Spot on timing from Fraser's Belle led to victory at Dunoon

The Blackface gimmers were light to handle but the two leaders read their sheep well.

Belle (F Shennan’s Spot, J Shennan’s Rose) ran out and lifted faultlessly, had a good fetch and turned her sheep neatly round the post. Fraser’s attention to his lines and Belle’s responsive attitude produced an exceptional drive. A clean pen and a good shed completed the winning run with the runner up close behind.

Mace (R Watson’s Ace, C Toner’s Maid) ran out cleanly to his sheep, lifted and fetched well and had a good drive. He too, penned cleanly, but with time running out, Chris knew he had to step up at the shed to make it happen; it came off within the allotted time and Mace took second place.

A tremendous, steep hill course at Birthwood gave good viewing for spectators and tested the dogs, although the well presented Blackface gimmers did not like the pen and some good runs were timed up there. A stone dyke ran across the course, roughly 50yds in front of the handler, with two gates on the right and one on the left and the option for dogs to take it in their stride by jumping over it. Dogs ran out through or over the dyke to their sheep, fetched them down to a post, turned them on to the drive and only came below the dyke again on the return to the pen. The layout made for a short fetch which gave little time for dogs to settle their sheep there which, combined with the rough terrain, made straight lines scarce.

Chris Caerts’ Rob ran out and lifted cleanly, had a good fetch and a decent drive and completed the winning run with a good shed.

John Paterson’s Scalpsie Roy (L Gast’s Ben and Scalpsie Gael) ran out cleanly, lifted well and had a good fetch and drive for the day. An excellent pen, gave the run a huge boost, and when time ran out on an incomplete run at the shed, Roy’s pen helped him into second place, a single point behind Rob and far out in front of the other runs.

Mule gimmers proved tricky to handle at Glendevon, and a number of promising runs came adrift on the drive.

Neil Campbell’s Moss (Neil Campbell’s Moss (Ll Harries’ Preseli Jock, R Millichap’s Del) lifted well got his gate and set the seal on the winning run with a comfortable lead.

Leading Awards

Dunoon (Judge: M Gallagher, Alyth). Open – 73 ran – 1, F Shennan’s Belle, Barr, 96; 2, C Toner’s Niro Mace Drimsynie, 93; 3, SL Davidson’s Dan, Sandbank, 89; 4, W Welsh’s Jan, Dalcairney, 88; 5, N Gillon’s Just Lhuke, Dailly, 87 outbye; 6, AD Carnegie’s Kim, Comrie, 87; 7, F Shennan’s Fred, Barr, 86; 8, L Gast’s Scalpsie Herbie, Scalpsie, 85.

Tingwall, Shetland (Judge: MC Hughson, Scalloway). Open – 34 ran – 1, C Cassie’s Diva, Cumbria, 92; 2, AWP Hughson’s Nortrow Lol, Brunt Hamarsland, 89; 3, J Ramsay’s Sally, Ollaberry, 88; 4, AWP Hughson’s Midge, Brunt Hamarsland, 84 outbye; 5, B Smith’s Lass, Dunrossness, 84; 6, J Nicolson’s Flo, Scalloway, 82 outbye. Championship – 1, J Ramsay’s Sally, Ollaberry, 99 /110; 2, B Smith’s Lass, Dunrossness, 97; 3, C Cassie’s Diva, Lancs., 77. Limit –1, Y Mouat’s Scott, Yell, 49 /60; 2, AWP Hughson’s Spot, Brunt Hamarsland, 48 outbye; 3, J Ramsay’s Pen, Ollaberry, 48; 4, J Nicolson’s Lou, Scalloway, 45; 5, W Morrison’s Brian, Yell, 44.

Glendevon (Judge: R Henderson, Gifford). Open – 46 ran – 1, N Campbell’s Moss, Kinross, 87; 2, C Caerts’ Rob, Biggar, 80; 3, A Dawidowicz’s Moy, Dunsyre, 79; 4, B Parker’s Reba, Dunkeld, 75 outbye; 5, M Watt jnr’s Jess, Kirriemuir, 75; 6, H Mitchell’s Dan, Glenfarg, 72.

Birthwood (Judge: I Landsborough, Dailly). Open – 58 ran – 1, C Caerts’ Rob, Biggar, 75; 2, J Paterson’s Scalpsie Roy, Kirkcowan, 74; 3, W Welsh’s Jan, Dalcairney, 65, IM Brownlie’s Tod, Dunbar, 62; 5, K Donald’s Bill, Dalrymple, 61; 6, D Robertson’s Zac, Langholm, 57.