Every dog has its day as annual sheep trials begin in Peak District

The original prize fund is said to have totalled just £19.

This year’s annual sheepdog trials got underway yesterday - the start of a three-day competition that has been uninterrupted ever since, save for the two world wars.

The tournament attracts thousands of spectators, many from Sheffield, and raises significant amounts for charity.

Competitors from television’s One Man and his Dog took part in yesterday’s open classes and will be back out today.

Saturday afternoon will see the “double gather” championship, for the eight top scoring dogs from the previous two days - with the winner’s owner awarded a silver teapot.

In this, dogs are required to fetch three sheep before being given the command to “look back” and fetch a second lot.

Yesterday afternoon’s highlight was a parade of local hound packs, mounted and on foot, and Saturday morning will see a demonstration of dog obedience and agility, as well as a six-mile fell race.

The Longshaw event is believed to have originated after a bet between the Duke of Rutland’s head keeper and head shepherd over who could shoot the most pigeons. The shepherd won but he had no gun licence, and fearful that the keeper would turn him in, suggested a sheep rounding competition instead, with the winner receiving a sheep.

With the Duke’s support, the trials became a fixture in the country calendar.

Ladies were allowed to enter the trials as competitors in 1927, but the innovation was not repeated the following year, and was replaced by a sheep shearing competition.