Top places and prizes from two days of trialling on Donside went home to Perthshire with Alyth couple, Elinore Nilsson and Michael Gallagher, and their dogs, Ruh and Avon Roy, respectively.
The Mule cross hoggs ran well on the gently downhill sloping field but proved testing at the pen where some good runs came adrift.
The Monymusk trial saw a day that began with torrential rain, then became muggy, but broke into thunder and lightning and finished up with a fine late afternoon.
Eli’s Ruh (E Nilsson’s Midderry Kid, CT Mollers Aura) ran out and lifted cleanly and had a good fetch, although her turn round the post was not as neat as it might have been, but the drive started well. Although the hoggs were slightly off line on the cross drive and a little wide in their turn through the gate, Rhu’s pen and shed were faultless and Scotland’s current nursery champion earned her first open win.
Geordie Simpson’s Greiston Mick (RW Laurie’s Groesfaen Nap, Jay Beez’ Sky) had a good course and was leading the field, until a serious break at the pen made him runner up, two points behind Ruh.
Bennachie trial was run on the same ground, but with finer weather and a right hand drive reversing the previous day’s left hand course.
Roy (A Gallagher’s Cain, A Warmington’s Kim) ran out and lifted flawlessly. The hoggs stopped at the top of the fetch, but Roy moved them ahead on a straight line and worked very well on the drive. A clean pen and shed completed the winning run and Roy took first place with a clear lead over the field, and a run described by the judge as ‘a touch of class’. Following on from his performance at Monymusk, the work won the Willie Davidson two day aggregate trophy for Michael and his other dog Moss.
Leading Awards
Monymusk (Judge: I MacDonald, Staffin). Open – 57 ran –1, E Nilsson’s Ruh, Alyth, 93; 2, G Simpson’s Greiston Mick, Forgue, 91; 3, IM Brownlie’s Murdo, Dunbar, 90; 4, K Donald’s Bill, Dalrymple, 89; 5, B Smith’s Chip (Flash), Dunrossness, 88; 6, A Stewart’s Annandale Spot, Lockerbie, 87.
Bennachie (Judge: H Mitchell, Glenfarg). Open – 56 ran – 1, M Gallagher’s Avon Roy, Alyth, 96; 2, AD Carnegie’s Suus, Comrie, 92; 3, AD Carnegie’s Kim, Comrie, 85; 4, M Gallagher’s Moss, Alyth, 80 outbye; 5, A Wilkie’s Spot (Mot), Glenmoy, 80; 6, M Young’s Duncallean Tandy, Stranraer, 79.
Willie Davidson two-day aggregate trophy – M Gallagher’s Moss, 181/200.
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