Peter Martin and Jill worked hard and prospered on a big course at Roro. The Blackface Swale crosses were fresh from the hill and took full advantage of the big flat 550yd course, which tested the stamina and the outlook of some dogs.

Jill (R Dalziel’s Joe, N McVicar’s Nikki) ran out and lifted very well, and although the sheep were testing at the fetch gate, Jill put them through the gate and worked well on the drive. Good work at hand completed the winning run well ahead of the also rans.

Stephen Martin’s Lexie (W McAllister’s Hope, K Howlett’s Tess) had a good run on the course but missed her fetch gate and had further difficulties at the pen before she successfully secured her packet in the enclosure. When the shed was made, Lexie earned second place.

Good work on a good course, with only very minor points dropped at various elements and no glaring faults gave Ricky Hutchinson’s Sweep a comfortable lead at Dryden.

The Mule and Texel cross gimmers behaved very well on a gently rising course, and stood well at the release post; staying together well, they were not easily shed and on their second circuit of the course, they tended to pull to the exhaust pen rather than adhere strictly to the route of the drive.

Sweep (RJ Hutchinson’s Wenndale Roy and Lyn) stopped very slightly short on his outrun, but lifted cleanly and worked near flawlessly on the course. He penned without any problem and finished the winning run with a clean shed.

David Henderson’s Star (R Dalziel’s Spot, D Henderson’s May) ran out cleanly to the top, had a good course with only minor wavers and made a clean pen. The shed was not as smooth as it might have been, but when Star took control of her target sheep, the work ranked second, with another comfortable margin behind her.

Good work on a steep course at Blairgowrie put Stuart Davidson’s Gillieglen Queen ahead of a closely packed list. The rough Cheviot Mule hoggs were big, strong and lively to handle, particularly on the fetch, where a hollow in the terrain tended to put the sheep off line.

Queen (SL Davidson’s Rob, A Gilles’ Peg) ran out to the top but stopped slightly short and although she lifted cleanly, the hoggs were off line when they emerged from the dip. The drive was very good and the pen clean, but when the hoggs rejoined at the shed, the job had to be tackled again, but the second attempt proved successful and within time, so Queen ruled over the field.

A well controlled run gave Willie Welsh’s Cap a clear lead at at Brodick.

The cross gimmers ran well in the morning but on their second time round the course, on the first leg of the drive, they tended to pull away to the exhaust pen. The sheep had to be brought uphill to the handler at the end of the fetch and after turning round, felt the pull away. The cross drive was hard to judge and some good runs suffered there.

Cap (A Owen’s Llangwm Cap, M Jones’ June) ran out, lifted cleanly, had only minor wavers on the fetch, and although the sheep tried to make for the exhaust, Cap stopped them, recovered well and achieved a very good drive. A clean pen followed, but a minor break marred the shed; again, Cap was quick to hold the attempted runaway and completed the winning run with a successful shed.

LEADING awards

Dryden (Judge: E Gray, Fallowlees) Open – 57 ran –1, R Hutchinson’s Sweep Littledale, 96; 2, D Henderson’s Star, Allendale, 92; 3, C Armstrong’s Malta Scott, Archbank, 89; 4, J Hill’s, Sid, Heriot, 89; 5, A Stewart’s Tweed, Lockerbie, 83; 6, M Davidson’s Corrie, Lilburn, 83.

Brodick, Arran (Judge: R MacDiarmid, Cairndow) Open – 30 ran – 1, W Welsh’s Cap, Dalcairney, 94; 2, SL Davidson’s Hope, Sandbank, 90; 3, JR Welsh’s Cree, Dalrymple, 89; 4, W Welsh’s Joe, Dalcairney, 84; 5, JR Welsh’s Tanhill Sam, Dalrymple, 83; 6, I McConnell’s Fly, Tarbert, 80; 7, A Watson’s Fen, Shotts, 79; 8, C Joelsson’s Patch, Sandbank, 75.

Tomatin (Judge: M McNally, Invergarry ) – Open – 55 ran – 1, J MacKillop’s Joe, Fort Augustus, 89; 2, I Wilkie’s Floss Keithhall, 87 Time; 3, JR Welsh’s Tanhill Sam, Dalrymple, 87; 4, JR Welsh’s Cree, Dalrymple, 84; 5, D MacKenzie’s Moss, Inverness, 82 Outbye; 6, M Grant’s Fred, Forss, 82; 7, H Munro’s Lil, Inverness, 78; 8, J MacKillop’s Straid Sam, Fort Augustus,77; Local – 1, D MacKenzie’s Moss, Inverness, 82 Outbye; 2, H Munro’s Lil, Inverness, 78; 3, I MacKay’s Glen, Leanach, 69; 4, H MacLean’s Dan, Culloden, 66; 5, H Munro’s Kim, Inverness.

Roro, Glenlyon (Judge: N McVicar, Benmore) Open – 54 ran – 1, P Martin’s Jill, Glenlyon, 84; 2, S Martin’s Lexie, Cashlie, 76; 3, A MacKenzie’s Bhoy, Lochearnhead, 74; 4, GC Gardner’s Moss, Lesmahagow, 68; 5, W Welsh’s Cap, Dalcairney, 66; 6, AD Carnegie’s Linburn Rook, Comrie, 64.

Blairgowrie (Judge: D Wallace, Blyth Bridge) – Open – 62 ran – 1, SL Davidson’s Gillieglen Queen, Sandbank, 82; 2, AD Carnegie’s Linburn Rook, Comrie, 81 Outbye; 3, IM Brownlie’s Lia, Bridge of Cally, 81; 4, P Martin’s Jill, Glenlyon, 80; 5, M Magnusson’s Murphy, Mid Derry, 79 Outbye; 6, I Wilkie’s Floss Keithhall, 79 Outbye; 7, D Harris’ Zack, Turriff, 79; 8, AD Carnegie’s Groesfaen Nap, Comrie, 77 Outbye; 9, M MacNally’s Finn, Invergarry, 77; 10, E Nilsson’s Frej, Meigle, 75.

Moar, Meggernie (Judge: A Buchan, Loch Tay) Novice – 1, S Cook’s Tess, Dall; 2, P Martin’s Ruby, Glenlyon; 3, R Wilson’s Corrie, Glenlochay;

Arran – Confined – 8 ran – 1, M McNeish’s Pip, Craigview, 78 Outbye; 2, N McMaster’s Liz, Bennan, 78 ; 3, J McNeish’s Glen, Craigview, 64; 4, J Craig’s Tess, Imacher, 49; 5, D Currie’s Meg, Blackwaterfoot, 45.