Harry Cooper’s Roy led a field of seasoned handlers at Durness Nursery trial with good outbye work on a fine day when the south of the country struggled to keep dry.

The Cheviot gimmers ran well on the rising course, but proved testing at the pen, while the young dogs showed that they still had things to learn on the drive.

Roy (ROM W Dalgarno’s Skye, A Connon’s Glen) ran out and lifted flawlessly and fetched the sheep well to Harry. His drive started nicely, but there was a bend on the cross drive before the ewes went successfully through the gate, and their turn was wide, but Roy got his gates. He penned after a break at the pen and completed his winning run with a good shed.

Ian Sutherland’s Dan (Hielan Cap) (J MacDiarmid’s Rab, S Robertson’s Ruby) started well out, but he missed his cross-drive gate. He penned after a break, but although he separated his sheep at the shed, it was not a tidy piece of work and he took second place.

Ian came back on the prize list, in third place, with Dunelle Sam. Sam (DK Evans’ Spot, M Anderson’s Nell) came tight onto his sheep at the top, had some wavers on his fetch, and missed a gate on the drive. His close work was better; he penned after a small break and a better shed than kennel mate Dan’s contributed to a place on the list.

Neil Gillon’s Boss won the open class at Colmonell and triumphed again in a double lift contested by the top six open dogs.

The Texel cross gimmers behaved well if managed properly on the 330 yd course, set on a flat field that rose at the far end.

Boss (S Perellio’s Murgia Jim, R Hutchinson’s Denwyn Moya) stopped short on his outrun but Neil’s whistle put him to the right place and he had a good lift. The line wavered after the fetch gate, and although the turn onto the drive was neat, there was another waver on the first leg of the drive. A good cross drive and clean work at hand put Boss into first place, with the competition hot on his heels.

The double lift was set out in a Y shape, needing dogs to stop short to bring their sheep down at an angle to the fetch gate. After a good first outbye, Boss made a tremendous look back for his second packet and took them back on a good line. Once the packets were reunited, the line wavered a little, and Boss was a little hesitant to come in on the splitting of his 10 sheep, but a good pen helped him to another win.

A clean pen gave Michael Gallagher and Avon Roy a comfortable lead over the field at Lintrathen.

The Texel cross ewes proved testing on the fetch and at the pen. The course was set across a steep slope and flat ground at the bottom; the left-hand side of the course rose up the brae and the left outrun needed dogs to run above a big rough area of rocks and whins. The ewes were drawn up the hill which made it hard to fetch them straight across the slope.

Roy (A Gallagher’s Cain, A Warmington’s Kim) ran out left for his sheep and although he looked short, he walked on to them, lifted them in a straight line, and worked well to control them as they felt the pull to draw away on the fetch. His drive started well, keeping good contact, although his turn out of the gate was wide, but the cross drive flowed well too, and a clean pen and shed set the seal on the winning run.

Leading Awards

Lintrathen (Judge: A Cameron, Callander). Open – 44 ran – 1, M Gallagher’s Avon Roy, Alyth, 94; 2, AD Carnegie’s Suus, Comrie, 90 outbye; 3, E Nilsson’s Midderry Kid, Alyth, 90 outbye; 4, H Mitchell’s Dan, Glenfarg, 90; 5, A Wilkie’s Spot (Mot), Glenmoy, 89 outbye; 6, T McPhee’s Scott, Wick, 89;7, H Mitchell’s Brae, Glenfarg, 88; 8, D Aitken’s Tweeddale Vicki, Peebles, 87; 9, E Nilsson’s Tweeddale Fergie, Balintore, 85;10, M MacNally's Ash, Invergarry, 79. Local – 1, A Wilkie’s Spot (Mot), Glenmoy, 89; 2, P Simpson’s Cap, Kirremuir, 74.

New Cumnock (Judge: R White, Dalry). Open – 52 ran – 1, SL Davidson’s Maid, Sandbank, 92 outbye; 2, I Fleming’s Torr, Douglas, 92; 3, N McVicar’s Baledmund Pete, Benmore, 91 outbye; 4, WJ Welsh’s Heyshaw Fletch, Sanquhar, 91; 5, SL Davidson’s Dan, Sandbank, 88; 6, E Gray’s Banjo, Ardros, 87; 7, E Gray’s Graylees Chip, Ardros, 86; 8, N Gillon’s Boss, Barr, 85.

Yetholm (Judge:A Dickman, Oxton). Open – 38 ran – 1, M Elliott’s Nell, Lazonby, 86; 2, A McCulloch’s Sam Dalmellington, 85; 3, WS Elliot’s Cap, Yetholm, 83; 4, M Elliott’s Dot, Lazonby, 82; 5, M Davidson’s Heather, Lilburn, 81; 6, R MacRae’s Oats, Netherwitton, 78; 7, C Dickson’s Tom, Coldingham, 77.

Colmonell (Judge:A Kent, Dunoon). Open – 40 ran – 1, N Gillon’s Boss, Dailly, 92; 2, N Gillon’s Mheg, Dailly, 91 Outbye; 3, E Gray’s Banjo, Ardros, 91; 4, B Welsh’s Bob, Beoch, 90 outbye; 5, W Welsh’s Cap, Dalcairney, 90; 6, I Fleming’s Torr, Douglas, 89 outbye; 7, M Young’s Jess, Stranraer, 89. Double lift – 6 ran – 1, N Gillon’s Boss, Dailly; 2, E Gray’s Banjo, Ardros.

Durness (Judge: M MacKay, Durness). Nursery – 24 ran – 1, H Cooper’s Roy, New Deer, 81; 2, I Sutherland’s Dan (Hielan Cap), Strathnaver, 77; 3, I Sutherland’s Dunelle Sam, Strathnaver,73; 4, D Worthington’s Bob, Skarfskerry,70; 5, M McQueen’s Ricky, Skye, 67; 6, G Simpson’s Mick, Forgue, 66; 7, N Sutherland’s Rex, Strathnaver, 63; 8, J Grant’s Nell, Dunbeath, 62; 9, I MacDonald’s Meg, Staffin, 59; 10, J MacDonald's Breagh, Kinlochbervie, 53. Novice – 1, M McQueen’s Ricky, Skye, 67; 2, J MacDonald's Breagh, Kinlochbervie, 53; 3, M Ashworth’s Rex, Kinloss, 50; 4, F Grant’s Skye, Forss.