Duncan Robertson and his border collie Derwen Roy claimed victory at Saturday’s Team Scotland showcase trial at Dalscone Farm in Dumfries. The event saw packed grandstands and a global livestream audience watched Scotland’s World Trial squad in action.
The pair now head to the Sheep Dog World Trial at Huntington Farm near Lauder next month with a clear win under their belts. Nine-year-old Roy has qualified to compete as part of the Scotland team when more than 300 handlers and dogs from 34 nations gather in the Scottish Borders from 16 to 20 September.
Duncan Robertson, from Inverkip near Greenock, commented after his win: “I’m chuffed to bits to be beating all the boys who have been winning all the trials in Scotland recently. It’s good to get a win because you never know how it’s going to go, and I was lucky on the day. Now I’m looking forward to the Scottish National next week, and the World Trial next month.”
Judge Emma Gray, the Borders-born shepherdess and star of BBC’s This Farming Life, said: “It was really nice to have such a clear winner in Duncan and Roy. They had a superb go round the course, they kept their sheep nice and quiet, and I was struggling to get any points off them at all.”
The showcase, which was staged to celebrate the launch of Dalscone’s new sheep dog demonstration facilities in Dumfries and to preview next month’s World Trial, drew capacity crowds throughout the day. A livestream on Facebook and YouTube was watched live by more than 1,500 people around the world, with tens of thousands viewing the recordings since.
Commentary came from Fiona McMillan, Scottish President of the International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) and local chair of the World Trial, whose warm and witty guide to the sport and its scoring drew praise from spectators and livestream viewers alike.
Fiona said: “It was absolutely fantastic. The crowds enjoyed it, the competitors enjoyed it, and it was great that the Dalscone team had us here.”
Ben Best of Dalscone Farm said: “It was lovely to see such a good crowd and the grandstand packed all day, and we were really happy to be able to put this on for the Scotland team. It’s a great use of the facilities we’ve created for our daily sheep dog demonstrations, and it justifies all our hard work.
“We’ve seen a huge increase in interest in the sheep dog demonstrations, it’s something there isn’t enough of in the country, and people are really invested in it. I think that’s why we’ve seen so much interest in this showcase event, and hopefully it’s something we can build on in the future.”
Many of Saturday’s competitors will be back in action at the ISDS Scottish National at Glenfarg, Perth, from 19 to 22 August, before attention turns to the World Trial itself.
About the Sheep Dog World Trial 2026
The Sheep Dog World Trial is the most significant event in the international sheep dog trialling calendar. Taking place every three years, this will be the first time it will be held in the Scottish Borders, in the landscape that gave the iconic border collie breed to the world.
More than 300 handlers and dogs from 34 nations are set to compete for the world champion title, ad the event which takes place at Huntington Farm near Lauder from 16–20 September 2026. Tickets are £10 for adults, with free entry for under-16s.
Alongside the competitive elements, the wider programme promises a vibrant celebration of the region and a family-friendly day out. A Scottish Borders Showcase, supported by Scottish Borders Council, will place the area’s cultural heritage at the centre of celebrations, with demonstrations and displays from the Tweed Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, and from the Tweeddale Stickdressers, whose hand-crafted shepherd’s crooks are an art form in their own right.
The World Trials will also welcome some of farming’s best-known social media voices. Borders-born shepherdess Emma Gray will be on the field across all four days, leading an “Expert Corner” to help visitors new to the sport follow the action as it unfolds.
Other high profile farming influencers heading to the event are Hannah Jackson, the Red Shepherdess, and Tom Carlisle, the Dales Farmer, who will both join the crowds on the Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Ben Best of Dalscone Farm will attend on Sunday, bringing along some of the farm’s newest sheepdogs. All four social media stars will host Q&As and meet-and-greets with visitors across the weekend.
