One Man and His Dog 2017
The best shepherds and their dogs from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales go head to head for the coveted One Man and His Dog 2017 title.
Matt Baker and Charlotte Smith present Countryfile's One Man and His Dog for 2017. The best shepherds and their dogs from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales go head to head for the coveted trophy. Each team is made up of two competitors - the 'singles' who compete with one dog and, the ultimate in sheepdog trialling, the 'brace', working two dogs at the same time. This year, Countryfile brings the country to the city, setting this rural spectacle in the heart of London on Hampstead Heath. It's the first time sheep have been on the Heath for 60 years. So who will be crowned Countryfile One Man and His Dog champions?
Last on
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
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00:03The Clash
London Calling
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00:06Take That
Giants
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00:15Olly Murs
Beautiful To Me
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00:18Richard Hawley
I Sleep Alone
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00:19Olly Murs
Never Been Better
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00:32Guillemots
Don't Look Down
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00:33The Script
Rock The World
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00:51Take That
Greatest Day
One Man and His Dog
The legendary One Man and His Dog sheepdog trialling competition is back.聽This year our competitors are gathering on Hampstead Heath in London. The best shepherds from England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland are all competing and this year we鈥檝e reintroduced brace trials as well, where two dogs are worked together. They鈥檒l take on a specially designed course across which they鈥檒l have to navigate a flock of flighty mule gimmers.
Team England
Competing in the brace for Team England is Tom Huddleston with his dog Olla and bitch, Nessy. Tom鈥檚 from Lancaster and is used to gathering sheep off the moorland. Tom鈥檚 team mate Jed Watson is from the other end of the country. Jed and his dog Zac can normally be found working sheep on Dartmoor, in Devon. Jed is also last year鈥檚 English national singles champion. So could this be the team to retain England鈥檚 title?
Team Ireland
Last year Ireland lost the One Man and His Dog title to the English and this time around are determined to get it back. Their team certainly has pedigree, James McLaughlin, from County Donegal, won this competition three years ago with his dog Ben. Representing Ireland in the brace is Frank Cashen with his dog Jip and bitch Mist. Frank鈥檚 also appeared in this competition before but never won it, could this be his moment?
Team Wales
Representing Wales in the singles is newcomer to the sport, Angie Driscoll and her bitch Pipi. Angie left her life in New Zealand and adopted Wales as her home beginning a new career in shepherding and it鈥檚 not taken long winning this year鈥檚 Welsh National. Her team mate in the brace is Gethin Jones with Maddie and Fran. Gethin鈥檚 job is doubly hard as one dog works in English and the other Welsh!
Team Scotland
Last but not least is Team Scotland. In the singles is 2016 Scottish Nationals Champion, Neil Gillon and his dog Shweep. Neil and Shweep work in Ayrshire and together they鈥檙e responsible for nearly 3000 sheep. In the brace Jim Menzies had to step in at the last minute as a replacement for Peter Martin who pulled out of the competition due to an injured dog. Jim has travelled from Pitlochry in Perthshire with his dogs Ted and Shaw.
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Matt Baker |
| Presenter | Charlotte Smith |
| Series Editor | William Lyons |
| Series Producer | Andrea Buffery |
