KAREN AITCHESON from West Linton has been named as the winner of a new Young Sheep Dog Handler Award. She was presented with her award at a showcase event held last Sunday at Carcant Farm, Heriot, with judges praising her 'natural aptitude, insight and feel for dog handling'.

The new award has been created at the Lanark, Lothians and Peebles Sheep Dog Trials League thanks to the generosity of Suffolk Farmer Stephen Cobbald, who has donated £12,500 over a ten-year period to provide training for young handlers in the region in memory of his daughter, Charlotte, who died tragically at the age of 17 in 2014.

Charlotte and her father competed and trained in the Lanark, Lothians and Peebles league and regarded the area as their second home. Mr Cobbald, who has set up various gifted sponsorships in memory of Charlotte, explained: "LLP made Charlotte and myself very welcome, and I want to do something that will contribute to the future skills and development of young handlers in this region. Charlotte benefited from the club in many ways as well as from the specialist tuition of Julie Hill, who is the designated trainer for the award."

Mr Cobbald's sponsorship covered five days of training during the autumn and winter months, designed for young people with some agricultural background and a desire to learn how to handle a sheepdog and compete in sheepdog trials in the future.

Karen, aged 22, works as a veterinary nurse at Greenside Vets, St Boswells and has always wanted to learn how to work a sheepdog having watched her father compete for many years at the Scottish National. She will continue to develop her skills with Beth over the summer with a view to competing in the Lanark, Lothians and Peebles Novice League in the autumn and winter series. Karen said: ‘I am delighted to have been given this award and learnt so much from the training about how to handle the natural abilities of the dogs as well as gaining a great deal of confidence from the supportive atmosphere. One aspect I valued was learning how to use the dog’s initiative rather than training it to wait for a command.”

The two runners up for the award were Fraser Murray, originally from the Highlands, now working for Hamish Dykes at South Slipperfield, West Linton, and Sion Morgan who is originally from Wales, but after a year shepherding in New Zealand is now the shepherd working for Jim Logan at Pirntaton, Fountainhall, Galashiels.

Karen, Fraser and Sion each received a specially crafted and engraved whistle from Logan Whistles in recognition of this initiative to provide educational and training opportunities to young people (https://www.thebordercollie.co.uk). They also received a specially made commemorative certificate and citation recording their talents and progress.

On the day of the event, the young handlers demonstrated their skills with their dogs and each gave a brief summing up of what they felt they had learnt and how they hoped to progress.

A number of experienced club members came and attended the final day and offered their support and encouragement.

The Chair of Lanark, Lothians and Peebles League, Davie Wallace said: ‘This has been a terrific opportunity for the club and we are very grateful to Stephen Cobbald for his generous sponsorship that helps us help young handlers to take the first steps towards gaining the skills and confidence to trial. The Young Handler Award is a catalyst that gives youngsters the impetus to get involved. At Lanark, Lothians and Peebles Sheep Dog League we have an open, inclusive and sociable culture and are very keen to develop young talent and encourage new handlers.

Applications from youngsters in the Lanark, Lothians & Peebles area to take part in the 2017/18 training should be made to Julie Hill in an email detailing the applicant’s past experience and future goals. Email Julie on sheepdogjulie@btinternet.com