Sheepdog trial results from Shetland, Lochbroom, Lamington and Northumberland

The cross drive was hard to judge but some packets were tricky to handle at the pen and some at the shed, so a number of good runs came adrift in the close work.

Fern (DL Heard’s Tan and Thistledown Annie) ran out well over the flat, 330yd course and although her sheep had drifted from the post, she squeezed them onto line and made a good fetch. Kenny knew better than to let her put pressure on them round his feet, and bore a slightly wide turn in consequence.

Despite that, Fern drove the sheep away, turned them neatly through the first gate and across the next leg, but as they stood at the mouth of the cross drive gate, Fern moved, and they reacted by slipping by on the inside of the gate. At the pen, she worked well and held them in place, allowing no breaks, and put the packet inside. A good shed completed the winning run with a comfortable margin separating it from the rest of the field.

Blackface gimmers at a new trial at Lamington proved similarly in need of cautious handling and equally difficult to pen.

Sandy McCulloch’s Sam (A Lehtio’s Coel, BJ Bowen’s Pat) ran out well over the flat, 550yd course, fetched well and had a slightly wide turn round Sandy’s feet. He had a good drive, with only very minor wavers, and a clean pen followed. At the shed, one gimmer broke while another was looking for an opportunity to do the same; Sam brought the packet together and finished his winning run with a successful shed.

The pen proved decisive too, at Ardlamont, where the Blackface gimmers ran reasonably well on a flat field, but yet again were not keen to be penned.

Chris Toner’s Niro Tammi (BK Renwick’s Nip, C Toner’s Graham’s Sam) had a very good run outbye and on the course, but had to retrieve breaks at the pen, before a good shed completed her winning run.

Stuart Davidson’s Dan (RW Harris’ Flyn and Straid Joe) worked well outbye which gave him the edge over equally pointed Craig Davidson’s Kyle (C Davidson’s Cap, R Harris’ Phyll) which again had to cope with breaks at the pen, before both finished a point behind Tammi.

LEADING awards

Lamington (Judge: C Toner, Drimsynie). Open – 63 ran – 1, A McCulloch’s Sam, Dalmellington, 94; 2, R Henderson’s Jude, Crawford, 91 Outbye; 3, W Welsh’s Cap, Dalcairney, 91; 4, A Stewart’s Jim, Lockerbie, 90; 5, C Caerts’ Glen, Belgium, 89; 6, C Caerts’ Luca, Belgium, 88.

Westside, Shetland (Judge: J Thomason, Fetlar). Open – 26 ran – 1, J Ramsay’s Fly, Ollaberry, 94; 2, D Murray’s Jill, North Roe, 93; 3, J Ramsay’s Josie, Ollaberry, 92; 4, B Smith’s Chip (Flash), Dunrossness, 91; 5, J Nicolson’s Todd, Scalloway, 90. Championship – Five ran – 1, B Smith’s Chip (Flash), Dunrossness, 103 /110 Outbye; 2, J Ramsay’s Fly, Ollaberry, 103; 3, J Ramsay’s Josie, Ollaberry, 102; 4, J Nicolson’s Todd, Scalloway, 93; 5, D Murray’s Jill, North Roe, 85. Limit – Nine ran – 1, W Morrison’s Trent, Yell, 55 /60; 2, J 58/Priest’s Jill, Raewick, 51; 3, R Colclough’s Dot, West Sandwick, 49. Junior – Y Mouat’s Spot, Yell.

West Sandwick, Shetland (Judge: J Thomason, Fetlar). Open – 28 ran – 1, J Ramsay’s Spot, Ollaberry, 92; 2, D Murray’s Sweep, North Roe, 89; 3, D Murray’s Jill, North Roe, 81; 4, J Ramsay’s Drift, Ollaberry, 80 outbye; 5, J Ramsay’s Josie, Ollaberry, 80; 6, B Smith’s Chip (Flash), Dunrossness, 78. Championship – Five ran – 1, J Ramsay’s Spot, Ollaberry, 96/110 outbye; 2, B Smith’s Chip (Flash), Dunrossness, 96; 3, D Murray’s Jill, North Roe, 94. Limit – Nine ran – 1, D Murray’s Meg, North Roe, 55 /60; 2, R Colclough’s Dot, Westsandwick, 44 outbye; 3, R Farquhar’s Ace, West Burrafirth, 44.

Fetlar, Shetland (Judge: O Brown, Yell). Open – 29 ran – 1, S McCrindle’s Zac, Stranraer, 94; 2, D Murray’s Sweep, North Roe, 92 outbye; 3, J Ramsay’s Drift, Ollaberry, 92; 4, B Smith’s Lass, Dunrossness, 84; 5, B Smith’s Chip (Flash), Dunrossness, 83; 6, J Nicolson’s Flo, Scalloway, 72. Championship –– 1, S McCrindle’s Zac, Stranraer, 96 /110; 2, J Nicolson’s Flo, Scalloway, 92; 3, D Murray’s Sweep, North Roe, 88. Limit – 14 ran – 1, W Morrison’s Trent, Yell, 42 /60; 2, C Williamson’s Joe, Ollaberry, 38; 3, D Murray’s Meg, North Roe.

Ardlamont (Judge: A MacDiarmid, Strachur). Open – 25 ran – 1, C Toner’s Niro Tammi, Drimsynie, 86; 2, SL Davidson’s Dan, Sandbank, 85 outbye; 3, C Davidson’s Kyle, Sandbank, 85; 4, C Davidson’s Fuzz, Sandbank, 84; 5, C Toner’s Niro Mace, Drimsynie, 82; 6, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon,75.

Lochbroom (Judge: A MacLean, Ousedale). Open – 57 ran – 1, K Brehmer’s Thistledown Fern, New Bythe, 85; 2, I Sutherland’s Sid, Strathnaver, 78 Outbye; 3, M MacNally's Ash, Invergarry, 78; 4, D MacRitchie’s Nell, Ness, 75; 5, J MacKillop's Zak, Fort Augustus, 74 outbye; 6, I MacDonald’s Ben, Staffin, 74; 7, S Renwick’s Dell, Inverbroom, 72 outbye; 8, S Campbell’s Queen, Skye, 72; 9, M MacNally's Glen, Invergarry, 71; 10, S Campbell’s Belle, Skye,70. Novice – 1, M McKenzie’s Jet, Auchiltibuie; 2, N Cook’s Gypsy, Strathcanaird. Local –1, G MacDonald’s Tia, Ullapool; 2, F Renwick’s Jo, Inverbroom.

Northumberland League

Dykehead (Judge: J Robinson, Springhill). Open – 44 ran – 1, C Balmbro’s Liz, Wooler, 91; 2, M Davidson’s Heather, Lilburn, 90; 3, A Temple’s Ann, Holmrook, 87; 4, H Svobodova’s Wicky, Hallbankgate, 86 outbye; 5, P Telfer’s Bre, Haydon Bridge, 86; 6, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 85. Championship – 16 ran –1, C Balmbro’s Liz, Wooler, 105 /110; 2, WS Elliot’s Branshaws Cap, Yetholm, 96; 3, P Turnbull’s Deb, Debdon, 91; 4, A Temple’s Ann, Holmrook, 90.

College Valley (Judge: S Wallace, Prendwick). Open – 31 ran – 1, T Iley’s Watson, Longframlington, 83; 2, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 82; 3, J Hill’s, Bec, Heriot, 81; 4, M Davidson’s Angus, Lilburn, 80; 5, M Arres’ Jock, Ashkirk, 79 outbye; 6, C Dickson’s Tom, Coldingham, 79.

Lower Thorneyburn (Judge: G Thompson, Penmansheil). Open – 38 ran – 1, M Davidson’s Angus, Lilburn, 89; 2, M Elliott’s Dot, Lazonby, 81; 3, M Day’s June, Alwinton, 80 outbye; 4, A McCulloch’s Risp, Dalmellington, 80; 5, JJ Pattinson’s Boo, Roman Wall, 75 outbye; 6, B Jordan’s, Bozo, Whitfield, 75.