Check out the sheepdog trial winners from Caithness to Cumnock

The Mule ewes at Westruther ran well on a downhill slope, but were not readily penned.

Tom (DK Evans’ Ace, U Stromer’s Caefelin Gwen) ran out and lifted well, worked well on the course with just minor wavers and, although he had to hold the sheep at the pen for a time, he did not let them break, put them in the pen and finished the winning run with a good shed.

A mix of breeds at Teviothead behaved on the rising course, but as they turned round the handler, they were keen to head off to familiar grazing and their reluctance to be penned curtailed some promising runs.

Tom ran out and lifted well but his fetch was not as neat as at Westruther. Like other runs, the turn round the handler was wide, but Tom drove the sheep away on a good first leg, but the line of the cross drive was low; despite that, he managed to turn them up and put them through the gate. There were breaks at the pen before Tom secured them safely and he was one of few dogs to progress to the shed, which he delivered and claimed another success.

The Blackface ewes at Fort Augustus ran well on good, flat course, but they too, were hard to pen.

Craig Davidson’s Fuzz (C Davidson’s Cap, R Harris’ Straid Jen) ran out and lifted nicely. He had a good course, with just minor wavers and a very good pen gave him the edge. A good shed set the seal on the winning run.

The Blackface ewes at New Cumnock proved stubborn to shift on the big, upward sloping course, and very hard to pen.

Jock Welsh’s Sonny (P Byrne’s Lad and Bracken) stopped short on his outrun, but reached his sheep, and made good work of keeping them on the fetch and drive when they were determined to take their own route off the trial field. A good pen and shed completed the work in first place.

Michael Shearer dominated this year’s limited version of the North circuit with Heilan Rab (T Coghill Robertson’s Dahl and Dot) and Tib (MC Shearer’s Jim, IM Brownlie’s Star) alternating the roles of winner and ‘also mentioned’ across Sutherland and Caithness trials.

LEADING awards

Fulton (Judge: M Glynn, Ireland). Open –58 ran – 1, JW Common’s Grit, Lockerbie, 94; 2, C Cassie’s Sean, Lancs., 92; 3, A McCulloch’s Sam, Dalmellington, 91; 4, D Robertson’s Moss, Langholm, 90; 5, W Tod’s Don, Langholm, 89; 6, M McTeir’s Dan, Moniaive, 86.

Fort Augustus (Judge: N Campbell, Kinross). Open – 56 ran –1, C Davidson’s Fuzz, Sandbank, 94; 2, J MacKillop's Zac, Fort Augustus, 92; 3, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 91 Outbye; 4, A McCuish’s Mirk (Mac), Skipness, 91; 5, S Campbell’s Queen, Skye, 86; 6, C Mellin’s Moor Lodge Ben, Oakworth, 83; Confined – 1, J MacKillop's Zac, Fort Augustus, 92; 2, J MacKillop's Cap, Fort Augustus, 82; 3, F Fulford’s Nelly, Eracht, 71.

Westruther (Judge: I Shearlaw, Ancrum). Open – 45 ran –1, C Dickson’s Tom, Coldingham, 95; 2, RB Henderson’s Bonnie, Broughton, 92; 3, S Morgan’s Tess, Heriot, 91; 4, D Wallace’sTaz, Blyth Bridge, 84; 5, J Robinson’s Quin, Coldingham, 81; 6, D Wallace’s Jock, Blyth Bridge, 79.

New Cumnock (Judge: M Bell, Sorn). Open – 37 ran – 1, JR Welsh’s Sonny, Dalrymple, 89; 2, A McCulloch’s Sam, Dalmellington, 88; 3, S McCrindle’s Zac, Stranraer, 84; 4, N Gillon’s Boss, Barr, 74; 5, W Welsh’s Doug, Dalcairney, 71; 6, D Robertson’s Roy, Langholm, 70.

Mull and Morvern (Judge: W McAlastair, Balmaha). Open – 31 ran – 1, SL Davidson’s Maid, Sandbank, 81; 2, C Mellin’s Moor Lodge Ben, Oakworth, 79; 3, SL Davidson’s Dan, Sandbank, 74; 4, J MacKillop's Cap, Fort Augustus, 65; 5, M MacNally's Glen, Invergarry, 64; 6, C Mellin’s Gyp, Oakworth, 63; Local -1, J Moore’s Catterlen Bob, Gruline; 2, J Shanks’ Kay, Lochaline; 3, E Moore’s Bea, Gruline; 4, E Moore’s Fay, Gruline. New handler – I MacKay, Torloisk.

Teviothead (Judge: I Young, Hawick). Open – 39 ran –1, C Dickson’s Tom, Coldingham, 80; 2, A McCulloch’s Sam, Dalmellington,76; 3, S Morgan’s Mid Derry Kim, Heriot, 68; 4, RB Henderson’s Bonnie, Broughton, 67; 5, R Halliday’s Finn, Stowe, 62; J L’Etang’s Ben, Slamannan, 61.

North circuit – Brora, Sutherland (Judge: T McPhee, Wick). Open – 58 ran –1, MC Shearer’s Heilan Rab, Westfield, 87; 2, J Sutherland’s Nessie, Durness, 81; 3, S Renwick’s Dell, Inverbroom, 79; 4, MC Shearer’s Tib, Westfield, 76 Outbye; 5, M Cook’s Glen, Halkirk, 76; 6, S Campbell’s Queen, Skye, 75; 7, D Murray’s Sweep, North Roe, 73; 8, EC MacKinnon’s Buddy, Lochcarron, 70; 9, J MacKenzie’s, Dunelle Jenna, Badanloch, 69; 10, W Morrison’s Meg Jnr, Yell, 67; 11, J MacDiarmid’s Rab, Eynort, 66; 12, I Sutherland’s Jaff, North Roe, 63; County - J MacKenzie’s, Dunelle Jenna, Badanloch, 69.

Watten (Judge: D Murray, North Roe). Open – 56 ran –1, MC Shearer’s Tib, Westfield, 89; 2, T McPhee’s Scott, Wick, 85; 3, W Morrison’s Meg Snr, Yell, 82; 4, I MacDonald’s Ben, Staffin, 80 Outbye; 5, MC Shearer’s Heilan Rab, Westfield, 80; 6, S Campbell’s Queen, Skye, 79 Outbye; 7, I MacKay’s Glen, Leanach, 79; 8, J Ramsay’s Drift, Ollaberry, 76 Outbye; 9, K Keith’s Sassy, Durness, 76 Outbye; 10, M Grant’s Jess, Forss, 76; County – 1, MC Shearer’s Tib, Westfield, 89; 2, T McPhee’s Scott, Wick, 85; 3, MC Shearer’s Heilan Rab, Westfield, 80; 4, MC Shearer’s Cap, Westfield, 79; 5, M Grant’s Jess, Forss, 76; 6, T Coghill Robertson’s Cap, Barrock,72; Young Handler - M Grant’s Jess, Forss, 76. Novice – T Coghill Robertson’s Cap, Barrock, 72;

Mey (Judge: S Campbell, Skye). Open – 52 ran –1, MC Shearer’s Heilan Rab, Westfield, 89; 2, MC Shearer’s Tib, Westfield, 88; 3, MC Shearer’s Roy, Westfield, 87; 4, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 85; 5, K Brehmer’s Huthwaite Roy, New Bythe, 83; 6, I MacKay’s Glen, Leanach, 79; 7, I Sutherland’s Sid, Strathnaver, 73; 8, K Birkett’s Lyn, Orkney, 72; 9, I MacDonald’s Zoe, Staffin, 71 Outbye; 10, I MacDonald’s Ben, Staffin, 71; County – 1, MC Shearer’s Heilan Rab, Westfield, 89; 2, MC Shearer’s Tib, Westfield, 88; 3, MC Shearer’s Roy, Westfield, 87; 4, J Grant’s Pat, Dunbeath, 77 ; 5, V Shearer’s Misty, Westfield, 67; 6, M Cook’s Joe, Halkirk, 64.