Chris and Tammy take the plaudits at Bute

Mixed lots of Mule and Blackface gimmers responded to careful handling on a good, gently rising course, but were quick to bolt at the pen, so handlers had to be prepared.

Tammy (BK Renwick’s Nip, C Toner’s Graham’s Sam) ran out and lifted cleanly, had a good fetch with only minor wavers, and made a good turn around Chris and on to the drive. The first leg went well and a slight dip on the line of the cross drive proved to be the only fault there and the run finished with a clean pen and shed for first.

Neil McVicar’s Mist (R Hutchinson’s Sweep, IM Brownlie’s Mo) worked well outbye and had a decent drive followed by a good pen. At the shed, an attempted split turned into a regrouping, so Neil restarted it before a successful shed for second.

James Gilman’s Bonny took the Hebridean Cup back to England after a week-long circuit of the Outer Isles, with a win at Laxay and seconds at Shawbost and Staffin.

The steep and rough, Inverlochlarig hill course on the Braes of Balquhidder, tested dogs ahead of the forthcoming Scottish National. The 700-yard outrun tempted them to run wide and a number went out, lost track and never found their sheep.

Stuart McCrindle’s Kate (S McCrindle’s Bill, M MacIlwraith’s Tanhill Nell) took a few whistles to get out to her sheep and landed slightly short, but once she lifted, kept a good line on the fetch and turned them round the post a distance ahead of the handler.

SHe worked well to the first drive gate, but the Blackie gimmers slipped by the gate on the outside, though she recovered well, turned them neatly for a great cross drive. A controlled finish with a clean pen and shed completed the winning run.

Alastair McKenzie’s Bhoy (R MacDiarmid’s Jim, A MacKenzie’s Mist) had one of the better outruns of the day and his fetch was well controlled, with just minor wavers. A good pen followed, but time ran out on the shed, though it was good enough for second.

Unsettled cross ewes at Aboyne, proved lively and wary, but Shannon Conn’s Harry made an effort to keep them on line on the flat, open course. They penned after a break and completed the top run with a good shed.

Ian Wilkie’s Floss (M MacNally’s Finn, I Wilkie’s Nell) followed a similar pattern for second.

LEADING awards:

Bute (Judge: WJ Welsh, Sanquhar). Open – 45 ran – 1, C Toner’s Tammy, Drimsynie, 95; 2, N McVicar’s Mist, Benmore, 93; 3, C Davidson’s Cap, Sandbank, 87; 4, A McCuish’s Tweed, Skipness, 85; 5, JR Welsh’s Tanhill Sam, Dalrymple, 84 outbye.

Gairloch (Judge: D MacKenzie, Inverness). Open – 70 ran – 1, M Magnusson’s Kemi Sally, Mid Derry, 81 outbye; 2, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 81; 3, S Duckworth’s Barney, Haslingden, 80 outbye; 4, I MacDonald’s Zoe, Staffin, 80; 5, J MacKillop’s Straid Ben, Fort Augustus, 79.

Aboyne (Judge: A Smith, Bridge of Cally). Open – 40 ran – 1, S Conn’s Harry, Limavady, 82 outbye; 2, I Wilkie’s Floss Keithhall, 79; 3, A McCulloch’s Fern, Dalmellington, 77; 4, M Magnusson’s Kemi Sally, Mid Derry, 75; 5, A McCulloch’s Risp, Dalmellington, 74. Novice – 1, M Lundin’s Stewie, Blairgowrie. Local – A Wright’s Pat, Ballater; Aberdeenshire – I Wilkie’s Floss Keithhall. Two-dog Aggregate – A McCulloch’s Fern and Risp, Dalmellington.

Inverlochlarig, Braes of Balquhidder (Judge: C Toner, Drimsynie). Open – 67 ran – 1, S McCrindle’s Kate, Palnackie, 76; 2, A MacKenzie’s Bhoy, Lochearnhead,75; 3, SL Davidson’s Lee, Sandbank, 73; 4, K Howlett’s Yellowhill Jock, Comrie, 68; 5, N Gillon’s Shweep, Dailly, 64.

Hebridean Circuit – Waternish, Skye (Judge: M MacNally, Invergarry). Open – 73 ran – 1, J Cropper’s Dan, Deerplay,79; 2, W Morrison’s Straid Nell, Yell, 77; 3, A Kyme’s Floss, Rosendale, 74 outbye; 4, S Renwick’s Rocci, Inverbroom,74; 5, M Murray’s Gael, Back, 73. Local – 1, S Campbell’s Flint, Skye, 65; 2, I MacDonald’s Zoe, Staffin, 61; 3, I MacDonald’s Jim, Staffin, 59; 4, S Campbell’s Belle, Skye, 57.

Berneray, Uist (Judge: L Hansson, Sweden). Open – 57 ran – 1, J MacKillop’s Straid Ben, Fort Augustus, 90; 2, S Conn’s Harry, Limavady, 89; 3, S Duckworth’s Bert, Haslingden, 88 outbye; 4, W Morrison’s Straid Nell, Yell, 88; 5, P Rigby’s Nell, Lancs, 87.

Scarista, Harris (Judge:L Conn, Limavady). Open – 60 ran – 1, S Cropper’s Ben, Deerplay, 85; 2, J Gilman’s Bob, Derbyshire, 84; 3, D Mullen’s Ben, Kinross, 82 outbye; 4, S Conn’s Harry, Limavady, 82 Outbye; 5, S Cropper’s Danny, Deerplay, 82.

Shawbost, Lewis (Judge: J MacKillop, Fort Augustus). Open – 57 ran – 1, C Neale’s Blake, Norfolk, 92; 2, J Gilman’s Bonny, Derbyshire, 91 Outbye; 3, C Mellin’s Moor Lodge Ben, Oakworth, 91; 4, AJ Hughson’s Faye, Brunthamarsland, 90 Outbye; 5, J Gilman’s Bob, Derbyshire, 90.

Laxay, Lewis (Judge: D Mullan, Kinross). Open – 53 ran – 1, J Gilman’s Bonny, Derbyshire, 93; 2, S Duckworth’s Barney, Haslingden, 91 outbye; 3, P Rigby’s Elsa, Lancs, 91; 4, L Hansson’s Gwennan, Sweden, 87; 5, AJ Hughson’s Faye, Brunthamarsland, 84 outbye; 6, C Mellin’s Moor Lodge Ben, Oakworth, 84.

Staffin (Judge:E Mackinnon, Coulags). Open – 67 ran – 1, J MacKillop’s Straid Ben, Fort Augustus, 93; 2, J Gilman’s Bonny, Derbyshire, 91; 3, S Campbell’s Flint, Skye, 90; 4, J Gilman’s Bob, Derbyshire, 86; 5, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 83 outbye. Hebridean Cup – J Gilman’s Bonny;

Irish National – 1, P O’ Donnell’s Limber; 2, J McLaughlin’s Ben; 3, P Fanning’s Bruce; 4, J McCloskey’s Sweep; 5, F McCullough’s Spot.