A dog that was too energetic to live in Manchester has represented England after finding a new talent in the country. Two-year-old Border Collie Patch has won numerous sheepdog trials since leaving the city which saw him selected for the Four Nations Nursery Finals that took place on Saturday, March 19.
Patch moved to James Gilman at Pye Ash Farm, in Bosley, Macclesfield, from Manchester and began training in November 2020. The Manc owners were very fond of Patch but said he was too energetic for the city.
Martha Gilman, James’s daughter and PA, told CheshireLive : “The family in Manchester loved Patch dearly but he was causing havoc as he was stalking everything and very energetic. They wondered whether he would be more suited as a sheepdog, rather than a domestic dog in the town. We never usually take on any dogs like this but my dad decided to take a chance.
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“We kept him for a week to see if he could be trained, Patch had never seen sheep before but was a natural. It is incredible for him to have been part of the England team.
“Training took many hours, in all weathers but, a year later, my dad and Patch have had unprecedented success winning multiple trials against dogs that have been bought for thousands of pounds. Patch was among 10 dogs in the England team and the only unregistered one."
It is not known where Patch was born or who his parents were, with only his breeding and pedigree traceable. The Four Nations competition took place in Staffordshire against Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
Patch and James, 54, put on a strong performance, but it was Ireland who came away with the title. James has been a sheepdog trainer since he was just 16-years-old buying his first one, named Jill, for just £5 in 1984.
Martha added: “My dad lives and breathes sheepdogs, it is his passion. Patch is very involved in the farm work. He had no time off after the competition, he loves it and didn’t think he needed a rest.”
