Run-off gives Buddy the nod at Moy

The ewes, of a variety of breeds, behaved well on the flat field, but on a downward sloping cross drive, there was a tendency to gather speed and the cross drive gate was difficult to gauge. Further on, some packets were difficult to pen, while others were happily driven inside.

Buddy (A McRae’s Fergus and Fern) worked well outbye, but he went offline on the cross drive and almost missed the gate. A clean pen and shed completed the run, eventually named the winner.

John MacKillop’s Joe and Billy Morrison’s Straid Nell matched Buddy on points, with two runs that were similar to each other.

Joe (SL Davidson's Jim and Skye) and Nell (SL Davidson’s Rob, D Young’s May) both ran out and lifted cleanly, but their lines twisted on the fetch and on the first leg of the drive. Again clean work at hand completed the runs and it took the run-off to put Joe second and Nell third.

Buddy’s win at Lochcarron was a more decisive matter, despite wet conditions underfoot making the going difficult.

The North Country Cheviot gimmers, fresh from the hill and in good nick, generally behaved on the course, but some wanted to sprint down the fetch, though others were more manageable.

Again, Buddy ran out and lifted cleanly, and although the line wavered a little on the fetch, the drive was first class. Once again, he achieved clean work at hand to win.

Likewise, Ian Wilkie’s Floss (M MacNally’s Finn, I Wilkie’s Nell) started out with clean outbye work, and although he had a little more difficulty on the fetch and drive, a clean pen and a very good shed secured second place.

A run-off at Dalrymple put Tony Welsh’s Don ahead of Sandy McCulloch’s Risp.

There, the Blackie gimmers ran well on the course, but were not easily penned or shed. On the right hand outrun and at the start of the cross drive, dogs needed to be outside clumps of trees, but they brought some dogs in and well off course.

Don (J Emerson’s Roy and Kate) had a good outrun and a clean lift and fetch. He needed encouragement from Tony to get the sheep outside the trees for the start of the cross drive, but they went round and kept a good line from there. The pen was clean, but the gimmers were unsettled at the shed, making it difficult for Don to take off a marked pair, but once he'd managed that, was in contention.

Risp (G McMullan’s Max and Nell) was a little tight on his outrun, but he had a clean fetch and put his sheep through the first drive gate. The turn after that was a little wide and there was a bend before the gimmers were on line for the cross drive, but once they were on line, the cross drive went well.

A clean pen followed, but Risp was on high alert at the shed and the gimmers were conscious of his pressure. Despite that, he took off his pair and was in the running for first place until the run-off decided otherwise.

LEADINGawards:

Archbank (Judge: A Temple, Holmrook). Open – 51 ran – 1, J Hastie’s Cree, Saline, 97 outbye; 2, N Gillon’s Bhoy, Dailly, 97; 3, C Caygill’s Luck, Whinnyliggate, 96; 4, P Howe’s Pip, Hawick, 95; 5, M Arres’ Clyde, Ashkirk, 94 outbye; 6, JA Common's Groesfaen Mac, Lockerbie, 94.

Lochcarron (Judge: S Renwick, Inverbroom). Open – 42 ran – 1, EC MacKinnon’s Buddy, Lochcarron, 95; 2, I Wilkie’s Floss Keithhall, 91; 3, I MacDonald’s Zoe, Staffin, 90 outbye; 4, W Morrison’s Straid Nell, Yell, 90; 5, J MacKillop's Straid Sam, Fort Augustus, 89; 6, J Ramsay’s Drift, Ollaberry, 88 outbye; 7, K Brehmer’s Cynfal Gwen, New Bythe, 88; 8, SL Davidson’s Hope, Sandbank, 85.

Dalrymple (Judge: W Cook, Yonderton). Open – 24 ran – 1, T Welsh’s Don, Patna, 94 run-off; 2, A McCulloch’s Risp, Dalmellington, 94; 3, N Gillon’s Bhoy, Dailly, 93; 4, K Donald’s Choc, Dalrymple, 92 ; 5, AJ Hughson’s Faye, Brunthamarsland, 91; 6, JJ Templeton’s Spot, Fenwick, 90. Confined – K Donald’s Mirk, Dalrymple,75.

Kirkconnell and Sanquhar (Judge: D Wallace, Blythbank). Open – 53 ran – 1, A McCulloch’s Fern, Dalmellington, 92 outbye; 2, AR Mundell’s Taff, Moffat, 92; 3, JR Welsh’s Cree, Dalrymple, 87 Outbye; 4, M Condie’s Doon, New Cumnock, 87; 5, AJ Hughson’s Faye, Brunthamarsland, 86; 6, R Watson’s Kep, Millom, 84.

Manor (Judge: A Dickman, Oxton). Open – 50 ran – 1, M Magnusson’s Sally, Mid Derry, 86; 2, A Temple’s Floss, Holmrook, 85; 3, D Wallace’s Boy, Blythbank, 84; 4, P Howe’s Mirk, Hawick, 80; 5, J Hill’s Molly, Heriot, 79; 6, M McTeir’s Mak, Kirkcudbright, 75; 7, AR Mundell’s Taff, Moffat,73 Outbye; 8, J Hastie’s Cree, Saline,73.

Moy (Judge: D Murray, Rogart). Open – 49 ran – 1, EC MacKinnon’s Buddy, Lochcarron, 94 run-off; 2, J MacKillop's Joe, Fort Augustus, 94 run-off; 3, W Morrison’s Straid Nell, Yell, 94 run-off; 4, H Munro’s Lil, Inverness, 93; 5, J Menzies’ Baledmund Cher, Tulliemet, 90; 6, J McKenzie’s Tweedie, Turriff, 89 outbye; 7, I Wilkie’s Floss Keithhall, 89 outbye; 8, SL Davidson’s Hope, Sandbank, 89; 9, P Martin’s Jill, Glenlyon, 88; 10, J MacKillop's Straid Sam, Fort Augustus, 87.