Top shepherdess returns to flock

Almost 20 years after she became the only woman to win TV's One Man And His Dog, a shepherdess from South Staffordshire is set to return to displaying her techniques all over the country.

Katy Cropper, now aged 46, who lives in Patshull, won the BBC contest in 1990 with her collie Trim. Since then she has trained sheepdogs, run obedience classes, painted animal portraits and brought up her daughter.

Katy will release a DVD this summer instructing shepherds how to raise the perfect dog.

The DVD, called One Woman And Her Dog, will feature new material alongside a film made in 1996.

It will be on sale at the Country Landowners Association Game Fair in Bleinheim, to be held in June.

A similar event at Harwood House in Yorkshire in May will be the first time that Katy has displayed her skills outside of competitions since daughter Henrietta, aged five, was born.

The event will be a chance for new puppies Tsavo and Max to try to live up to their great-great-great-grandmother Trim's name.

Katy said: "I started competing again last summer with Try, the puppies' mother, and was talking to people who run the fairs. They said they missed having me there, so I thought it was about time.

"Henrietta is going to keep one of the puppies to herd ducks at the shows while I will do demonstrations with the other."

Since the TV show Katy has been in demand as a motivational speaker and works with businesses on team-building holidays, using shepherding as a way to get staff to work together.

Her success meant that shepherding was no longer considered a man's world.

"I was told that there was some envy and a few raised eyebrows when I won but I never noticed it," she said.

Katy's return to shows has also netted her a sponsorship deal with Isuzu, who have given her a Crew Cab to get her to and from events.