A clean start and and a steady run gave Alistair Stewart’s Malta Mollie a comfortable lead at Lockerbie.

Lively cross Texel and Mule ewes, running on a compact, downhill course, gave handlers little time to correct mistakes on the short drive and the sheep could be tricky to pen.

Mollie (C Thom’s Malta Chip and Meg) ran out and lifted flawlessly and fetched on a good line, with no gate on the course.The drive went well, with minor wavers and a good pen, and shed secured first with a clear margin.

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Duncan Robertson’s Moss (M Magnusson’s Myllin Davey, AD Carnegie’s Jess) also had a clean outrun and lift, and although had more difficulty fetching his sheep up to Duncan, the drive was good. He penned after retrieving a small break and a good shed put him into second.

At Gatehouse, dogs were in good view on the undulating course, except for a short stretch on the left hand approach to the back of the sheep. The Cheviot cross Texel ewes were great to handle, although proved skittish at the top and reluctant to come on to the route of the start of the fetch, but they settled once through the gate. A slight rise in the terrain leading to the start post seemed to put the ewes on to a wide track round the handler.

Willie Welsh’s Cap (A Owen’s Llangwm Cap, M Jones’ June) worked well outbye, but like others, let the ewes make a wide turn round the post, marring the start of the first leg of the drive, but the cross drive went well and a clean pen and shed set the seal on the winning run.

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Stuart McCrindle’s Zac (JL MacMillan’s Lamp and Fern) ran out well and although he had to contend with resistance at the start of the fetch, the work went well from there. The drive was good and a clean pen followed. Unfortunately, when Zac shed the sheep, he turned on the remainder, before Stuart corrected him to take control of the target pair, for second place.

Atholl and Weem trial was held at a new venue which ran downhill from the starting post and levelled out, giving spectators excellent viewing. Lleyn cross gimmers behaved well on the course, but tended to be tricky at the pen.

Peter Martin’s Daisy (D Naylor’s Straid Moss, P Martin’s Jill) ran out to her sheep without any problem and lifted them cleanly, and although they leaned to one side as they approached the fetch gate, Daisy turned them back, put them through and took them straight up to Peter.

They made a wide turn round his feet which affected the line at the start of the first leg of the drive, but once the gimmers were on line, the drive went well. Daisy took the sheep to the mouth of the pen, where they stopped; she walked up to them, they knew she meant business and went inside. A good shed sent Daisy into first.

Shetland cross Cheviot gimmers tested the dogs at Everor, on Shetland, but there were a lot of good runs on a mild day with a shower in the afternoon. The damp ground attracted the dreaded midges for most of the day.

Brendon Smith’s Lass (P Byrne’s Lad and Curragh Fan) had a near perfect outrun and lift, and a clean fetch. The drive went well, with slight wavers and a clean pen, and shed completed a successful run in first place.

Rob Colclough’s May (JP McGee’s Silver, DJ Murray’s Meg) overran a little on her outrun, but lifted cleanly and fetched, and drove with just slight wavers. She made a grand shed, with a clean pen and single earned her the championship by a long way.

LEADINGawards:

Atholl and Weem (Judge: N Campbell, Kinross). Open – 42 ran – 1, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 96; 2, IM Brownlie’s Boyd, Deuchrie, 93; 3, SL Davidson’s Maid, Sandbank, 91; 4, J MacKillop's Zac, Fort Augustus, 89.5; 5, D Aitken’s Tweeddale Viki, Lockerbie, 88 outbye; 6, S MacFarlane’s Willow, Blairgowrie, 88; 7, L Christie’s Nock, Crieff, 87; 8, M MacNally's Ash, Invergarry, 84 outbye; 9, SL Davidson’s Kyle, Sandbank, 84; 10, A McCulloch’s Sam, Dalmellington, 83. Local – 1, D Shepherd’s Wisp, Raemore, 67; 2, S Martin’s Misty, Cashlie, 63; 3, N Boyne’s Jess, Ballinluig, 59; 4, K Craig’s Kate, Tulliemet, 55; 5, K Kennedy’s Fly, Aberfeldy, 39; 6, K Craig’s Dot, Tulliemet, 37; 7, D Corbitt’s Tess, Aberfeldy, 36.

Lockerbie (Judge: B Welsh, Moniaive). Open – 63 ran – 1, A Stewart’s Malta Mollie, Lockerbie, 95; 2, D Robertson’s Moss, Langholm, 89; 3, W Welsh’s Doug, Dalcairney, 88; 4, J Paterson’s Scalpsie Roy, Kirkcowan, 87 outbye; 5, A Stewart’s Olly, Lockerbie, 87 outbye; 6, C Dickson’s Stuart, Coldingham, 87 outbye; 7, K Keith’s Foinaven Skye, Durness, 87; 8, JW Common’s Grit, Lockerbie, 86. Novice dogs – 1, JW Common’s Kate, Lockerbie, 74; 2, JA Common’s Jack, Lockerbie, 50.

Everor, Hillswick, Shetland (Judge: MC Hughson, Scalloway). Open – 26 ran – 1, B Smith’s Lass, Dunrossness, 93/100; 2, D Murray’s Sweep, North Roe, 91; 3, D Murray’s Ali, North Roe, 89; 4, J Ramsay’s Drift, Ollaberry, 83; 5, J Ramsay’s Josie, Ollaberry, 82; 6, R Colclough’s May, Westsandwick, 81; 7, C Williamson’s Sweep, Ollaberry, 80. Championship – 10 ran – 1, R Colclough’s May, Westsandwick, 99 /110; 2, J Ramsay’s Josie, Ollaberry, 93; 3, D Murray’s Sweep, North Roe, 89.

Gatehouse (Judge: G Carnochan, Coylton). Open – 44 ran – 1, W Welsh’s Cap, Dalcairney, 91; 2, S McCrindle’s Zac, Stranraer, 89; 3, A Stewart’s Malta Mollie, Lockerbie, 88; 4, JA Common’s Cowlow Rosie, Lockerbie, 87; 5, N Gillon’s Boss, Barr, 85; 6, JW Common’s Grit, Lockerbie, 83; 7, N Gillon’s Shweep (Sweep), Dailly, 82; 8, K Keith’s Foinaven Skye, Durness, 81 outbye; 9, T Blacklock’s Holestone Del, Kirkconnel, 81.

Blairgowrie (Judge: S Alexander, Rickarton). Open – 54 ran – 1, E Nilsson’s Fergie, Balintore, 89; 2, A Wilkie’s Spot (Mot), Glenmoy, 88; 3, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 87; 4, IM Brownlie’s Boyd, Deuchrie, 86; 5, A McCulloch’s Sam, Dalmellington, 85; 6, M Gallagher’s Val, Connachan, 84 outbye; 7, H Johnstone’s Roy, Fyvie, 84; 8, I Wilkie’s Pip, Tillypronie, 82 outbye; 9, J MacKillop's Zac, Fort Augustus, 82; 10, S MacFarlane’s Willow, Blairgowrie, 81. Local – 1, E Nilsson’s Fergie, Balintore, 89; 2, A Wilkie’s Spot (Mot), Glenmoy, 88; 3, S MacFarlane’s Willow, Blairgowrie, 81; 4, L Christie’s Nock, Crieff, 76; 5, M Watt’s Dale, Kirriemuir, 73.