Four days of competition began this morning at the Sheep Dog World Trial 2026 at Huntington Farm, near Lauder, in the Scottish Borders, where more than 300 handlers and their dogs from 34 nations are competing.
Competitors have travelled from as far afield as Argentina, Japan, South Africa and Zimbabwe to contest world championship titles, with the 16 highest-pointed dogs going forward to Sunday’s finals.
The opening ceremony took place on Wednesday 16 September, when a flock of sheep was driven onto the competition field, followed by the Preston Lodge High School Pipe Band and the competition officials. Pupils from Lauder Primary School, each carrying a national flag, then led the competitors out onto the field, starting with Team Scotland.
Angus Weir, one of the late Doddie Weir’s three sons, brought the parade to a close at the wheel of a My Name’5 Doddie Foundation tractor, before Lord Biddulph, Honorary World Trial President, declared the World Trial open. The ceremony also included speeches from Jim Fairlie, Scottish Government Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands, and Councillor Euan Jardine, Leader of Scottish Borders Council, who both spoke about their own connections to shepherding.
Fiona McMillan, Scottish President of the International Sheep Dog Society and Chair of the World Trial, said:
“What a truly magical start to the World Trial. The local young people who took part were exceptional in every way. When the pipe band struck up and I looked back and saw Team Scotland, with the Lauder Primary children leading the handlers and their dogs out onto the field – what a moment. It just absolutely got me. I was so proud, and suddenly it was all real.
“The Border Collie comes from this part of the world, and having the World Trial here in the Scottish Borders matters a great deal to me. The competitors keep telling us how welcome they and their dogs have been made to feel. I knew the Borders would look after them, and I want to thank everyone who has had a hand in that. The whole place is buzzing.”
The event also includes a Scottish Borders Showcase, supported by Scottish Borders Council, with demonstrations and displays from the Tweed Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers and the Tweeddale Stickdressers, who make shepherd’s crooks by hand.
Free children’s activities run from Friday to Sunday. At Expert Corner, next to a big screen showing the runs live, sheepdog trialling experts will be dropping in to explain what’s happening on the trial fields. Among them are Borders-born shepherdess Emma Gray and Ben Best of Dalscone Farm, both well-known on social media, who will commentate on Sunday’s finals.
Fiona added: “We’ve got four days of the best handlers and dogs in the world ahead of us. You don’t need to know anything about trialling to enjoy it, and there’s loads to do for all the family, so come along and find out what all the fuss is about.”
Adult day admission is £10, under-16s go free and parking is £5. Tickets are also available on the gate.
