Good work outbye and the first sheep successfully through the fetch gate gave Alistair Stewart’s Kemi Ruby the edge at Carse of Clary.

The Mule hoggs ran well on the big, flat field and tended to walk into the pen for most dogs. Ruby worked well outbye, but found her sheep splitting at the drive gates. Rather than correct the youngster, Alistair sacrificed precision for the opportunity to let Ruby work confidently under her own steam and the strategy paid off. A good pen followed, and the shed took just a little time to come off. Solid achievement balanced the portion of missed gates and Ruby took first place.

A good start and finish earned Stuart McCrindle’s Zack (JL MacMillan’s Lamp and Fern) second place. A clean outrun and good lift got the run off to a good start, but the fetch went off course. The drive followed a similar pattern, but a clean pen and shed secured runner up position.

The Mules at Kilwhannel were light to handle on the gently rising course and touchy at the pen.

Jock Welsh’s Ted (A Owen’s Llangwym Cap, F Shennan’s Mia) ran out well but slowed down and came a little tight on his sheep at the top, pushing them slightly off line, but recovered on the fetch, with only minor deviations. A good drive ensued, with only a few points lost; a break at the pen cost him more points and hesitation to take control in the shed lost him a few more.

Jamie Shennan’s Tess (I Campbell’s Mick and Kate) started well, with a good outrun and lift; good lines on the fetch were marred by a wrong command approaching the gates, causing a miss and ultimately costing him the trial. Good lines on the drive and an excellent finish raised the standard to within a point of Ted.

Outbye work separated three equally pointed runs at a closely contented nursery trial at Ardormie. The Easy Care hoggs did not like pressure and were determined not to go through the chute.

Ian Brownlie’s Lia (Ricky Hutchinson’s Sweep, IM Brownlie’s Mo) and Mosse Magnusson’s Sprout (Tanhill Glen and DW Edward Queen) matched each other so well, it took the performance on the drive to put Lia into first place. Mosse’s Nell (EW Edwards Cap and DI Jones Jenny) had already been dropped into a worthy third in the high scoring contest, with minor flaws outbye.

South Ayrshire saw the top two places from Kilwhannel trial repeated at Cairnhill.

The Mule ewes were light and touchy at pen, reacting against too much pressure on the flat course, which rose at the far end. The weather was good for December, if cool, cloudy and breezy.

Jock Welsh’s Ted was a little tight at top, but lifted cleanly and made an excellent fetch, with only a few wavers. The drive was good until the line dropped a little low before the cross drive gate. Ted had difficulty before he made a successful pen and came onto the two unwanted sheep before being corrected.

Jamie Shennan’s Tess was slightly tight at top and pushed the sheep off line at the lift and the fetch wavered offline. Tess kept good lines on the drive, but she was low on the cross drive and made a wide turn through the gate. Tess was tight at the pen, resulting in breaks; hesitation at the shed cost a few more points, but sound work overall put the run into second place.

Leading awards:

Ardormie (Judge: J MacKenzie, Ardormie) – Nursery – 22 ran – 1, IM Brownlie’s Lia, Bridge of Cally, 91; 2, M Magnusson’s Sprout, Ardormie, 91; 3, M Magnusson’s Nell, Ardormie, 91; 4, M Magnusson’s Murphy, Ardormie, 89; 5, AD Carnegie’s Groesfaen Nap, Comrie, 84; 6, S MacFarlane’s Gem, Blairgowrie, 80; 7, K Howlett’s Tess, Comrie, 79; 8, A Simpson’s Lednock Liz , Comrie, 78; 9, J Hastie’s Lethans Bear, Saline,72 Outbye; 10, L Magnusson’s Betty, Mid Derry,72; Novice – 3 ran – 1, W Wright’s Kate, Laurencekirk, 66.

Kilwhannel, Ballantrae (Judge: I MacMillan, Newton Stewart) Nursery – 12 ran – 1, JR Welsh’s Ted, Dalrymple, 85; 2, J Shennan’s Tess, Barr, 84; 3, WJ Welsh’s Tommy, Beoch, 83; 4, A McCulloch’s Risp, Dalmellington,78 Outbye; 5, J Shennan’s Bill, Barr, 78; 6, H Young’s Bernie, Crosshill, 77; 7, I Fergie's Rock, Straiton, 70; 8, R Welsh’s Mist, Patna, 65.

Carse of Clary (Judge: G Carnochan, Coylton) Nursery – 10 ran – 1, A Stewart’s Kemi Ruby, Lockerbie, 81; 2, S McCrindle’s Zak, Palnackie, 77; 3, C Armstrong’s Malta Scott, Archbank, 76; 4, I McMillan’s Rob, Newton Stewart, 75; 5, C Caygill’s Mitch, Whinnyliggate, 51; 6, D Porter’s Rock, Stranraer, 49.

Cairnhill (Judge: I Lockhart, Carsphairn) Nursery – 13 ran – 1, JR Welsh’s Ted, Dalrymple, 89; 2, J Shennan’s Tess, Barr, 80; 3, R Welsh’s Mist, Patna,79; 4,WJ Welsh’s Tommy, Beoch, 78; 5, J Shennan’s Bill, Barr, 77 Outbye; 6, K Donald’s Scott, Dalrymple, 77.

Troneyhill (Judge:P Turnbull, Debdon) Nursery – 16 ran –1, C Dickson’s Lethens Craig, Coldingham, 83; 2, M Arres’ Moss, Ashkirk,75; 3, D Gilchrist’s Jade, Oxton, 72; 4, WS Elliot’s Ben, Yetholm, 71; 5, J Robinson’s Rob, Coldingham, 70; 6, J Robinson’s Jill,

Coldingham, 67; 7, J Robinson’s Mirk, Coldingham, 66; 8, A Dickman’s Jake, Oxton, 57; Novice - P Howe’s Pip, Hawick, 80; 2, P Howe’s Mirk, Hawick, 69.