Welsh father and son make history at Sheep Dog World Trial

A father and son from Wales have made history after both were crowned world champions at the Sheep Dog World Trial 2026 in Scotland.

David Howells, from West Glamorgan, won the world title with his dog Wyverne Pip, while his son, Jack Howells (19), took the Young Handler world title with Cydros Boss.

It marks the first time that a parent and child have won both titles at the same world trial.

Sheep dog world trial

David and Pip came through a field of 300 competitors from 34 nations to win Sunday’s final, which was contested by the 16 highest-pointed dogs of the week.

The reserve world champion was Dean McAuley, from Ireland, with Joe.

Dean was the only handler to take two dogs into the final, opening the day’s running with his younger dog Jack, who finished fifth, before returning later to run with Joe.

Dean and Joe were crowned Irish National Champions last month in Co. Tyrone .

Third place went to Angie Driscoll with Kinloch Carlos, representing Wales.

(L-R) Dean McAuley, David Howells and Angie Driscoll on the podium at the Sheep Dog World Trial 2026 Image: Phil Wilkinson

In the team competition, it was Germany who took the title, with France in second and host nation Scotland claiming third place.

The Brace title, in which one handler works two dogs at the same time, went to Kevin Evans of Wales with Kemi Ids and Valley View Dan.

James McCloskey of Ireland was second with Dollar and Oak Bruce, while Seumas Campbell, a crofter from Skye, took third with Queen and Shadwell Ceit.

It was the first time that the brace competition has been held at a world trial.

David Howells and his dog Wyverne Pip during their winning run at the World Sheepdog Trial 2026. Image: Phil Wilkinson.

Thousands of spectators attended the five-day event, which was held in the Borders for the first time and in Scotland for only the second time.

Fiona McMillan, World Trial chair and Scottish president of the International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) said it had been the “biggest world trial ever”.

“We’ve seen more competitors than at any world trial before, and that’s down to the handlers who have travelled thousands of miles to be here.

“I know how big an undertaking it is to travel with a dog, and my thanks go to every single competitor who took part.

“I’ve been proud to bring this homecoming of the border collie to the Scottish Borders, because it’s such an important place in the history of our dogs.

“What a fantastic sight it has been to see these amazing dogs compete in this beautiful landscape,” she said.

World Sheepdog Trial 2026 at Huntington Farm, Lauder, Scottish Borders. Image: Phil Wilkinson.

The trial was hosted by the Runciman family at Huntington Farm, where fields normally sown with barley were given over to the trial course.

“It’s been an honour for the family to welcome sheepdogs and handlers from all over the world to the farm, and to open it up for people to come and see it,” Dougie Runciman said.

“We’ve been working towards this for two years, and the last two or three months have been a lot of work to get the site ready.

“We’d normally plough both fields and put them in barley, but we’ve made the farm fit what the world trial needs. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to host something like this.

“People from 34 countries have come to this farm, and it makes you feel quite humble that they’ve wanted to come to the Borders, especially with the world trial being held in the home of the border collie for the first time,” he added.

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