Ian MacMillan and Cat double success at Carse of Clary

In the first of two trials there, Cat (JR Welsh’s Sonny, JI MacMillan’s Kim) ran out and lifted flawlessly, and made a good start to the fetch although the hoggs bent the line, once through the gate. A good turn round the post led to a good first leg and another neat turn. The lines of the cross drive and return wavered a little but Cat kept tight turns all the way round.

A single breakaway from the pen threatened the run, but Cat retrieved her after a single circuit of the pen. At the shed, Cat came in on one hogg, so Ian regrouped the packet, Cat made her shed and earned first place, with the competition hot on her heels.

Cat kept up the standard at the second trial with a run that began in similar fashion, with clean outrun and lift, minor bends on the fetch, a good start to the drive and despite a more flexible cross drive, maintained her good turns. As Ian’s attention was focused on opening the pen gate, the hoggs drifted from line on the return, but Cat’s much improved close work saw her pen and shed faultlessly and attain her second win of the day, with the competition still close behind.

At the first of two trials at Ardros, Emma Gray’s Mainstay Jock (DD Howell’s Cydros Boss, S Morgan’s Jess) was slightly tight on his outrun, but once he found his sheep, he kept them under close control on the course. Good work at hand completed the run in first place with a comfortable lead.

Ian Lockhart’s Roy (P Byrne’s Moss, C McGlaughlan’s Nala) had an excellent run, but two sheep slipped the cross drive gate and put Roy into second place.

In the second trial there, Ian and Roy took the lead and Emma became runner-up, accompanied this time by Graylees Flute (E Gray’s Reiver Gray and Scalpsie Nessie).

For the first trial of the day at Bargrenoch, Cheviot hoggs ran well on a rising course, in calm dry weather, but they were not easily penned.

Robbie Welsh’s Fly (T Tennant’s Ben and Tess) ran out a little short and let her sheep off line at the start of the fetch. Once she had them under control, she kept a flawless line on the fetch and made a good start to the drive. The hoggs went offline after they emerged from the drive away gate and were high at the first part of the cross drive, but Fly got them on line and through the gate. They were unsettled and milling at the pen before Fly put them in and finished the winning run with a clean shed and a clear lead.

Sandy McCulloch’s Storybrooke Guy (M Gallagher’s Avon Roy, C Joelsson’s Lynn (ROM) ran out and lifted cleanly, and had the best fetch of the day.

The first leg of the drive went well, and although the line of the cross drive was high for most of the way, Guy got his gate and penned well, but the hoggs came back out of the pen before the gate was shut, costing him the trial. Sandy and Guy, stood their ground, repenned and secured their sheep, completed the shed and finished in second place, still well out in front of the also rans.

Conditions changed to wet and windy weather for the second trial. Willie Welsh’s Jan (W Welsh’s Cap, J Emmerson’s Mo) too, was slightly short at the top but managed to lift cleanly. The fetch went well despite a waver off line, and tremendous work on the drive achieved the best drive of the day. A clean pen followed and although hesitation at the shed made a small dent in the run, good work delivered on the course put Jan into first place.

Jamie Shennan’s Dak (E Gray’s Reiver Grey, J Shennan’s Rose) ran out and lifted cleanly, but had minor wavers on his fetch and drive and a slightly wide turn out of the first drive gate. The line was high for the first part of the cross drive, but Dak sorted that and got his gate. His pen was clean, and although difficulty getting the sheep to open up detracted from the shed, once it was made, Dak was runner up, only two points behind Jan.

Leading Awards

Luss (Judge: R Lewis, Killin;) Nursery –16 ran – 1, M Gallagher’s Dalriada Chief, Alyth, 95; 2, S Martin’s Cherry, Cashlie, 90; 3, E Nilsson’s Dalriada Amy, Alyth, 86; 4, AD Carnegie’s Dot, Comrie, 85; 5, M Gallagher’s Hillrunner Bee, Alyth, 73; 6, K Craig’s Duncaillean Ada, Tulliemet, 65; 7, A Wilkie’s Hillrunner Bill, Glenmoy, 61; 8, K Dickson’s Llwynsarn Sky, Fintry, 59; 9, J Hastie’s Quick, Saline, 54; 10, H Mitchell’s Bell, Glenfarg, 51;

Ardros I (Judge: A MacDiarmid, Strachur) Nursery – 16 ran – 1, E Gray’s Mainstay Jock, Ardros, 93; 2, I Lockhart’s Roy, Carsphairn, 88; 3, L Gast’s Scalpsie Herbie, Scalpsie, 75; 4, D Kinloch’s Jock, Kilsyth, 72 Outbye; 5, E Gray’s Greylees Flute, Ardros,72; 6, C Toner’s Fernhill Spot, Drimsynie, 69; 7, L Gast’s Scalpsie Style, Scalpsie, 64; 8, SL Davidson’s Mac, Sandbank, 59; 9, D MacDiarmid’s Roxy, Eynort, 57; 10, L Gast’s Scalpsie Chase, Scalpsie, 51;

Ardros II (Judge: R Howatson, Fairlie) Nursery – 16 ran – 1, I Lockhart’s Roy, Carsphairn, 85; 2, E Gray’s Greylees Flute, Ardros, 82; 3, SL Davidson’s Mac, Sandbank, 78; 4, C Toner’s Fernhill Spot, Drimsynie, 74; 5, L Gast’s Scalpsie Herbie, Scalpsie, 65 Outbye; 6, L Gast’s Scalpsie Chase, Scalpsie, 65; 7, V Mathie’s Nip, Kilmaurs, 55; 8, L Gast’s Scalpsie Style, Scalpsie, 52; 9, E Gray’s Mainstay Jock, Ardros, 49; 10, V Mathie’s Fea, Kilmaurs, 48;

Easter Bush (Judge: K Wood, Blairlogie) Nursery – 16 ran – 1, IM Brownlie’s Beck, Dunbar, 92; 2, S Morgan’s Mainstay Pip, Heriot, 90; 3, GC Gardner’s Glant Bob, Lesmahagow, 82; 4, R Henderson’s Spot, Gifford, 81; 5, H Brown’s Meg, Coulter, 76; 6, RB Henderson’s Nell, Broughton, 75; 7, IM Brownlie’s Lark, Dunbar, 74; 8, B Parker’s Duke, Heriot, 72; 9, A Frame’s Kate, Quarter, 70 ; 10, A Daviduicz’s Spot, 62; Novice –7 ran - 1, M McColm’s Viking Lee, Leadhills, 80; 2, A Daviduicz’s Spot, 73; 3, G McKinlay’s Style, Coulter, 69; 4, A Walker’s Roy, Hamilton, 69; 5, R Reid’s Lynn, Carnwath, 67;

Boreland of Anwoth (Judge: E Craig, Carsphairn) Nursery – 10 ran – 1, F Shennan’s Fred, Barr, 91; 2, AR Mundell’s Jock, Moffat, 71; 3, T Blacklock’s Mist, Kirkconnel, 64; 4, F Shennan’s Nap, Barr, 61; 5, R Malcolm’s Kate, Gatehouse; Pro novice -1, D Robertson’s Mirk, Langholm, 75 Outbye; 2, R Malcolm’s Gael, Gatehouse, 75; 3, T Blacklock’s Chip, Kirkconnel, 61;

Carse of Clary I (Judge: J Paterson, Kirkcowan) Nursery – 15 ran – 1, I McMillan’s Cat, Newton Stewart, 85; 2, M Young’s Duncallean Tandy, Stranraer, 84; 3, K Keith’s Foinaven Ellie, Lockerbie, 83; 4, C Armstrong’s Mirk, Archbank, 74; 5, A Stewart’s Annandale Spot, Lockerbie, 73; 6, S McCrindle’s Duncallean Play, Stranraer, 72; 7, C Caygill’s Glen, Whinnyliggate, 70; 8, A Stewart’s Annandale Alice , Lockerbie, 65;

Carse of Clary II (Judge: J Ramsay, Glenluce) Nursery – 15 ran – 1, I McMillan’s Cat, Newton Stewart, 89; 2, K Keith’s Foinaven Ellie, Lockerbie, 87; 3, M Young’s Duncallean Tandy, Stranraer, 83; 4, S McCrindle’s Duncallean Play, Stranraer, 81; 5, A Stewart’s Annandale Spot, Lockerbie, 73; 6, H Hampshire’s Skye, Kirkcudbright, 67; 7, H Hampshire’s Bruce, Kirkcudbright, 62; 8, C Caygill’s Glen, Whinnyliggate, 42;

Bargrenoch, Coylton I (Judge: I Lockhart, Carsphairn) Nursery – 8 ran – 1, R Welsh’s Fly, Patna, 88; 2, A McCulloch’s Storybrooke Guy, Dalmellington, 83; 3, N Gillon’s Uno, Barr, 78; 4, J Welsh’s Bob, Beoch, 75; 5, W Welsh’s Jan, Dalcairney, 62; 6, I Fergie’s Roy, Straiton, 61;

Bargrenoch, Coylton II (Judge: L Welsh, Abington) Nursery – 8 ran – 1, W Welsh’s Jan, Dalcairney, 89; 2, J Shennan’s Dak, Barr, 87; 3, R Welsh’s Fly, Patna, 75; 4, I Fergie’s Roy, Straiton, 71; 5, A McCulloch’s Storybrooke Guy, Dalmellington, 69; 6, B Welsh’s Kate, Beoch, 65.