Litter mates, Stuart Davidson’s Lee and John MacKillop’s Zac, left a clear gap between themselves and the rest of the field at Knocknagael.

The Blackface hoggs were light to handle and wary of the fetch gate and the pen, but they appreciated dogs that gave them space to run over the big, rising stubble field.

Lee (C Davidson’s Cap, SL Davidson’s Gillieglen Queen) ran out and lifted cleanly and had a good fetch with just minor twists. The drive went well, with only a slightly wide turn out of the cross drive gate to fault it. It took a bit of work to put the sheep into the pen and a clean shed completed the run in first place, with brother Zac hot on Lee’s heels.

Zac was a little tight at the top, but lifted cleanly and had a good fetch. The turn was slightly wide, but the drive was good, with just very minor wavers and a good pen and shed secured second place.

A new trial at Forss, in Caithness, saw mixed packets of fit Cheviot and Suffolk cross hoggs challenge the dogs on a bright, windy day, on a big rising course. The winter stained sheep were sometimes hard to see against the Caithness stone, standing slabs at the top of the field, but the real bogey came when working close at hand.

Mosse Magnusson’s Sprout took the lead with a fast, but not too furious, run. The hoggs were unsettled at the top of the field, but Sprout (DK Evans’ Tanhill Glen, P Williams’ Silk) gathered them up well and made good work of the fetch and drive until the hoggs slipped by the cross drive gate.

A good pen followed and with the hoggs wanting to split, Sprout was quick to step in, make his shed and achieve his first open win.

Despite running just before the mid-day break, Jock Sutherland’s Upland Jan (JB Wilde’s Ben, P Hallam’s Jill) was the first dog of the day to pen successfully.

She started her outrun tight, but soon opened out into a perfect pear shape, got to the back of her sheep, lifted and fetched well. Although the hoggs wanted to move in the wrong direction as they were being turned round Jock’s feet, Jan stopped them, put them round and worked very well on the drive. Again she had to work very hard to be the first dog to pen successfully.

Leading awards:

Knocknagael (Judge: D Murray, Rogart). Open – 46 ran – 1, SL Davidson’s Lee, Sandbank, 92; 2, J MacKillop’s Zac, Fort Augustus, 91; 3, H Johnstone’s Fellgate Bella, Fyvie, 87 outbye; 4, SL Davidson’s Hope, Sandbank, 87; 5, T McPhee’s Moy, Wick, 85; 6, J McKenzie’s Tweedie, Turriff, 84. £880 raised for Seagull Trust for Elderly.

Forss (Judge: B Ross, Ardgay). Open – 43 ran – 1, M Magnusson’s Sprout, Mid Derry, 92; 2, J Sutherland’s Upland Jan, Durness, 90; 3, MC Shearer’s Roy, Westfield, 87; 4, M Grant’s Fred, Forss, 85; 5, EC MacKinnon’s Glenalla Maddie, Lochcarron, 83; 6, W Cormack’s Jill, Dunnet, 78; 7, D Simpson’s Gael, Barrock, 74; 8, M Grant’s Rebba, Forss, 73; 9, H Johnstone’s Fellgate Bella, Fyvie, 68; 10, J MacKillop’s Zac, Fort Augustus, 62. Novice – 1, J Campbell’s Meg, Armadale, 29/40; 2, R MacKay’s Jess, Bettyhill, 15; 3, T Robertson’s Dahl, Barrock, 14.

Stoke, Four Nations (Judges: A Owen, Corwen, and P Turnbull, Debdon). Nursery – four teams of eight ran – 1, N Vyas’Cody, England,181/200; 2, DK Evans’ Trym, Wales, 178; 3, N O’ Keefe’s Dark, Ireland,174; 4, A Driscoll’s Aron,Wales, 172; 5, P Martin’s Daisy, Scotland, 170 outbye; 6, C McGarry’s Karven Dave, Ireland, 170; 7, N Watkins’ Ben, Wales, 169; 8, E Hawkins’ Malta Jill, England, 168; 9, M Gallagher’s Coln, Ireland, 166; 10, A McCulloch’s Sam, Scotland, 164. Teams – Scotland.

Healy Mill, Netherwitton (Judge: RJ Hutchinson, Littledale) Northumberland v Northern England Interclub challenge – Nursery – two teams of 12 ran – 1, P Turnbull’s Chip, Debdon, 82; 2, P Telfer’s Telf Jill, Haydon Bridge, 78; 3, D Henderson’s Burndale Storm, Allendale, 69; 4, C Balmbro’s Liz, Wooler, 59; 5, S Smith’s Belle, Seahouses, 58 outbye; 6, S Ledger’s Bess, Allendale, 58. Novice – Steven Ledger Tia. New handler – Ryan Thornhill’s Bell, Durham; Teams – Northumberland 577; Northern 508.