Father and Son First to Both Win Sheep Dog World Titles — SkimNews
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- David Howells and his 19-year-old son Jack from Cymmer, Neath Port Talbot became the first parent and child to both win titles at the same Sheep Dog World Trial, held in Lauder, Scotland.
- David claimed the world title with his Border Collie Wyverne Pip, competing against roughly 300 handlers from 34 countries, and said the win felt 'crazy' and 'upside down.'
- Jack won the Young Handler world title with his dog Cydros Boss, beating two other finalists from Belgium and Uruguay in the final round.
- Jack began working sheep dogs at age 10 and deepened his involvement during Covid when schools were closed, his father said — 'He caught the bug, and he was mad on the sheep dogs.'
- The Howells run a hill farm in Cymmer where sheep dogs are essential daily labor for managing livestock, with competitive trialing a side pursuit built on that working practice.
- Jack said he plans to compete in next year's International Championship, which features handlers from the four British home nations.
Why it matters: This is an unprecedented double at a championship drawing 300 handlers from 34 nations — and the winners aren't professional competitors but working hill farmers who rely on these dogs every day to manage their flock. Jack, still just 19, already has the International Championship in his sights, suggesting the family could be a fixture on the trial circuit for years.
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