Scalpsie Roy rises above the competition at Manor trial

Cross Texel gimmers ran well on a flat course, but the cross drive was hard to judge and the gimmers were not readily penned.

Roy (L Gast’s Ben and Scalpsie Gael) ran out cleanly to his sheep, lifted and fetched them steadily and drove them round the course to achieve the best drive of the day. There were small breaks before Roy secured the packet and completed his winning run with a clean shed.

Ian Brownlie’s Lark (D Robertson’s Joe, A Watson’s Fan) ran out and lifted cleanly, fetched and drove well, with just minor wavers, penned after retrieving a number of breaks and finished the run with a clean shed and took second place on outbye work.

Sandy McCulloch’s Breynor Juno (A McCulloch’s Sam, BC Lester’s Jill) too, started cleanly and had a good fetch and a decent drive, although the line of the second leg was a little low before the gimmers went through the gate. She penned after some small breaks, but shed cleanly and took third place, on outbye.

Stuart Davidson’s Maid (B Strachan’s Sam, JC MacLachlan’s Sheila) stopped short on her outrun, but she lifted cleanly and worked well on the course with just minor wavers. A good pen and a clean shed brought the run level on points with Lark’s and Juno’s, but fourth on outbye.

Two good runs from Chris Toner’s Niro Mace and Neil Mcvicar’s Mark, separated only by outbye work, topped a high scoring trial at Colmonell. Very well behaved Texel cross gimmers running on a flat field allowed dogs to demonstrate a very high standard of work and made for an excellent trial.

Mace (R Watson’s Ace, C Toner’s Maid) worked faultlessly up to a good fetch and drive with only minor deviations to fault him, and finished his winning run with a clean pen and shed.

Mark (JP McGee’s Glencregg Silver, IM Brownlie’s Lia) stopped a little short on his outrun and lifted from the side. After that he worked impeccably round the course and at hand to match the winning score, only relegated to runner up status for his outbye faux pas.

North Scotland opened the nursery season at Durness, where again, outbye work split two equally pointed runs from Ian MacDonald’s Sweep and Geordie Simpson’s Jan, giving Sweep the lead.

Cheviot gimmers ran well on a dreich, wet morning, but as the rain dried off later in the day and a fresh wind arose, the gimmers’ spirits freshened up too. The young dogs generally ran well on an upward sloping course and most managed to pen their sheep.

Sweep (DS MacAulay’s Nell, DM Howells’ Cia) ran out and lifted cleanly, fetched and drove his sheep nicely, with only minor wavers of his lines. A good pen and a good shed completed the winning run.

Jan (M McAlister’s Lynn, P McGoldrick’s Braehead Lad) ran out cleanly to her sheep and although she lifted them slightly offline, Jan too, worked well on the course with just minor wavers and achieved clean work at hand, bringing her score level with Sweep’s.

Leading awards

Colmonell (Judge: C Armstrong, Archbank). Open – 64 ran – 1, C Toner's Niro Mace Drimsynie, 96 outbye; 2, N Mcvicar’s Mark, Benmore, 96; 3, IM Brownlie’s Murdo, Dunbar, 93; 4, H Mitchell’s Dan, Glenfarg, 92; 5, IM Brownlie’s Lark, Dunbar, 91; 6, I Lockhart’s Roy, Carsphairn, 90.

Manor (Judge: N Mcvicar, Benmore). Open – 58 ran – 1, J Paterson’s Scalpsie Roy, Kirkcowan, 91; 2, IM Brownlie’s Lark, Dunbar, 88 outbye; 3, A McCulloch’s Brynoer Juno, Dalmellington, 88 outbye; 4, SL Davidson’s Maid, Sandbank, 88; 5, I Lockhart’s Roy, Carsphairn, 87 outbye; 6, L Gast’s Scalpsie Kelp (Herbie), Scalpsie, 87; 7, D Wallace’s Taz, Blyth Bridge, 85.

Durness (Judge: M Mackay, Durness). Nursery – 27 ran –1, I MacDonald’s Sweep, Staffin, 88 outbye; 2, G Simpson’s Jan, Forgue, 88; 3, S Renwick’s Lexi, Inverbroom, 87; 4, G Simpson’s Lil, Forgue, 85; 5, M Leggat’s Lass, New Pitsligo,79; 6, S Campbell’s Lettie, Uig, 76; 7, G Simpson’s Deo, Forgue, 76; 8, I Matheson’s Rinn, Reay, 72; 9, S Renwick’s Hope, Inverbroom, 71; 10, M MacQueen’s Nell, Skye, 69.