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Welcome to the
Somerset Sheepdog
Training & Trialling Club

Introduction

We are a small friendly sheepdog training and trialling club. We are headed by a committee of sheepdog loving people who give up their time to organise and run a mixture of sheepdog trials and training sessions in the South West. Our aim is to provide a good day out. Whether you are accomplished handlers looking for the challenge of an Open trial, or a novice handler who wants to improve your own skills and working relationship you have with your dog, hopefully, we have something for you.

Some of you may never wish to step foot on a trial field! That’s fine – we aren’t all heading for the Nationals and the sense of achievement when your dog works well for you back home is satisfaction enough.

If you are interested in joining email:- somersetsheepdogs@gmail.com – or fill in our membership form.

About Us

About the Somerset Sheepdog Training and Trialling Club

 

The Somerset Sheepdog Club has changed a lot since it first started over 25 years ago. Early members would probably be dismayed that there is such a ‘competitive’ edge in the world of sheepdog trialling, but we all have to move with the times. Rules are strict and competitions taken very seriously – there is a lot at stake for ‘would be’ champions.

However, The Somerset Sheepdog Training and Trialling Club has a good heart and aims to encourage and support all members who are keen to learn the skills that remain true to the original goal of a good working dog that will listen to his master. Our club is a good place to start and can help to improve your working partnership with your dog. There is nothing more enjoyable than talking sheep, dogs and trials over a cuppa and a slice of home-made cake – always in abundance at our events. We have made good friends within the club and hope to make many more. So if you are interested in some training for you and your dog or coming to a trial in the South West – email:- somersetsheepdogs@gmail.com

SSTTC is affiliated to ISDS, our number is 59546.

 

Membership

How to Join

If you are interested in becoming a member, please email completed form to :-  somersetsheepdogs@gmail.com

The annual fee is £10.00. Payment can be made at the training sessions, trial meetings or by online banking. Membership runs from April to April and entitles each member to run their dog at all Somerset trials and receive our regular emails. Any membership fee not received by end of June will result in membership being cancelled.

Download a  Membership Form

Please read the Rules of the Club

Rules of the club 

SSTTC rules for Trials

  1. Your dog needs to be under good control before competing in a trial. Any dog abusing sheep will be called off the course immediately. The welfare of sheep and dogs is paramount.
  2. For SSTTC trials, you will be allowed to leave the post, but your run won’t be judged or points awarded and your sheet will read ‘D’ for disqualified. You can continue with your allocated time but if your dog grips, sheep leave the course or sheep are hassled in any way, the judge will ask you to leave the course.
  3. PLEASE NOTE – All placings won at a SSTTC trial may now be valid at other Sheepdog Clubs. To avoid confusion, always check their rules before entering.
  4. If you have competed in a Drive course in SSTTC and been placed, you are not permitted to run in a Maltese X Nursery trial. This applies to Devon & Exmoor Sheepdog Society but please check rules at other clubs before entering your dog.
  5. Any handler whose dog damages sheep will be liable to pay the cost of the damage.
  6. The Judges decision is final. Any dispute should be put in writing and not discussed on the trial field.
  7. Verbal abuse of the judge or any committee member will lead to immediate suspension of that member.
  8. Please note that the Judge must not be interrupted when he/she is working.
  9. The use of electric collars is forbidden

 

Upcoming Trials and Training Sessions

Informal Training sessions

With Rich Stock      

(Please contact Rich re attending any training session – please do not
just turn up – Thank You)

Venue: Nempnett Thrubwell, North Somerset   

For those of you who are not quite at the stage of venturing onto the trial field, or are
in need of some extra practice on different sheep, Rich has been running some
informal sessions on a Sunday morning. Groups have been small – just 1-5 handlers
each session and have proven very popular. If you are interested in coming along then
please give us a call – be great to see you.

 

Sessions will be free to Somerset Club members.

email somersetsheepdogs@gmail.com

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Trial Dates

 

 


Mendip Open Trial – Sunday 10th September 2023

Trial is kindly hosted by John Small of Warren Farm, Charterhouse BS40 7XX. 

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Start: Trial will start at 9.30 am and although last entries will be taken at 12.00 noon, it would be appreciated if you would register by 11.00 am

Course: Drive only. Limited to 2 dogs per handler

Refreshments will be available.

 


SSTTC Trainees Trial – Sunday 17th October 2023

Trial is kindly hosted by Jane Stubberfield near Cirencester

Some places still available

Course: A simple course for novice dogs and handlers to practice skills learnt over the last year.

There are a few places available so if you would like to come please let us know as soon as possible.
This is open to the whole club but the emphasis is very much on inexperienced dogs and handlers so no-one that has won a Trial please.  Handlers will be allowed to leave the post to help their dog if need be.

email somersetsheepdogs@gmail.com

 


 

SSTTC Autumn Trial – Sunday 8th October 2023

Trial is kindly hosted by Naomi and Nick Wakely of  Meadow Lee farm, Compton Durville, South Petherton TA13 5EX

Start: 9.30am

Course: Drive and Maltese Cross – please book in by 12 noon. Limited to 2 dogs per handler

Refreshments will be available.

 


SSTTC Trainees Trial – Sunday 29th October 2023

Trial is kindly hosted by Rich Stock at the training ground in Nempnett Thrubwell

Start: 9.30am

Course: A simple course to practice your skills learnt over the last year.

Refreshments will be available.

 


SSTTC Christmas Trial – Sunday 3rd December 2023

Trial is kindly hosted by Rich Stock at Butcombe

Field near Howgrove Farm, Butcombe, nr Blagdon, North Somerset. The nearset postcode is BS40 8DT. The field is near the junction of Thrubwell Lane and Howgrove Hill Lane (across the lane from our trial this summer) and will be well signposted. You can drive in to the field, park up and watch the trial from your vehicle. What3words   ///allies.templates.grad

Start: 9.30am

Course: Drive and Maltese Cross – please book in by 12 noon. Limited to 2 dogs per handler

Refreshments, hotdogs and mince pies will be available.

 


 

 

Trial Results

 


Results of Mendip Trial – Sunday 4th September 2022

 

Venue: Warren Farm Charterhouse , Mendip – by kind permission of John Small

Judge: Rob Hawke

 

Drive

1st          Julian Mills                      Moss                                 82

2nd         Ray Edwards                   Smithmoor Tan             75

3rd          Ray Edwards                   Quories Nap                   72

4th          Victor Pitts                       Brook                               70

5th          Shirley Greenaway        Flip                                    69

6th          Jane Stubberfield          Dan                                    66

 


 

Results of SSTTC Autumn Trial – 18th September 2022

 

Venue: Meadowlea Farm, Shapway, Compton Durville, South Petherton  TA13 5EX – by kind permission of Nick and Naomi Wakely

Judge: Victor Pitts

 

Maltese Cross

 

1st      David Cooper                  Trix                70

2nd     Selena Short                   Puffin            68      OLF 9

3rd     Anne Cooper                   Olia                68      OLF 24

 

 

Drive

 

1st      Mike Dowden                    Nap                      81

2nd     Tony Griffiths                   Wyvern Roy          77

3rd     Julian Mills                        Moss                    75

4th      Debbie Survila                  Mia                      69

5th     Fiona Davies-Russell       Guy                      66

6th     Nick Wakely                      Chip                     59

 

 

_________________________________________________________________________

 

 

News

AGM – Friday 24th March 2023

 

7.00pm at The Mendip Inn, A37, Radstock BA3 4UU (near Shepton Mallet)

 

We’d like to invite you all to the club’s AGM. Last year’s meeting was well attended and was a great opportunity to have your say about the club, but also to catchup with other members and enjoy a fun, sociable evening. The food was excellent last year, so if you would like to join us, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can give the Mendip Inn an idea of numbers.

If you can’t make it but have some good ideas, comments or feedback, please email your suggestions to somersetsheepdogs@gmail.com and they can be discussed on the evening.

We hope to see you there.
Best wishes
SSTTC Committee

New Ruling

New Ruling for Maltese Cross Class.  It was agreed at a Committee Meeting that the Winner of the Maltese cross class must have at least half of the available points for the Class and the 2nd place at least half of those of the winner.

 

Photos

Autumn Trial 2021

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Privacy Policy

Privacy Protection

This policy establishes how we handle information we learn about you when you visit our website and become a club member. Protecting the privacy and personal data of our visitors is of utmost importance to us. Protecting your privacy and your personal data is an important aspect of the way we create, organise and implement our activities on-line and off-line. We are GDPR compliant – the Club has its own email address and all members details are kept within The Clubs own separate storage facility and backed up on a designated USB. Although the ICO (Independent Commissioner’s Office) have mooted that small clubs as ours were never intended to be part of the GDPR regulations, it was felt by SSTTC’s Committee that Compliance would be the sensible way forward.

Download Data Protection Policy

Download SSDTTC Privacy Policy

Contact Us

Contact Us

To find out more about training sheepdogs in the South West and sheepdog trials in the South West:
email somersetsheepdogs@gmail.com

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