Ian Brownlie’s Tib won the Scottish inter-district nursery final at Newton of Budgate, Cawdor, on Saturday, spearheading a victory for the Central team, with his Lia in fourth place and Mosse Magnusson’s Murphy in sixth.
On a day of incessant rain, the hoggs generally ran well on a flat field which rose steeply beyond the cross drive gate, creating a lure for any dog that failed to turn the sheep quickly and neatly round the gate, before they had the chance to take off uphill for a merry dance.
Tib (MC Shearer’s Bob, S Macaulay’s Gael) ran out and lifted cleanly and had a good fetch with just minor wavers of the line.
The first leg of the drive went smoothly and although the hoggs came in on the line of the cross drive, they went through the gate and turned neatly toward the pen.
Tib walked the sheep smartly into the pen and a good shed completed the winning run on 94 points.
Judge, Michael Shearer, said: “Tib had a good, controlled run and didn’t disturb the sheep.”

The Scottish Farmer:

Taking the mian silverware was Ian Brownlie with his winning dog, Tib (left), and also managed fourth place with the home-bred Lia (right)

Runners up, Joe McRobert and Nell (JP McGee’s Seth, B Quigley’s Sindy) had a first class run which vied with Tib’s and followed a similar pattern, until time spent at the shed ate into the allocated span and eventually put the work two points behind the leader.
Nell completed her shed as the bell sounded and the run took second place.
Her clean outrun and lift and good fetch put her level with Tib, but a good drive, with just a little skewing of the line to one side on the first leg, gave her the edge, and she won the Jimmy McNeil prize for best outbye work.
The pen went smoothly, although, at the shed, a single came off, but the opportunity to shed off a mate was risky and fleeting, and the sheep had to be regrouped before a successful shed was made and the work finished in second place on 92.
The dogs ran in reverse order of team placing and the first two rounds were run on very steady Mule hoggs.
For the next three rounds, mixed packets of Texel cross and Mule hoggs behaved well, but were less settled on the course and proved tougher to push forward and more difficult to keep on a straight line.
Third ranked, Jock Welsh’s Ted, was the highest ranked running on the mixed breeds.
Jock Welsh’s Ted (A Owen’s Llangwym Cap, F Shennan’s Mia) had a good outrun and lift, but on the fetch, the hoggs drew to Jock’s left. Since the trend had been to pull to the right, Jock cautiously allowed them time to align, but had to flank them on line.
They went through the gate and the same routine ensued when they emerged.
The drive was good and Ted, being the only dog to achieve a good line on the cross drive and a neat turn through the gate, earned the John Paterson trophy for the best drive of the day. A good pen and shed completed the work in third place on 91 points.
Ian Brownlie returned to the prize list with Lia, who took fourth place with the last run of the day.
Lia (R Hutchinson’s Sweep, IM Brownlie’s Mo) ran out and lifted cleanly and fetched faultlessly until the hoggs stopped at Ian’s feet, proved difficult to move on until they eventually broke away to the pen and had to be retrieved.

The Scottish Farmer:

Central team left to right, Mosse Magnusson, Ian Brownlie, Andy Carnegie and Kevin Howlett

The drive was good, although the turn through the cross drive was wider than ideal, but a clean pen followed. The shed took a little time to come off and was not the tidiest, but it was successful and Lia earned 90 points.
Alistair Stewart’s Kemi Ruby was ranked fifth overall.
Kemi Ruby (DK Evans’ Tanhill Glen and Vicky) ran out and lifted cleanly and worked well on the fetch until, negotiating the turn round Alistair’s feet, one hogg broke and that upset the operation.
The drive started well, but Alistair misjudged the action at the gate and Ruby stopped the sheep before they were fully through.
With whistles of encouragement, Ruby got them moving again and the cross drive went well. The hoggs milled around the mouth of the pen and Ruby had to kep them in, but there were no breaks and she finished the run with a clean shed and 87 points.
Mosse Magnusson’s Murphy was the first dog of the day to feature in the prize list, eventually ranking sixth.
Murphy (DK Evans’ Moss and British Evans’ Snip) ran out and lifted cleanly, and fetched flawlessly, until he made a slightly untidy turn round Mosse’s feet.  The drive started well, but the line of the cross drive was low.
Murphy put the sheep into the pen, but before the job was completed, one hogg broke and the rest followed. Once a successful pen was achieved, a good shed finished the run on 86 points.

The Scottish Farmer:

Special prizes left to right, Joe McRobert, runner-up; Jock Welsh, best drive; Ian Sutherland, best competitor never previously competed in a National

Leading awards:

Newton of Budgate, Cawdor (Judge: MC Shearer, Westfield) 9 teams of 5 dogs ran –  1, IM Brownlie’s Tib, Bridge of Cally, 94 /100; 2, J McRobert’s Nell, Tweedsmuir, 92; 3, JR Welsh’s Ted, Dalrymple, 91; 4, IM Brownlie’s Lia, Bridge of Cally, 90; 5, A Stewart’s Kemi Ruby, Lockerbie, 87; 6, M Magnusson’s Murphy, Mid Derry, 86; 7, I Fergie’s Rock, Straiton, 82 outbye; 8, G Simpson’s Groesfaen Mac, Forgue, 82; 9, D Aitken’s Tweeddale Fly, Lockerbie, 81; 10, I Sutherland’s Jimmy, Strathnaver, 80.

Teams – 1, Central, 402; 2, South Ayr, 381; 3, Borders, 312.

Other prizes:

John Ferguson Cup (champion) – IM Brownlie’s Tib.
RSABI quaich (runner-up) – J McRobert’s Nell.
Inter-district trophy (breeder of champion) – S MacAuley.
Lyn Lewis trophy (competitor never previously competed in National trial) – I Sutherland’s Jimmy.
J McNeil Memorial trophy (best outbye) – J McRobert’s Nell.
J Paterson memorial trophy (best drive) – JR Welsh’s Ted.
Bill Fleming trophy (youngest competitor) – R Welsh’s Mist, Patna.
Robert Wallace Shield – Central team.