Judges for the trial

Allistair Lyttle - Donegal, Irland

Allistair Lyttle is based in Pettigo, Co. Donegal in the Northwest of Ireland where he farms circ. 250 acres. As well as shorthorn cattle, Allistair farms sheep including mule crosses (Lanark X Bluefaced Leicester), Lanarks, Cheviots and specialises in pure bred flocks of Bluefaced Leicester and Blue Texels. 

He started sheepdog trialling at the age of 8 and in addition to breeding and training sheepdogs, has travelled globally to provide instruction/improvement clinics to sheepdog handlers. He is an avid competitor at regional, national and international level, Allistair has qualified for the Supreme Championship at the International Sheepdog Trial on multiple occasions. He has been Irish National Champion, and been on the Irish national team multaple times.

In 2021 Allistair qualified for the Irish International Team with two dogs. At the International Trial he was one of only two competitors achieving over 400 points in the qualifying rounds finishing 7th overall in the 2021 Supreme Championship Final. At the 2022 Irish National Sheepdog Trial, Allistair finished 3rd and 11th again earning places on the 2022 Irish team with 2 dogs. In the 2022 International Trial, he finished 5th on Day 2 of the competition, qualifying him to compete in the 2022 Supreme Championship final. Allistair is also a member of the Irish Team for the 2023 World Trial with 2 dogs. 

Allistair has extensive experience judging sheepdog trials at all levels both domestically  and internationally, including World Trial, Continental Trial, Irish National Trials, Texas State Finals, American Finals, Mississippi State Fair.

He has held senior roles at director and council level within the International Sheepdog 
Society including the position of Irish National President Oct 2018-June 2020. 

When not sheepdog trialling Allistair enjoys supporting the Irish Rugby team

Roll of Honour

Andreas Schiess - Gossau, Switzerland

Andreas Schiess lives in Gossau, in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, about 50 minutes east of Zurich. On his small farm, he keeps sheep primarily to train sheepdogs — a passion that has been part of his life for 20 years now.

Dogs have always been an important part of his family. The first sheepdog joined them around the millennium, and Andreas got his first Border Collie in 2004. A year later, he began competing in sheepdog trials, and he has been dedicated to sheepdog trials ever since.

Andreas' true passion lies in dog breeding. Under the prefix 'von Enggetschwil', he breeds Border Collies, Welsh Corgi Pembrokes, and Medium Poodles.

Over the past 20 years, he has enjoyed a number of successes with his sheepdogs, including:

• 7-time Swiss Champion with 3 different dogs — 2 of which he bred himself.
• Finalist at the Continental Sheepdog Championship 2017.
• Finalist at the World Trial 2023.
• Finalist at the Soldier Hollow Classic 2025.

Andreas is grateful for the invitation and would like to wish all teams the best of luck and a fair, enjoyable trial.

Course Director

Knut-Jørgen Oseberg - Norway

Knut-Jørgen Oseberg is originally from Syvde in Søre Sunnmøre. Today, he and his partner live on Vigra, just outside Ålesund. They run the company Villmyra AS, focusing on sheep farming and herding dogs. Currently, they have a flock of 230 wild sheep, 30 Blackface sheep, and four Border Collies.

Knut-Jørgen has been working with herding dogs since 2002. He uses his dogs in the daily work with sheep, in addition to participating in dog trials. He is a certified instructor and judge through the Norwegian Sheep and Goat Association (NSG), and regularly holds courses as well as serving as a judge at competitions.