A YOUNG Cardigan sheepdog handler recently represented Wales at an international trial.

Teifion Morgan, who is 17-years-old and lives at Pencefen, Mwnt, near Cardigan, was selected as a member of the Welsh National Sheepdog Trial Team with his two-year-old sheepdog Tess.

Teifion has been interested in sheepdogs for several years but has only been competing at local trials for the last two years. Tess has been with him since she was a puppy and Teifion trained Tess himself.

They competed for the first time at the Welsh National Trial which was held at Nannerch, near Mold, in August. Competition was keen and 120 dogs and shepherds competed to find the best 15 competitors for the Welsh team.

After a very good performance Teifion and Tess were placed 10th and were therefore selected to represent Wales at the international trials, which were held near Belfast, Northern Ireland, between September 6-8.

The trial was held on a 95 acre field and in front of a large crowd watching from four grandstands.

The course was very challenging and the Scottish Blackface sheep were tricky to handle. Sixty competitors, 15 from each country, ran over the first two days with the best 15 dogs and handlers running again on the third day.

Teifion scored a very respectable 247 points on his run on the opening day, but missing out on the final 15.

The Supreme Champion was Kevin Evans, from Brecon, while Scotland won the team award.