World sheep dog trials

Competitors from 22 different countries attended the event held for the first time at Dinefwr Park and dubbed it a big success.

“We have had lots of crowds coming in every day of the trials, there have been thousands of visitors,” said Meirion Owen, organiser. “I think the parade through Llandeilo helped with the success of the event, there was a great turn out.”

Visitors, both local and from abroad, were impressed with the trials, held every three years, and the location. In 2005 the setting was in Scotland.

“Its been a marvellous event,” said Carol Donovan and Delyth Jones from the Swansea Valley. “Dinefwr Park is a wonderful setting, we visited a dog show in Gelli Aur a while ago, but this is a much better setting and such a fantastic event. It’s nice to have the sunshine for it too.”

Janet Wilson who had travelled from Calgary in Canada agreed that the event had been a big hit despite concerns on flooding.

“It’s been a fantastic event and very well organised, the entire thing has been great,” she enthused. “We arrived in Wales on Thursday, and it’s such a beautiful place and the weather has been wonderful. I had been checking the weather the week before we left and the torrential rain was beginning to worry me, but the weather has been beautiful for the whole week.”

The winner of the Land Rover World Sheep Dog Trials was Aled Owen and his dog Roy from Corwen in North Wales.