Sheepdog results from Trials of Bute and Hebridean circuit

After three days of open competition over three farms, the top 18 dogs of the original 120, ran in a double lift championship on a day of wind and rain, and a tremendous first outrun and lift from Mace got the run off to a win worthy start.

The big course was set on a field sloping down to the sea, but Mace (R Watson’s Ace, C Toner’s Maid) had no trouble finding eight sheep and fetching them to Chris. He needed more persuasion to turn back on the opposite side for the second packet, but once on track, he worked well, united the sheep and drove them straight down the middle of the first leg of the drive. The cross drive started well, too, but the gimmers drifted uphill as they approached the gate; Mace turned them down, and although they split and some missed the gate, they were soon heading back to the pen as one. Mace stopped a break at the pen, secured the lot and completed the winning run with a clean shed and a long lead.

Tommy Long and Lass romped home to the Emerald Isle with the Hebridean Cup in their luggage and the title of ‘Lord of the Isles’ credited to Tommy after a very successful tour of the Hebridean circuit.

Lass won Waternish and Scarista, the respective first and third trials of the week, followed by second places at Berneray and Ness and third place at Laxay, all of which put her in first place overall.

The Cheviot gimmers at Waternish were extremely difficult to pen and some runs came to grief there. Dogs went out of sight on the right hand outrun, but once they reached the sheep, the work was readily visible to all.

Lass ran out and lifted cleanly; she had an excellent fetch and a good drive, with only minor wavers. A clean pen and shed set the seal on the winning run and established Lass as a likely contender for circuit leader, a potential she readily fulfilled by the end of the week.

The cross Cheviot gimmers at Aboyne were very flighty on a good, flat field that ran to a point, and although they generally stayed together quite well, they were very wary of the woodwork on the fetch and drive gates and at the pen.

Hamish Mitchell’s Dan (JP McGee’s Glencregg Silver, D Mullaney’s Nan) ran out and lifted cleanly and established a good relationship with the sheep. His fetch and drive both went well, with just minor wavers of the lines and a good pen and shed secured first place.

Kenny Brehmer’s Huthwaite Roy (SN Wilkinson’s Joss and Huthwaite Holly) followed a similar pattern at a distance behind Dan. Kenny handled Roy well and Roy put the sheep round in a workmanlike manner. He ran out and lifted cleanly, lost a little on the fetch and drive and finished his run with good work at hand and second place.

Leading Awards

Hebridean Circuit

Waternish, Skye (Judge: I MacKay, Leanach). Open – 58 ran – 1, T Long’s Lass, Ballybofey, 96 /100; 2, J MacKillop's Zak, Fort Augustus, 93; 3, L Conn’s Tess, Limavady, 89 outbye; 4, I MacDonald’s Ben, Staffin, 89; 5, J Lamont’s Ben, Portree, 87; 6, L Hansson’s Velvet, Sweden, 86.

Berneray, Uist (Judge: A Cameron, Callander). Open 45 ran – 1, C Mellin’s Pentre Bet, Oakworth, 96; 2, T Long’s Lass, Ballybofey, 94; 3, J MacKillop's Zak, Fort Augustus, 86; 4, J MacKillop's Viking Jed, Fort Augustus, 80 outbye; 5, T McPhee’s Liz, Wick, 80; 6, L Hansson’s Velvet, Sweden, 78.

Scarista, Harris (Judge: L Hansson, Sweden). Open – 48 ran – 1, T Long’s Lass, Ballybofey, 91 outbye; 2, J MacKillop's Viking Jed, Fort Augustus, 91; 3, S Campbell’s Bell, Skye, 88; 4, A Kyme’s Annie, Rosendale, 87; 5, A Andersson’s Cruaide, Sweden, 86; 6, R Newsome’s Mirk, Rossendale, 85 outbye; Local 1, D Campbell’s Swell, Scarista, 81, R McLennan’s Joe, 47.

Ness, Lewis (Judge: T McPhee, Wick). Open – 46 ran – 1, J MacKillop's Zak, Fort Augustus, 92; 2, T Long’s Lass, Ballybofey, 89; 3, P Rigby’s Scott, Lancs, 88; 4, A Cameron’s Meg, Callander, 86; 5, D MacRitchie’s Moor Lodge Nell, Ness, 85; 6, C Mellin’s Pentre Bet, Oakworth, 84. Local – D MacRitchie’s Moor Lodge Nell, Ness 85.

Laxay, Lewis (Judge: L Conn, Limavady). Open – 43 ran – 1, A Kyme’s Annie, Rosendale, 80; 2, R Newsome’s Mirk, Rossendale, 79; 3, T Long’s Lass, Ballybofey, 76 Outbye; 4, C Mellin’s Moor Lodge Ben, Oakworth, 76; 5, A Kyme’s Meg, Rosendale, 73; 6, L Hansson’s Velvet, Sweden, 72.

Trials of Bute

Scalpsie I (Judge: B Welsh, Moniaive). Open – 60 ran – 1, S Morgan’s Vann Queen, Heriot, 94; 2, E Gray’s Banjo, Ardros, 91; 3, C Doherty’s Jill, Co Donegal, 90; 4, D Davies’ Sali, Wales, 89; 5, J Hastie’s Graylees Rose, Saline, 86; 6, A McCulloch’s Sam, Dalmellington, 85.

Plan Farm I (Judge: D Lambie, Corwen). Open – 58 ran – 1, JP McGee’s Fleet, Ballybofey, 92; 2, C Davidson’s Kyle, Sandbank, 90; 3, N McVicar’s Baledmund Pete, Benmore, 88; 4, K Donald’s Bill, Dalrymple, 86; 5, SL Davidson’s Dan, Sandbank, 85; 6, I Haug’s Dip, Norway, 83.

Ardros II (Judge: F McMillan, Moniaive). Open – 60 ran – 1, A Owen’s Llangwym Tom, Corwen, 93; 2, I McConnell’s Joe, Lamlash, 92 Outbye; 3, S Morgan’s Vann Queen, Heriot, 92; 4, A McCulloch’s Sam, Dalmellington, 91; 5, J McCloskey’s Fly, Co Donegal, 91; 6, E Irvine’s Reiver Gray, Ardros, 90.

Scalpsie II (Judge: B Welsh, Moniaive). Open – 60 ran – 1, C Toner’s Niro Mace, Drimsynie, 96; 2, C Toner’s Lynn, Drimsynie, 88; 3, JP McGee’s Roeldog Becca, Ballybofey, 86 Outbye; 4, C Davidson’s Kyle, Sandbank, 86; 5, JP McGee’s Fleet, Ballybofey, 85; 6, A Ardel’s Mac, Norway, 81.

Plan Farm III (Judge: D Lambie, Corwen). Open – 59 ran – 1, A Owen’s Llangwym Bud, Corwen, 91; 2, F Farthing’s Sal, Pontardawe, 89; 3, C Doherty’s Jim, Co Donegal, 88; 4, C Caerts’ Glen, Belgium, 88 outbye; 5, S Duckworth’s Fleet, Haslingden, 87; 6, J Gilman’s Harry, Derbyshire, 85.

Ardros III (Judge: F McMillan, Moniaive). Open – 60 ran – 1, JP McGee’s Fleet, Ballybofey, 97; 2, C Toner’s Niro Mace, Drimsynie, 93; 3, C Davidson’s Kyle, Sandbank, 92; 4, C Toner’s Lynn, Drimsynie, 92; 5, K Donald’s Bob, Dalrymple, 91; 6, W Gallagher’s Nell, Kilcar, 91.

Bute (Judge: I Fleming, Douglas; D Wallace, Blyth Bridge). Double lift championship – 18 ran – 1, C Toner’s Niro Mace, Drimsynie, 274 /300; 2, J McCloskey’s Fly, Co Donegal, 259; 3, C Caerts’ Glen, Belgium, 249; 4, J Gilman’s Harry, Derbyshire, 242; 5, C Toner’s Lynn, Drimsynie, 233; 6, E Gray’s Banjo, Ardros, 219; 7, A McCulloch’s Sam, Dalmellington, 210; 8, E McAuley’s Tam, Larne, 208; 9, F Farthing’s Sal, Pontardawe, 206; 10, A Owen’s Llangwym Bud, Corwen, 198.

Aboyne (Judge: A Wright, Dunkeld). Open – 36 ran – 1, H Mitchell’s Dan, Glenfarg, 88 /100; 2, K Brehmer’s Huthwaite Roy, New Bythe, 81; 3, S. Aitkenson’s Bob, Hunthill, 75; 4, A Wilkie’s Spot, Glenmoy, 64; 5, I Wilkie’s Pip, Tillypronie, 62.