Good work on the fetch and drive gave Jimmy Lamont’s Craig the edge over a closely packed list at Rogart, despite a narrow escape at the end of his run.

The Cheviot gimmers ran very well on a flat field and co-operated readily at the pen, but at the end of a long cross drive, some dogs seemed to have difficulty putting them through the gate. The gimmers ran in groups of three and the last sheep of the packet was the judge’s stipulation for the shed.

Craig (N McVicar’s Spot, I M Brownlie’s Bess) ran out, lifted and fetched faultlessly and had one of the best drives of the day, with only minor wavers of the line and a successful second gate. The pen went well, but the shed threatened the good work.

The gimmers reacted against Craig putting pressure on them, making the job difficult, but when Jimmy and Craig delivered the single sheep after a long struggle, the bell instantly sounded for time up.

Hot on Craig’s heels, Ian Sutherland’s unregistered Jimmy (M Cook’s Spot, W Mill’s Cassie), one of the first dogs of the day, worked well. He had a very good outrun and lift, and although he managed to put the sheep through the gate, they wavered off line on the fetch, making the only hole in a very well controlled run. Another top class drive followed and a very good pen and shed completed the work in second place.

A good start and a clean pen put Tony Welsh and Don ahead at Gatehouse. Heavy rain upset the Lleyn cross Texel ewes; they were hard to hold at top of the flat field and touchy on the course.

Some packets penned readily, but some were prepared to break. Don (J Emerson’s Roy and Kate) ran out and lifted cleanly and fetched the sheep well, although the line bent on the way. The drive was more precarious and the ewes missed the cross drive gate.

The pen was clean, but the sheep were unsettled at the shed and the work there was not very tidy, but the run earned first place, ahead of another closely packed list.

Sandy McCulloch’s Risp (G McMullan’s Max and Nell) started off in similar fashion, with a clean outrun and lift which ultimately put him ahead of another equally pointed run.

The lines of the fetch and drive wavered, but Risp got his gates. The ewes broke round the pen before he penned and went on to finish with a clean shed and second place.

Jock Welsh’s Cree (JR Welsh’s Tanhill Nap, FW Shennan’s Fizz) overshot his sheep slightly at the top, and although he lifted cleanly, the ewes were offline on the fetch. The drive went very well, with just widish turns to fault it, but again there were difficulties at the pen. A clean shed completed the run in third place.

The Cheviot ewes at Lockerbie were in tremendous trialling form in the morning, working calmly around a course which sloped gradually away from the handler, and flowing off the dogs.

As the day progressed, although the sheep were fresh all day and none were rerun, they became less co-operative, inclined to gather speed on the fetch and to dislike the turn round the handler and the drive away.

Alastair Stewart’s Olly (A Stewarts Mirk and unregistered Amy) had one of the early runs of the day. He ran out just slightly short and lifted at an angle, but he took full advantage of the well behaved ewes and fetched and drove with only minor wavers and completed the winning run with a clean pen and shed.

Cameron Dickson’s Straid Star (A Roberts’ Chip, D Young’s Straid Maid) ran out and lifted cleanly and fetched well. Running later in the day, Star had to work hard to put the ewes away on the first leg of the drive, much against their will, but he succeeded in getting them round the course and his clean pen and shed, ranked him second, only two points behind the leaders, level on points with third, ahead on outbye work.

Again, Alastair Mundell’s Taff (AR Mundell’s Jock, W Todd’s Sue) achieved a clean outrun and lift, and although, in the early afternoon, the ewes gathered speed on the fetch and proved difficult to turn round Alastair’s feet, Taff managed that.

He had to work to put them round the drive, but coped well with that and another clean pen and shed set the seal on a successful run.

LEADING awards

Lockerbie (Judge: K Anderson, Canonbie). Open – 55 ran – 1, A Stewart’s Olly, Lockerbie, 94; 2, C Dickson’s Straid Star, Coldingham, 92 outbye; 3, AR Mundell’s Taff, Moffat, 92; 4, JA Common’s Groesfaen Mac, Lockerbie, 84 outbye; 5, JW Common’s Grit, Lockerbie, 84; 6, P Howe’s Pip, Hawick, 83; 7, A Stewart’s Kemi Ruby, Lockerbie, 81 outbye; 8, JA Common’s Taff, Lockerbie, 81. Novice – 1, A Stewart’s Kemi Ruby, Lockerbie, 81; 2, JM Common’s Queen, Lockerbie; 3, JW Common’s Jaff, Lockerbie;

Rogart (Judge: P Martin, Glenlyon). Open – 50 ran – 1, J Lamont’s Craig, Portree, 88; 2, I Sutherland’s Jimmy, Strathnaver, 87; 3, H Johnstone’s Fellgate Bella, Fyvie, 86 outbye; 4, M MacNally’sTarff, Invergarry, 86; 5, F Renwick’s Fly, Inverbroom, 84 outbye; 6, S Grant’s Tia, Strathcanaird, 84 outbye; 7, J McKenzie’s Tweedie, Turriff, 84; 8, H Munro’s Lil, Inverness, 83; 9, EC MacKinnon’s Midge, Lochcarron, 82 outbye; 10, S Renwick’s Dice, Inverbroom, 82. Local – 1, D Murray’s Mirk, Rogart, 76; 2, J Ross’ Nan, Achaillach, 71;

Gatehouse (Judge: S Paton, Ayr). Open – 35 ran – 1, T Welsh’s Don, Patna, 88; 2, A McCulloch’s Risp, Dalmellington,86 Outbye; 3, JR Welsh’s Cree, Dalrymple, 86; 4, A Stewart’s Kemi Ruby, Lockerbie, 84; 5, W Welsh’s Cap, Dalcairney, 83; 6, JR Welsh’s Tanhill Sam, Dalrymple, 82.

Tingwall (Judge: MC Hughson, Scalloway). Open – 30 ran – 1, W Morrison's Tanhill Will, Yell, 86 outbye; 2, G Clark's Jock, Yell, 86; 3, C Williamson's Jaff, Ollaberry, 76; 4, E Graham's Moss, Lerwick, 73 outbye; 5, G Clark's May, 73. Limit – nine ran – A Fraser's Tess, Culswick, 49; 2, J Nicolson's Todd, Scalloway outbye; 3, D Murray's Petra, North Roe, 44. Doubles – three ran – J Nicolson's Riley and Meg, Scalloway, 82; 2, M Georgeson's Wisp and Vera, Sand, 78; C Williamson's Joe and Jaff, Ollaberry, 48. Championship – 1, G Clark's Jock, Yell, 89; 2, W Morrison's Tanhill Will, Yell, 86; 3, E Graham's Moss, Lerwick, 57.

South Mainland (Judge: AWP Hughson, Girlsta). Open – 27 ran – 1, AJ Hughson's Fay, Brunthamarsland, 97; 2, B Smith's Jim, Dunrossness, 95 outbye; 3, B Smith's Lass, 95; 4, G Clark's Jock, Yell, 93; 5, J Ramsay's Jim, Ollaberry, 90. Limit – eight ran – B Smith's Lass, 55; 2, B Smith's Chip, 54; 3, A Fraser's Tess, 52. Doubles – 1, J Nisolson's Meg and Riley, Scalloway, 98; 2, C Williamson's Jaff and Joe, Ollaberry, 85. Championship – W Morrison's Nell, Yell, 107; 2, AJ Hughson's Fay, Brunthamarsland, 101; 3, J Ramsay's Jim, Ollaberry, 100.