, hi.
48:45As final courses go, where would you grade this?
48:49Oh, right up there with them.
48:50Because the viewing's good, which makes a difference.
48:53It's a real challenge.
48:55The sheep are good, but they're looking a little bit heavier.
48:58We're a bit slower.
48:59Right.
49:00Not so lively.
49:01And you've got to push 20 round as opposed to five, which is a big ask.
49:05But anything can happen, can it?
49:08Anything can happen.
49:09I mean, you've got the sheep.
49:11And that's your major problem.
49:17It is feeling autumnal today, isn't it?
49:20And we are expecting some rain.
49:22Will that make a difference to those who have to go in the wet?
49:26Well, it'll obviously make a difference if you're a handler.
49:28I mean, there's nothing worse than standing with the rain pouring down on you.
49:32And actually, it can affect the way the sheep behave.
49:35Sometimes, if the sheep are a bit flighty, if it rains, it'll steady them up.
49:40Wind can certainly upset them.
49:42A windy day, and they can be really skittish.
49:45But from a handling point of view, it's not so good.
49:48But from the sheep point of view, sometimes it can be an advantage.
49:52It seems the sun is shining on Dowie Jenkins, the Welsh wizard and his dog Clwyd Bob, who finished with a really fast run.
50:05But all the scores will be kept under wraps until the awards ceremony later.
50:10Up next is the English finalist.
50:13We are now ready for the next competitor, representing England.
50:21Ben Smyn will be running Roy.
50:25The judges are prepped.
50:27It all comes down to this.
50:3330 minutes and 20 sheep stand between Ben, Roy and the title of the Supreme Champion.
50:40So Roy's gone out that way, he's gone right the way around, and then he's going to come in.
50:45You can probably just see the sheep in the distance.
50:47That's the first packet he's got to pick up.
50:49They're more than 765 yards away.
50:53At that distance, Ben has to whistle clear instructions so that Roy can hear him.
51:00So he's left those sheep where they are and he's gone to get the others.
51:08Roy now needs to fetch the other 10 sheep and bring them to join the first packet.
51:18And as if by magic, all the sheep are back together.
51:21With 21 minutes to go, Roy has to guide them as a fully formed pack without stragglers.
51:34So we're into the shedding, where it's not something he would normally do, so he's been practising.
51:38There are five sheep wearing collars.
51:40Right down.
51:42So he's got to keep the ones with collars on.
51:44Right down.
51:45And let the other ones go.
51:46Right down.
51:49Come by.
51:50Come by.
51:51Come by.
51:52Lie down.
51:53Just got one collarless sheep to separate out.
52:07The shedding ring can't be rushed.
52:09One hasty move could send a collared sheep to the wrong group and then they'd have to start all over again.
52:16This is a very tense and nervous watch.
52:19Keep.
52:20Lie down.
52:21Come by.
52:22Lie down.
52:23Lie down.
52:24Here.
52:25Here.
52:26Lie down.
52:27We.
52:28Lie down.
52:29Come by.
52:30Lie down.
52:31Come by.
52:32Come by.
52:33Come by.
52:34Come by.
52:35With less than seven minutes left, the shedding is complete.
52:37We.
52:38Right.
52:40Right.
52:41Get this group in the pen.
52:42Job done.
52:43Keep.
52:44Here.
52:45Come by.
52:46Come by.
52:47Get.
52:48Steady.
52:49Come by.
52:50Come by.
52:51Lie down.
52:52Get.
52:53Get.
52:54Go on.
52:55Go on.
52:56Go on.
52:57Come.
52:58Lie down.
52:59Come by.
53:00Keep.
53:01Lie down.
53:02Come by.
53:03Lie down.
53:04Well there we are.
53:05Another completed round by Ben Smith with Roy.
53:19I mean obviously I know nothing.
53:22I thought it looked great.
53:23So what did you think?
53:24Good first out run.
53:26Good lines.
53:27Terrible turn back.
53:28But other than that really happy with him.
53:29Brilliant in the ring.
53:30I thought he worked really well.
53:31Yeah really well.
53:32You made that look really quite simple I thought.
53:34It wasn't.
53:35It wasn't.
53:36You get very warm under the collar.
53:37You're concentrating and yeah.
53:39And the patience.
53:40Yeah.
53:41Because you were there with that gate for ages and I was thinking just push it.
53:44Yeah no.
53:45These sheep are very touchy.
53:46If you push them you'll just have one run off.
53:48And there was one collared one she kept just wanting to and I just keep tucking her in.
53:51Every time I tucked her in they wanted to go the other way so it was just gently gently.
53:55Well done.
53:56Thank you very much.
53:57I can have a beer now.
53:58Or two.
53:59And Roy can have a treat.
54:03Ben and Roy's points won't be revealed until the Supreme Awards ceremony after everyone's run.
54:09But now the crowds are gathering for the star attraction.
54:14So coming on to the field.
54:18Representing Wales, Kevin Evans with Hemi Jack.
54:24Kevin Evans is basically the dog.
54:27He's won everything.
54:28He's won the Supreme actually last year.
54:31And he has two dogs in this final.
54:33Despite a promising start with his first dog, Kemi Jack, even the slightest shift in the elements can scupper a world-class champion on a course as tough as the Supreme.
54:50How was it?
54:51Didn't all go to plan.
54:52No, far from it.
54:53No, it was a tough run than that.
54:54Yeah, things went wrong at the top and we managed to get finished and that was the only consolation.
55:10OK, so what went wrong?
55:11I don't know.
55:12The wind has just picked up now and it started to rain a bit but he wasn't listening well at the top and flying around a lot and he was struggling to hear.
55:19We lost a lot of points altogether.
55:21Yeah.
55:22The last of the 15 dogs are finishing their runs.
55:25The awards are being prepared as the competition draws to a close.
55:30With a strong run from Kevin and his second dog, Brynrol Jett, it's very close.
55:35The marks are being totted up and the leaderboard is taking shape.
55:39In a few moments, Ben and Roy will find out where they've placed.
55:44Over the past year, around 1,300 dogs and their handlers have chased the ultimate honour, the title of Supreme Champion.
55:54Now the top 15 are gathered to find out who reigns supreme.
56:01With a respectable 542 points out of 680, Ben and Roy have come fifth and they win the cup for the highest scoring English handler and dog.
56:13One happy Englishman.
56:19The runners-up have been revealed.
56:22Now only two remain.
56:24Kevin Evans, Wales' favourite, and his compatriot, Dowie Jenkins, the Welsh wizard, fighting for the crown and the reserve spot.
56:34The results are in.
56:36Reserve champion, David Kevin Evans with Brynrol Jett.
56:40Kevin has run the Supreme five times, but this year, it's not his year.
56:49Therefore, your international supreme champion, 2025, include Bob Dowie Jenkins with 611 points, 60 merit points.
57:01Dowie Jenkins, the Welsh wizard, and his dog, Clwyd Bob, have delivered a dazzling performance, winning their very first supreme.
57:19Congratulations.
57:20Thank you very much.
57:21Did you know, as you were going round, that it was going to be good?
57:22Well, I felt things were going okay.
57:23I'm lucky to have two chances, really.
57:24I went on first with Joff and then Bob.
57:25So by Bob's run, I knew a few things I need to watch.
57:26And to beat Kevin.
57:27Yeah.
57:28That doesn't happen often.
57:29It doesn't happen often, no.
57:30No, it's the other way around normally.
57:31Yeah.
57:32Well, congratulations again.
57:33Thank you very much.
57:34And we'll probably see you next year.
57:35Hopefully.
57:36Hopefully.
57:37Hopefully.
57:38And that's it from us here at The Supreme.
57:40Do join us next week when it is the Countryfile Ramble for BBC Children in Need.
57:44It's going to be tricky.
57:45We're going to have to work really hard.
57:46Yeah.
57:47I'm ready.
57:48Is the hope, Alyssa, that you have a career in musicals?
57:50Yes.
57:51I'm ready.
57:52Is there hope, Alyssa, that you have a career in musicals?
57:53Yes.
57:54I'm ready.
57:55I'm ready.
57:56I'm ready.
57:57I'm ready.
57:58I'm ready.
57:59I'm ready.
58:00I'm ready.
58:01I'm ready.
58:02I'm ready.
58:03I'm ready.
58:04I'm ready.
58:05You have a career in musicals.
58:06Yeah.
58:07Is that what you'd like to do?
58:08Yeah.
58:09Come on.
58:10We're getting it.
58:11Just got a message from running around.
58:12That's amazing.
58:13Yes.
58:14Oh, my Christ.
58:15It's Ellie.
58:16That's incredible.
58:17Are you speechless, Daniel?
58:18Yeah.
58:19You've just sung a song.
58:20I know.
58:21It's the best duet of my career, that one.
58:24Let's get ready to ramble.
58:26Yeah.
58:27Come on.
58:28Let's do this.
58:29That's next week at five past six.
58:31Hope you can join us then.
58:32Bye-bye.
58:35Well, there's never a dull moment with Stacey and Joe, a slice of family life in their
58:45latest series on BBC iPlayer, where you can also enjoy a taste of Spain with Eva Longoria
58:51following in her ancestors' footsteps.
58:54What new here on BBC One next, the Antics Roadshows in Bradford.
58:58Thank you very much, everyone.
59:04Excellent look.
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