Roscommon farm makes history with first ever perfect score in sheepdog trials
Allistair Lyttle and his dog Twm who achieved a historic perfect score at the Irish National Sheepdog Trials in Brideswell.
The International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS), the governing body for sheepdog trials in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, has been in existence since 1906 but it recorded a special piece of history on a Brideswell farm on Friday when the first ever perfect score in a sheepdog trial was achieved in a competition.
Donegal man Allistair Lyttle and his trusty dog Twm were competing at the 2025 Irish National Sheepdog Trials on the Lisbrock lands of Barra O’Brien when they delivered the maximum score of 220. Incredibly, it’s a feat never achieved before in either the single or double dogs categories in the 119 year history of the ISDS.
Sheepdog trialling involves great precision by the handler and their dog. In order to score points, they have a mere 15 minutes to impress the judges as they navigate sheep through several gates and then into a pen. Achieving the perfect score of 220 seemed an impossibility until last weekend.
Reacting to the flawless performance, Allistair said: “It’s quite overwhelming. It’s a score that could be matched but being the first to do it, it’s a record that can’t be repeated.”
Allistair, who started sheepdog trialling as a young boy, runs a sheep and cattle farm in Pettigo, Co Donegal.
Over the course of three days in Brideswell, 150 of Ireland’s best sheep dogs and their handlers showcased their skills at the national trials.
The competitors were vying for places on the Irish national team that will compete at the International Sheepdog Trials in Wales in September.
