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The History ,of the Border Collie Centuries before the industrial revolution, Britain's wealth was built on wool. Domestic sheep were herded by Neolithic man and likely sheepdogs were associated with him as welLThe Romans brought pastoral dogs to Britain as they did sheep. John Caius, a doctor writing in the 1500s, mentions the "shepherd's dogge ". His book, De Canibus Britannicus (Treatise on Englishe Dogges), may in fact be the earliest reference to the way British sheepdogs worked. In Scotland, when a sheep economy took hold, the sheepdog was absolutely necessary. James Hogg (1772- 1835), a shepherd and poet from the Ettrick Valley in the Scottish Borders wrote, "without [the sheep dog] the mountainous land of England and Scotland would not be worth sixpence. It would require more hands to manage a flock of sheep and drive them to market than the profits of the whole were capable of maintaining." In Australia and New Zealand, and in parts of the United States, where there are still huge flocks of sheep and sometimes exceptional conditions, specialized types of sheepdogs have been developed and are still used -- heelers, barkers, dogs capable of going over the backs of closely packed sheep or driving them long distances. But in Britain, and in parts of the United States as well, the Border Collie has emerged as the dominant herding dog. All Purpose ... All Around ...All American WMAMII .ERS _ t- � f The Irish Roots of the Scottish Games The earliest date for the heavy events is contained in the Irish'Book of Leinster", which was written in the twelfth century A.D. This book describes the Tailteann Games held at Telltown, County Meath, Ireland from 1829 B.C. until at least 554 B.C., and in a revived version until r 1166 A.D. Included in the events were stone throwing, pole vaulting, high jumping, the geal -ruith (triple jumping), the gaelbolga (throwing the dart), and the roth -cleas (the wheel feat, which consisted of spinning around and throwing either an axle with an attached wheel or a single spoke with the wheel hub attached). Since the 'Book of Leinster' was written so long after the supposed origin of these games, the descriptions have to be accepted advisedly. Obviously, 16 centuries of oral tradition can distort facts to a great degree. The events are described in enough detail so as to lend an impression of authenticity, however. These games predated the ancient Greek Olympics and this fact argues against those who suggest that the Celtic events were borrowed from the Greeks via the Roman conquerors of Britain. Greek sport did include events similar to those listed above, but they appear to be an entirely separate tradition. The heavy events were carried to Scotland with the migration of the Celtic tribes from Ireland. ■ N180 Print Ad IM8 �i multi -color printing -- high volumn copying electronic publishing — graphic design on- demand digital printing -- color copying at output electronic file transfer (219) 2-T4 -9484 ISYP North ironwood Drive -- South Bead, lMMM