Sheepdog Handlers

Michael Longton - Rooten Brook

Michael currently owns 10 Border Collies and was always involved in dogs through the family, but started trialling at 12 years old.

Asked for his most memorable success, Michael replies, “3^rd at the Supreme Championship with Moss in 2005.”

Monty is another of Michael’s most successful dogs – winning the English National in 2004 and being runner up in 2006.

The famous Longton sheepdog trialling family has farmed at Rooten Brook Farm for over 50 years, taking in four generations.

With outstanding views of the Morecambe Bay, southern tip of the Lake District and all over the Fylde coast, the farm is 800 acres, 350 acres of which is rough fell ground, which all the dogs are used to gather.

The farm is currently run by Michael and his father Timothy, who spend their time tending to the flock of 550 Swaledale sheep and 80 suckler cattle, whilst finding enough time to train sheepdogs.

Rooten Brook roots ……..

Tim Longton Snr

The first of the Longtons to farm at Rooten Brook was Tim Longton senior, in the late 1940’s when he took over the tenancy.

Tim started trialling at the age of twelve, he won the English National at Morecambe with Dot (4844) in 1949, and was runner up at the Supreme in 1954, again with Dot.

Tim Longton Jnr

Tim Longton was the next to farm here, after working as a county patrol shepherd in Cumbria based at Tebay, then managing a 3000 acre hill sheep farm for the water board at Dunsop Bridge.

He didn’t start trialling until 1947, when he was 29 years old, after serving in the Border Regiment, seeing action at Arnhem, as well as North Africa.

He won the English National for the first time in 1965 going on to win it 5 times in all and the Supreme once in 1966 with Ken.

He represented his country over 40 times at the International. When the BBC started with the idea of trialling on TV he was the obvious choice (due to his book A Sheepdog, Its Work and Training) to educate the producers and presenter Phil Drabble, and the first programme was filmed at Rooten Brook to show not only the trialling but also the training and working aspects of the sheepdogs.

Timothy Longton

Michael’s father, Timothy’s starting point “getting serious about trialling” was in 1982/3 with Gel and at the present time she is in the pedigree of all the current trial dogs at Rooten Brook.

Gel and her kennel mate Liz both qualified for the International in 1987 and since then Timothy has been a team member 17 times, including Farmers Champion in 1999, Reserve English National Champion in 1997 with Rob (200948), 1999 and 2002 with Vic (213967), English Brace Champion 4 times.

Timothy is a respected judge, judging the English National at Bolton Abbey in 2003, and runs training clinics.

Contacting Michael

Michael can be contacted via http://www.rootenbrooksheepdogs.co.uk/ where there are also many photos and details of the family’s dogs.

About CSJ food Michael comments ...... “My dogs just love it!”

List of all Sheepdog Handlers

Sam Roper

Sam Roper is a working shepherd and triallist in the Lake District valleys. Sam uses the prefix Cranford sheepdogs.
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Kevin Evans

Kemi Working Sheepdogs
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Aled Owen

Aled was brought up with sheepdog trialling in his blood.
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Logan Williams

In August 2016 Logan entered the South Wales Sheepdog Trials Association Novice Trial in Blackwood and won both the Young Handlers and Novice with his dog Ned
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Rhion Owen

Rhion is an up and coming sheepdog handler who handles a dog well and in 2016 represented Wales at the International Supreme Championships ‘Young Handler’ competition in Tywyn
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Nij Vyas

Internationally renowned author and sheepdog handler
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Dr Angie Driscoll

Kinloch Sheepdogs “I thought it might be fun to train a working sheepdog.”
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Terena Plowright

“CSJ Dog food has made a huge difference to my dogs (and I am being very honest here).
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Wiet van Dongen

Wiet’s affix ‘BaW’ stands for Borders at work….very apt!
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Meirion Owen and The Quack Pack

Meirion is a very accomplished and well-respected sheepdog handler, judge and event organizer.
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Anita Hermes

Anita has been a German team member 16 times in the Continental Sheepdog Championships and 4 times in the World Trials team
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Magdalena and Piotr Michalscy

Working Border Collie kennel in Poland.
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Matt Watson

2010 English National Championship winner.
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Richard Millichap

2009 International Supreme Champion with Dewi Tweed.
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Katy Cropper

Winner of 'One Man and His Dog' in 1990.
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Michael Longton - Rooten Brook

Michael currently owns 10 Border Collies and was always involved in dogs through the family, but started trialling at 12 years old.
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Timothy Longton

From the famous Longton sheepdog trialling family has farmed at Rooten Brook Farm for over 50 years, taking in four generations.
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Janne Litgov

Kennel Litgov's, Denmark.
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Judith Owens-Poole and Jeff Poole

Fircroft Border Collies and DogWise, Canine Training and Behaviour Consultants.
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