Top award for Corwen farmer

Sep 15 2008 By David Simister

A CORWEN farmer has scooped the top prize in a shepherding showdown for the second time at a contest held in Wales this week.

Aled Owen and his canine sidekick Roy won the World Sheepdog Championship by just one point last Sunday [September 14] when it was held in Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire.

"It's a fantastic end to the championship" he said after beating off Dutch rival Ron Snoeck.

"It was very close, only one merit point between Ron and myself, too close for comfort."

The Corwen contender saw off more than 240 entrants from 22 countries at the contest, held over four days at Dinefwr Park in the south Wales town.

Mr Owen also won the championship last time it was held in the country, seeing off his rivals with another sheepdog, named Bob, when the competition was brought to Bala in 2002.

This year the competition resulted in a close finish, with both Owen and Snoeck completing the competition on 583 points. The contest’s four judges awarded Owen one extra point on merit, giving him the title for a second time.

The Clwydian received £3,000 as his prize, along with a solid gold shepherd's whistle specially commissioned by main sponsors Gilbertson and Page, and a gold medal.

Fully known as the Land Rover World Sheepdog Trials, the event is staged every three years and attracts entrants from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, and the United States.