By Anna Burdett

Last updated at 11:52, Saturday, 05 September 2009

A princess will cheer on competitors at the international sheepdog trials in Cumbria next week.

Princess Anne

Princess Anne is patron of the International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS), which is staging the International Supreme Championships on the Lowther Estate, near Penrith, from Friday to Sunday.

Up to 10,000 spectators are expected to attend the event, when handlers and their dogs representing England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland will compete against each other in different categories.

Larry Cowper, Derek Scrimgeour and Mark Elliott will all represent Cumbria and England in the competition.

Larry, from Threlkeld, will have two dogs taking part – Fleet and Gail. Derek, from Keswick, will be partnered by Fleece, while Mark, who farms at Lazonby and lives at Kirklinton, will have two dogs – Spot and Gail.

All qualified for the annual home international championships after succeeding in the English championships last month.

Thomas Longton, the society’s English national president, said: “We’re very honoured that Princess Anne is going to be there. She first became involved in the society when she attended our centenary international sheepdog trials in Scotland in 2006 and she seemed to enjoy herself, watching the dogs working.

“I have got a little engraved whistle that the shepherds use that I am going to present to her as a memento. It just says ‘ISDS Lowther 2009’. You can’t get very much on a whistle! She might have a little bit of fun with it, although it is not actually easy to blow.”

The main event is the singles competition featuring 15 handlers from each of the four countries, but there is also a brace event and a young handlers’ event.

There will be demonstrations of countryside skills and traditional Cumbrian activities including Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, drystone walling, ferret handling and a vintage tractor display, as well as a hog roast and dance. Made in Cumbria crafts will be among the trade stands to add to the local flavour.

Admission on the day is £7 for adults but is free for under-16s.

Grandstand seats cost £10 on Friday and Saturday or £15 on Sunday. A seat for all three days costs £25.

First published at 09:05, Saturday, 05 September 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk