Sheepdog trials from Skipness, Shetland, Moscow and more

The Cheviot hoggs proved flighty on the flat course and at hand and the wind made hearing particularly difficult for dogs on the cross drive, so several missed the gate there.

At the first trial, Link (J Shanks’ Mirk and Kay (Lucky) ran out and lifted nicely and kept the sheep on a good line despite the speed of their fetch. One hogg slipped the drive away gate, but the whole packet went through the second one. An exceptionally good pen and a clean shed set Link well out in front of the also rans.

On the second time round, Link again worked well outbye but had his work cut out to turn them on to the drive without a break, but he did that and a good drive proved instrumental in establishing a comfortable lead over the field. Three hoggs slipped around the pen before Link put the packet straight in; a good shed set the seal on the second win of the day.

Emma Gray’s Graylees Flute won two trials in one calm, dry day at Moscow, but felt the competition hard on her heels at both.

The Blackface hoggs ran well on an open brae face, but the young dogs tended to lose sight of them on the way and needed help to reach them.

At the first trial, Flute (E Gray’s Reiver Gray and Scalpsie Nessie) needed repeated encouragement from Emma but found her sheep and brought them smoothly away. Although the line of fetch wavered and the hoggs tried to avoid the gate, Flute turned them in and put them through. She drove them well and worked well with Emma to put them into the pen. A good shed completed her run in first place.

With experience, Flute improved her performance in the second trial, raising her score considerably, and although her shed was not the best, she repeated her success in winning the trial.

A good outrun at Udny gave Ian Sutherland’s Dan a narrow lead over a fairly similar run from his nearest contender.

The Texel cross Lleyn feeding sheep were heavy, but behaved well on the compact course that fell away slightly downhill from the starting post, but they became difficult to pen as they saw the nearby exhaust pen fill up throughout the day.

Dan (Hielan Cap) (J MacDiarmid’s Rab, S Robertson’s Ruby) ran out well, and was just a little tight on his sheep, but he lifted cleanly and fetched them up to Ian although they were wavering offline a little. Dan had to work to get the sheep round Ian’s feet, but once he did, he worked well on the drive, with just a slightly wide turn to fault him. A clean pen followed, but it took time to settle the sheep and Ian missed a chance before he called Dan in on a successful shed and earned first place.

Daniel Worthington’s Bob (Albert) (GA Lewis’ Glen, E Vaughan’s Kim) stopped short on his outrun and needed considerable encouragement to move on to them, but once he did, he lifted cleanly and worked in similar fashion. Clean work at hand helped to make up for the error on the outrun and Bob finished only a point behind Dan.

Leading Awards

The Glen, Shetland (Judge: MC Hughson, Scalloway). Nursery – 11 ran – 1, B Smith’s Glen, Dunrossness, 95; 2, J Ramsay’s Lyn, Ollaberry, 87; 3, J Ramsay’s Sally, Ollaberry, 78; 4, R Colclough’s Marje, West Sandwick, 73; 5, J Nicolson’s Abby, Scalloway, 65.

The Glen, Shetland (Judge: MC Hughson, Scalloway). Nursery – 11 ran – 1, J Nicolson’s Abby, Scalloway, 88; 2, J Ramsay’s Lyn, Ollaberry, 86; 3, J Ramsay’s Sally, Ollaberry, 82; 4, B Smith’s Glen, Dunrossness, 79; 5, R Colclough’s Marje, West Sandwick, 75.

Udny (Judge: K Brehmer, New Bythe). Nursery – 9 ran – 1, I Sutherland’s Dan (Hielan Cap), Strathnaver, 88; 2, D Worthington’s Bob (Albert), Skarfskerry, 87; 3, H Cooper’s Roy, New Deer, 79; 4, G Simpson’s Greiston Mick, Forgue, 74; 5, N Sutherland’s Usk Valley Rex, Strathnaver, 68; 6, N Sutherland’s Mali, Strathnaver, 61; 7, J Grant’s Nell, Dunbeath, 60; 8, M Ashworth’s Rex, Kinloss, 50.

Dunrossness, Shetland (Judge: M Cameron, Lerwick). Nursery – 11 ran – 1, J Ramsay’s Sally, Ollaberry, 85 outbye; 2, B Smith’s Glen, Dunrossness, 85; 3, J Ramsay’s Lyn, Ollaberry, 80; 4, R Colclough’s Reg, West Sandwick, 77; 5, AWP Hughson’s Rory, Girlsta, 72.

Dunrossness, Shetland (Judge: M Cameron, Lerwick). Nursery – 11 ran – 1, B Smith’s Glen, Dunrossness, 89; 2, R Colclough’s Marje, West Sandwick, 86; 3, J Ramsay’s Sally, Ollaberry, 83 Outbye; 4, J Nicolson’s Abby, Scalloway, 83; 5, J Ramsay’s Lyn, Ollaberry, 77.

Skipnesss I (Judge: SL Davidson, Sandbank). Nursery – 12 ran – 1, J Shanks’ Link, Ardtornish,79; 2, JC MacLachlan’s Gail, Spean Bridge, 66; 3, JC MacLachlan’s Craig, Spean Bridge, 58; 4, M MacNally’s Creag, Invergarry, 57; 5, J MacKillop’s Glen, Fort Augustus, 53 Outbye; 6, D MacKinnon’s Torr, Taynault, 53.

Skipnesss II (Judge: C Davidson, Sandbank). Nursery – 10 ran – 1, J Shanks’ Link, Ardtornish, 76; 2, J MacKillop’s Glen, Fort Augustus, 70; 3, D MacKinnon’s Torr, Taynault, 67; 4, R Rennie’s Ash, Furness, 64; 5, M MacNally’s Kim, Invergarry, 60; 6, JC MacLachlan’s Craig, Spean Bridge, 52.

Moscow I (Judge: M Young, Stranraer). Nursery – 13 ran – 1, E Gray’s Greylees Flute, Ardros,72; 2, SL Davidson’s Mac, Sandbank, 71; 3, I Lockhart’s Roy, Carsphairn, 62; 4, E Gray’s Mainstay Jock, Ardros, 60; 5, L Gast’s (Scalpsie Kelp) Herbie, Scalpsie, 59; 6, L Gast’s Scalpsie Style, Scalpsie, 46; 7, C Toner’s Fernhill Spot, Drimsynie, 41; 8, L Gast’s Scalpsie Chase, Scalpsie, 37.

Moscow II (Judge: N McVicar, Benmore). Nursery – 12 ran – 1, E Gray’s Greylees Flute, Ardros, 87; 2, C Toner’s Fernhill Spot, Drimsynie, 86; 3, I Lockhart’s Roy, Carsphairn, 66; 4, SL Davidson’s Mac, Sandbank, 58 outbye; 5, L Gast’s (Scalpsie Kelp) Herbie, Scalpsie, 58; 6, D MacDiarmid’s Roxy, Eynort, 57; 7, L Gast’s Scalpsie Style, Scalpsie, 56; 8, V Mathie’s Nip, Kilmaurs, 51; 9, V Mathie’s Fea, Kilmaurs, 46; 10, E Gray’s Mainstay Jock, Ardros, 38;

Springhill (Judge: R Henderson, Gifford). Nursery – 13 ran – 1, WS Elliot’s Roy, Yetholm, 70; 2, J Foster’s Cap, Earlston, 69 outbye; 3, J Robinson’s Tay, Coldingham, 69; 4, J Robinson’s Nap, Coldingham, 62; 5, I Jackson’s Zac, Ancrum, 55; 6, A Dickman’s Lady, Oxton, 43; Novice 1, G Pate’s Moss, Humbie; 2, E Runciman’s Meg, Lauder; Young Farmer 1, E Runciman’s Meg, Lauder.