Paul Howe has progressed from a novice handler to an open contender after gaining sixth place on 93 points on the challenging course at Coldingham Sheepdog Trial.

The move up came courtesy of his unregistered six-year-old bitch, Pip, last weekend. Paul, who shepherds south of Hawick, said: “I am over the moon, really pleased – it was nail-biting waiting for the results.”

Paul bought Pip as a pup on a whim at Longtown market. He also gained high points (89) with his second dog, four-year-old Mirk (Murray McTier’s Bob and John Allan’s Trim).

Coldingham had a tricky outrun of around 500m across a field, over a dyke and up a steep brae, so the ‘novice’ and his dogs got their elevation on a difficult course.

Paul has his own farm tenancy on the Buccleuch Estate, south of Hawick, where he shepherds 350 breeding ewes (NCCs, Texel/Suffolk crosses and Lanark Blackface).