Welcome to the Churchmount Working Sheepdogs podcast. In this series, I interview handlers and experts from Ireland and around the world about their experiences...
In conversation with Nigel Watkins - No Holds Barred
This is a very frank interview! Someone said to me that they have heard all the Churchmount interviews on soundcloud and that this one is by far the best. This one is where the world renowned Nigel Watkins is talking sheepdogs. Nigel is true to form with no holds barred!Nigel tells me about how Foot and Mouth disease closed down sheepdog trials in 2001. But it was different then because trials could reopen at any time. ‘Nobody knew when, nothing was cancelled’ . Whereas this time with the Covid, everything is cancelled for the year. Nationals, International and the World Trial are all cancelled.In this interview, Nigel goes on to talk about trialling and judging internationally. he talks about how preparation is very important now and how all the top handlers prepare their dogs for sheepdog trials. Support the show
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37:44
In conversation with James McGee - Talking focus, staying inside the boundaries and hitting the goal in sheepdog training
Like alot of people, I know that James is a top handler. I know that he has won an International Supreme and a World Trial. What i didn’t know is that he won the second National that he ever ran in and then went on to come 2nd to Neil McVicar and Spot in the 2005 International. I didn’t know that James had won 3 Nationals and has been placed highly in many Supreme finals. I was there to see him in 2015 in Scotland when he placed in the top 5 with Silver. I was in Scotland again last year to see him place 3rd with his 17 month old Jess.I called James McGee the day before yesterday and I asked him if he would give us an interview for our handler podcast. It was very short notice but James kindly agreed. ”Give me a call this evening after dark” he said. I had never spoken more than a couple of sentences before this with James. I am probably his opposite because I never prepare for anything, so I was feeling suitably nervous! I needn’t have been.Support the show
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36:32
In conversation with Mirjam Lettner - Austrian sheepdog handler
In this interview Mirjam talks about how she got started in sheepdogs. To my surprise, I discovered that she was a city girl growing up. She had no exposure to livestock and didn’t even own her first dog until she was 24. Mirjam describes what it was like to start out as an Austrian sheepdog handler and explains how it came about that she followed her passion to Ireland.This is a great example of what it is possible to achieve in this sport regardless of whether you have any relevant background experience or not. Mirjam talks about what she likes in the character of a dog. She tells me what it was like to compete in the Irish National and to almost win it. She also explains how her preparation for the International greatly helped her on the day.Support the show
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40:29
In conversation with Alastair MacRae - The MacRae Way
What does it take to achieve success in sheepdog training and competitions? I was lucky enough to talk to Alastair Mac Rae about qualities in successful dogs and the mindset and ambition of a top handler.The plan was to make a 15-minute interview. however, the conversation broadened a bit and we went for nearly an hour and a half! In the end, I decided to make it a 3 part conversation.Support the show
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50:37
In conversation with Serge Van Der Sweep - Preparing for the World Sheepdog Trial
In this interview I asked Serge Van Der Zweep to give me some insight into how he got started. He discusses which handlers influenced him the most, what advice would he give an open handler and how he prepares for a World Sheepdog Trial Final.Serge is one of those handlers who are not dependent on that one good sheepdog coming along and instead, for over 20 years, he has been able to keep coming up with world-class sheepdogs.Serge’s ideas and opinions are not necessarily rules to go by, but they are definitely ideas to digest and consider. I always find it easy to follow someone who can ‘walk the walk’ in these days of talking the talk.Support the show
Welcome to the Churchmount Working Sheepdogs podcast. In this series, I interview handlers and experts from Ireland and around the world about their experiences. The series aims to spark new ideas for training and handling and to share both my experiences and the experiences of my guests. You can support us on Patreon: patreon.com/churchmountsheepdogs and keep up to date on our website at: churchmountsheepdogs.ie. The series is in part sponsored by Away With Dogs, a new Sheepdog Trial YouTube series. Find out more at awaywithdogs.co.uk.
New Zealand