John MacKillop won the week long Hebridean circuit of the isles with Joe, earning the unofficial title of ‘Lord of the Isles’.

As usual, the event attracted competitors from throughout the UK, Europe and USA, drawn by the variety of trialling conditions, good company and the beauty of the Hebrides.

Joe (SL Davidson’s Jim and Skye) spearheaded his success with an outright win at Berneray and added a placing at Shawbost to the aggregate. The Cheviot and Blackface gimmers at Berneray ran well on the good, flat 400yd course if they were approached calmly at the lift and Joe passed that initial test.

He handled them well round the course, losing only minor points for minor wavers on lines and a slightly wide turn through the cross drive gate as he went.

He let no holes develop in the work and took first place ahead of a closely packed list of high scoring runs which finished where some prize lists only began.

Murdo Murray’s Gael (K Forbes’ Tine, C Kennedy’s Dot) too, worked steadily round the course with just minor flaws at various elements, but the gimmers ran well through the cross drive gate before Gael managed to turn them towards the pen, and that put her run into second place, a point behind Joe’s.

At Aboyne, the Texel cross Mule gimmers behaved well on the big flat course until they were turned round the handler at the end of the fetch. They were very reluctant to turn there, but once on the drive, they settled again and were co-operative at the pen.

Lachlan Conn’s Ben made very good work of a fairly difficult packet; he was responsive, worked well outbye, handled the sheep sensibly at the turn and controlled them well on the drive. A good finish completed the winning run.

Ian Wilkie’s Floss (M McNally’s Finn, I Wilkie’s Maid) had a similar run, but her gimmers missed the cross drive gate and the work took second place.

The Blackface gimmers at Glenartney ran well, on a big uphill course, but long grass and rashes hampered the running at some points, causing dogs to lose contact with sheep and making the gimmers reluctant to tread on soft and rashy ground on the cross drive.

Kevin Howlett’s Fly (W McAllister’s Hope, K Howlett’s Tess II) started out very well outbye, but she had to work to push the sheep on the first leg of the drive, but she managed a good line.

The cross drive went better, but after the gimmers went through the ‘pull through’ gate, they took off on the return to the pen, making a wide turn to get there. Fly penned successfully first time and a good shed completed the winning run.

LEADING awards

Hebridean Circuit Waternish, Skye (Judge: S Renwick, Lochbroom) Open – 62 ran – 1, W Morrison’s Straid Nell, Yell, 83; 2, J MacKillop’s Joe, Fort Augustus, 82; 3, J Casey’s Dan, Largie, 81; 4, C Mellin’s Laddie, Oakworth, 78; 5, J Gilman’s Bonny, Yorkshire, 77; 6, J Tucker’s Sweep, Devon,73; Local - 1, J MacDiarmid’s Moss, Eynort, 71.

Berneray, Uist (Judge: D Mullan, Kinross) Open – 56 ran – 1, J MacKillop’s Joe, Fort Augustus, 92; 2, M Murray’s Gael, Back, 91; 3, R Gollicher’s Briar, Co Derry, 89; 4, J Main’s Cassie, Largie, 88; 5, T Long’s Buff, Ballybofey, 87; 6, M Kelly’s Nell, Ireland, 86.

Scarista, Harris (Judge: J Cropper, Deerplay) Open – 63 ran – 1, J Gilman’s Bob, Yorkshire, 94 Run Off; 2, C Mellin’s Laddie, Oakworth, 94; 3, K Donald’s Choc, Dalrymple, 93 Outbye; 4, R Gollicher’s Craig, Co Derry, 93; 5, L Hansson’s Lisbon, Sweden, 89; 6, S Cropper’s Danny, Deerplay, 86.

Shawbost, Lewis (Judge: K Donald, Dalrymple) Open – 57 ran – 1, J Gilman’s Bonny, Yorkshire, 90; 2, S Cropper’s Danny, Deerplay, 89; 3, S Cropper’s Ben, Deerplay, 87; 4, J Tucker’s Sweep, Devon, 86; 5, J MacKillop’s Joe, Fort Augustus, 85; 6, J Gilman’s Bob, Yorkshire, 78.

Lochs, Lewis (Judge: C Mellin, Oakworth) Open – 56 ran – 1, H Johnstone’s Queen, Fyvie, 83; 2, J Casey’s Ben, Largie, 81; 3, J Cropper’s Dan, Deerplay, 81; 4, J MacKillop’s Straid Sam, Fort Augustus, 80; 5, S Conn’s Harry, Limavady, 78 Outbye; 6, V Yablonsky’s Gus, California, 78.

Staffin (Judge: I MacKay, Leanach) Open – 68 ran – 1, P Martin’s Jen, Glenlyon, 95; 2, S Renwick’s Dice, Inverbroom, 88; 3, T Long’s Ben, Ballybofey, 85; 4, K Donald’s Kia, Dalrymple, 84; 5, W Morrison’s Straid Nell, Yell, 82 Outbye; 6, M MacNally’sTarff, Invergarry, 82;

Hebridean Cup - ‘Lord of the Isles’ –J MacKillop’s Joe, Fort Augustus; £1,800 raised for Crossdroads care

Gairloch (Judge: S Renwick, (Inverbroom) Open – 60 ran – 1, J Cropper’s Barry, Deerplay, 90; 2, P Martin’s Jen, Glenlyon, 89; 3, L Conn’s Ben, Limavady, 87; 4, J Cropper’s Dan, Deerplay, 86 Outbye; 5, I MacKay’s Glen, Leanach, 86; 6, J Lamont’s Craig, Portree, 85; 7, S Cropper’s Danny, Deerplay, 82; 8, A Urquhart’s Spot, Evanton, 80; 9, J Sutherland’s Upland Jan, Durness, 79; 10, J Sutherland’s Deni, Durness,78.

Aboyne (Judge: P Simpson, Westmuir) Open – 43 ran – 1, L Conn’s Ben, Limavady, 85; 2, I Wilkie’s Floss Keithhall, 82; 3, S Conn’s Harry, Limavady, 75; 4, L Conn’s Ola, Limavady,74; 5, T Long’s Buff, Ballybofey, 66; 6, S MacFarlane’s Gem, Blairgowrie, 63; 7, H Johnstone’s Queen, Fyvie, 56; 8, M Watt’s Bob, Kirriemuir, 54 Outbye; 9, K Donald’s Choc, Dalrymple, 54.

Glenartney (Judge: A McKenzie jnr, Lochearnhead) Open – 45 ran - Local – 1, K Howlett’s Fly, Muthill, 84; 2, S Martin’s Lexie, Cashlie, 80; 3, H Mitchell’s Kate, Lochearnhead, 72; 4, E Nilsson’s Ulrick, Meigle,71 Outbye; 5, SL Davidson’s Gillieglen Queen, Sandbank, 71; 6, A MacKenzie’s Bhoy, Lochearnhead, 70.