Good outbye work and patient sheep handling from Mainstay Joff at Tigh Na Blair nursery gave David Colthart his first ever win, last weekend.

The Blackface gimmers generally behaved well on a flat course without fetch gates, but they could be sticky near woodwork and some dogs failed to get their sheep through the first set of drive gates. A slight dip on the left hand outrun could take dogs out of sight, but the right hand route was clearly seen.

Joff (A Owen’s Llangwm Cap, S Morgan’s Middery Kim) ran out on the right with a nice cast, lifted well and brought the sheep straight to David, but the turn on to the drive was an effort. The first leg started well, but nearing the gate, the gimmers began to draw towards the spectators and tried to break in different directions, but Joff managed to get them through.

They continued to draw the same way at the start of the cross drive, but once Joff got them on line, he put them across and through the gate. They were sticky at the chute, but Joff worked well to put them through there too.

At the shed, they reacted to the approach of the man by turning to the dog, so David took advantage of an opportunity to call Joff into a gap, make his shed and earn first place, comfortably ahead of the field.

In the open trial there, Sandy McCulloch’s Sam (A Lehtio’s Coel, BJ Bowen’s Pat) worked smoothly outbye, drove very well, with only a wide turn out of the cross drive gate marring the work and penned faultlessly. Again, the sheep were hard to split at the shed, but once Sam managed that, he topped the list, with the ‘also rans’ not far behind.

The Blackface ewes at Westerhall ran on a flat course that had no fetch gates and a chute replaced the pen.

Ron Weir’s Graylees Obi (R Games’ Caefelin Clem, E Gray’s Pentir Pipkin) ran out nicely to the right and fetched the sheep down on a good line and handled them well from there, with good lines and tight turns.

Obi had the sheep settled well, so a good clean chute followed. Ron and Obi then had a little difficulty before they shed, but managed to split their sheep and complete the run for first place.

Fraser Shennan’s Belle (F Shennan’s Spot, J Shennan’s Rosie) made good work of the left hand outrun, lifted the sheep on a good line and fetched them straight down. Belle matched Obi with another very good drive, but the chute did not go so smoothly. Once Belle got the ewes through, she finished with a good shed and second place, a point behind Obi.

LEADINGawards:

Tigh na Blair (Judge: IM Brownlie, Deuchrie). Open – 55 ran – 1, A McCulloch’s Sam, Dalmellington, 93; 2, N McVicar’s Mark, Benmore, 90 outbye; 3, A Wilkie’s Spot (Mot), Glenmoy, 90; 4, A Cameron’s Sal, Callander, 88; 5, A Olofsson’s Templehall Fred, Alyth, 87 outbye; 6, SL Davidson’s Kyle, Sandbank, 87.

Hamilton Hall (Judge: A Aitchison, Mossdale). Nursery – 13 ran – 1, J Hill’s Gwen, Heriot, 90 time; 2, J Hill’s Jiggs, Heriot, 90 Outbye; 3, L Hinneken’s Pilotte, Quothquan, 90; 4, L Hinneken’s Cruze, Quothquan, 89; 5, I Fleming’s Roy, Douglas, 87; 6, RB Henderson’s Kim, Broughton, 86; 7, K Blackwood’s Ned, Abington, 77; 8, T McKinlay’s Mel, Coulter, 61; 9, D Wallace’s Flint, Blyth Bridge, 58 Outbye; 10, C Kirkland’s Jill, Kirknewton, 58; 11, GC Gardner’s Sam, Lesmahagow, 57; 12, A Walker’s Roy, Hamilton, 52. Novice – 1, K Blackwood’s Hank, Abington, 90; 2, A Aitchison's Beth, Mossdale, 84; 3, R Reid’s Lyn, Carnwath, 81; 4, R Clarke’s Meg, Biggar, 78; 5, K Blackwood’s Ned, Abington, 77; 6, A Walker’s Midge, Hamilton, 74; 7, M McColm’s Sky, Leadhills, 65 outbye; 8, S Binette’s Dana, Quothquan, 65; 9, T McKinlay’s Mel, Coulter, 61;10, C Kirkland’s Jill, Kirknewton, 58; 11, A Walker’s Roy, Hamilton, 52; 12, M McColm’s Lee, Leadhills, 51; 13, J Ralston’s Brie, Torrance, 50.

Durness (Judge: I MacKay, Leanach). Nursery – 26 ran – 1, MC Shearer’s Cap, Westfield, 87; 2, G Simpson’s Trish, Forgue, 73; 3, G Simpson’s Fleet, Forgue, 72; 4, J Grant’s Pat, Dunbeath, 71; 5, G Dey’s Vic, Bridge of Don, 67; 6, J Grant’s Meg, Dunbeath, 66; 7, G Simpson’s Blue, Forgue, 64; 8, G Simpson’s Lula, Forgue, 64; 9, H Johnstone’s Musgrave Gin, Fyvie, 58; 10, M Sutherland’s Nell, Halkirk, 53.

Westerhall, Westerkirk (Judge: C Armstrong, Moffat). Nursery – 14 ran – 1, R Weir’s Graylees Obi, Langholm, 85; 2, F Shennan’s Belle, Barr, 84; 3, WJ Welsh’s Fletch, Sanquhar, 83 outbye; 4, J Thomson’s Brober Rock, Carsphairn, 83; 5, D Aitken’s Jill, Lockerbie, 72; 6, D Robertson’s Cap, Langholm, 68; 7, T Blacklock’s Logue, Kirkconnel, 61; 8, H Jackson’s Sally (Gail), Penpont. Novice – 1, J Thomson’s Northtyne Spear, Penpont, 93; 2, R Weir’s Rob, Langholm, 88. Pro-novice – 1, T Blacklock’s Dan, Kirkconnel, 89; 2, H Jackson’s Tom, Penpont, 87; 3, D Aitken’s Kim, Lockerbie, 87.

Tigh na Blair (Judge: IM Brownlie, Deuchrie). Nursery – 13 ran – 1, D Colthart’s Mainstay Joff, Kinross, 83; 2, S McAuley’s Mirk, Conachan, 78 outbye; 3, M Young’s Banff, Coupar Angus,78; 4, M Gallagher’s Avon Roy, Connachan,74; 5, M Watt’s Hemp, Kirriemuir, 69 outbye; 6, L Christie’s Bill, Crieff, 69; 7, M Gallagher’s Jacobsdale Bruce, Connachan, 65; 8, A Olofsson’s Shep, Alyth, 63; 9, K Dickson’s Liz, Fintry, 56; 10, D Mullen’s Moss, Kinross.

Northumberland League

Lilburn (Judge:M Arres, Dryden). Nursery – 22 ran – 1, D Henderson’s Burndale Mia, Allendale, 85; 2, M Davidson’s Heather, Lilburn, 76; 3, M Day’s Wilfie, Alwinton, 72; 4, P Telfer’s Telf Jed, Haydon Bridge, 71; 5, M Davidson’s Meg, Lilburn, 67; 6, M Iley’s Mac, Longframlington, 64. Novice – R Mitcheson’s Belle, Belsay.