Faultless run from Elinore and Roxy secure first place at Millden

Well behaved Blackface hoggs ran very well on a steep, uphill course.

Roxy (L Christie’s Knock and Glenview Brea) ran out faultlessly, lifted and fetched her sheep through the gate to Eli and drove them round the course and through all her gates in workmanlike fashion. Roxy had her work cut out at the chute, but she was fit for the job and put her sheep through. A good shed set the seal on the winning run with a narrow lead over her closest rivals, kennelmates Rex and Grace.

Michael’s Rex (M Gallagher’s Avon Roy, E Nilsson’s Hillrunner Ivy) ran out on a good line, but he stopped slightly short and although Michael corrected him, it impacted a little on his lift. Rex fetched them through the gate, put them round the drive and through all the gates in a practical manner. He held them patiently at the chute until they went through and a clean shed completed the run which took second place, ahead of third on good outbye work.

Michael had to turn Grace out on her outrun and made her overshoot the sheep at the top to counter their urge to break on the far side. Grace (M Gallagher’s Hillrunner Shep and Val) worked outstandingly, with a good fetch and the best drive of the day. The hoggs stood up to her at the chute, but she took that in her stride, put them through and made a clean shed to match points with Rex, earning third place with a long lead over the field.

Dean Aitken’s Tweeddale Freddy and Tweeddale Kap came out on top at Borland of Anwoth.

The course was set on a flat field that rose to a knowe where the well behaved continental cross hoggs were released.

Freddy (A McCulloch’s Sam, D Aitken’s Tami) ran out nicely, and although he upset his sheep at the lift which marred the start of the fetch, he settled them on the way in, turned them and drove them away and through the first gate. The cross drive was hard to judge but Freddy manoeuvred them through the gate. A single hogg tried to bolt from the chute, but he stopped her, put the packet through and finished his winning run with a clean shed.

Kap (A Walker’s Tweeddale Roy, D Aitken’s Tweeddale Niki) was distracted on his outrun but Dean’s whistle got him back on track and he made a perfect lift. The line of his fetch wavered, but the drive went well and clean work at hand helped to compensate. Kap took second place, a point behind Freddy.

Blackface hoggs at Whitefield were manageable to handle, but knowes on the course put sheep out of sight of dogs and dogs out of sight of handlers on the outrun.

John Ramsay’s Moss (N Gillon’s Boss, M Young’s Duncallean Meg) had no such trouble, running out and lifting and fetching nicely. The drive did not go so smoothly for Moss, but a clean pen followed and although the shed was another challenge, Moss led a raft of three dogs on equal points, but took first place on the merit of his outbye work.

Leading awards

Skeld I, Shetland (Judge: M Cameron, Lerwick). Nursery – 16 ran – 1, Y Mouat’s Scott, Yell, 87; 2, J Nicolson’s Lou, Scalloway, 86; 3, R Farquhar’s Swarthoull Skip, West Burrafirth, 85; 4, I Murray’s Nortrow Ross, North Roe, 84 outbye; 5, AWP Hughson’s Spot, Brunt Hamarsland, 84; 6, J Ramsay’s Pen, Ollaberry, 79; 7, L Hunter’s Bjorg, Scatsa, 76 outbye; 8, R Colclough’s Lark, Westsandwick, 76; 9, L Hunter’s Jan, Scatsa, 75 outbye; 10, S Fraser’s Nap, Cullswick, 75.

Skeld II, Shetland (Judge: M Cameron, Lerwick). Nursery 15 ran – 1, J Ramsay’s Pen, Ollaberry, 94; 2, B Smith’s Cruz, Dunrossness, 91; 3, R Farquhar’s Swarthoull Skip, West Burrafirth, 90; 4, L Hunter’s Bjorg, Scatsa, 86; 5, J Nicolson’s Lou, Scalloway, 83; 6, R Colclough’s Lark, Westsandwick, 82; 7, AWP Hughson’s Spot, Brunt Hamarsland, 81; 8, I Murray’s Nortrow Ross, North Roe, 80; 9, W Morrison’s Brian, Yell, 75 outbye; 10, Y Mouat’s Scott, Yell, 75.

Leanach (Judge: J MacDiarmid, Eynort). Nursery – 23 ran –1, G Simpson’s Deo, Forgue, 86; 2, I Matheson’s Rinn, Reay, 64; 3, G Simpson’s Jan, Forgue,62; 4, J Buckley-Adkin’s Ormond Moss, Aberdeenshire, 60; 5, S Campbell’s Lettie, Uig, 52; 6, D Simpson’s Ellie, Barrock, 51; 7, G Simpson’s Mwnt Vicky, Forgue, 45; 8, M Leggat’s Lass, New Pitsligo, 42; 9, S Renwick’s Hope, Inverbroom, 41; 10, G Simpson’s Bodtegir Lil, Forgue, 40.

Hunterston (J Howatson, West Kilbride). Nursery – 20 ran – 1, C Toner’s Reba, Drimsynie, 80 outbye; 2, R Howatson’s Mirk, Fairlie, 80; 3, L Gast’s Scalpsie Dino, Scalpsie, 77 outbye; 4, SL Davidson’s Roxy, Sandbank, 77; 5, SL Davidson’s Al, Sandbank, 73 outbye; 6, C Toner’s Twig, Drimsynie, 73; 7, E Gray’s Sully, Ardros, 72; 8, I Lockhart’s Joy, Carsphairn, 69; 9, D Kinloch’s Jen, Kilsyth, 68; 10, E Gray’s Graylees Griff, Ardros, 61.

Whitefield (Judge: N Hurcomb, New Luce). Nursery – 9 ran – 1, J Ramsay’s Moss, Glenluce, 74 outbye; 2, G Mitchell’s Jen, New Luce, 74 outbye; 3, E Craig’s, Loch, Carsphairn, 74; 4, J Ramsay’s Jock, Glenluce, 73; 5, H Hampshire’s Flash, Gatehouse, 70 outbye; 6, M McCornick’s Nell, Kirkcowan, 70; 7, JL McMillan’s Blue, Newton Stewart, 60; 8, JL McMillan’s Logi, Newton Stewart, 52; 9, S Beggs’ Nicky, Stranraer, 46.

Kirkmabreck I (Judge: F McMillan, Moniaive). Nursery – 9 ran – 1, G Mitchell’s Jen, New Luce, 80; 2, JL McMillan’s Blue, Newton Stewart, 74; 3, S Beggs’ Nicky, Stranraer, 56; 4, J Ramsay’s Moss, Glenluce, 53; 5, M McCornick’s Nell, Kirkcowan, 47; 6, E Craig’s, Loch, Carsphairn, 46; 7, J Ramsay’s Jock, Glenluce, 42; 8, JL McMillan’s Logi, Newton Stewart, 41; 9, H Hampshire’s Flash, Gatehouse, 34.

Kirkmabreck II (Judge: S Paton, Dalrymple). Nursery – 9 ran – 1, J Ramsay’s Cessnock Moss, Glenluce, 76; 2, J Ramsay’s Jock, Glenluce, 73; 3, E Craig’s, Loch, Carsphairn, 64; 4, G Mitchell’s Jen, New Luce, 49; 5, S Beggs’ Nicky, Stranraer ; 6, M McCornick’s Nell, Kirkcowan.

Millden (Judge: H Mitchell, Glenfarg). Nursery – 19 ran – 1, E Nilsson’s Roxy, Alyth, 83; 2, M Gallagher’s Hillrunner Rex, Alyth, 81 outbye; 3, M Gallagher’s Dalriada Grace, Alyth, 81; 4, AD Carnegie’s Ben, Comrie, 69; 5, AD Carnegie’s Ben, Comrie, 67; 6, K Dickson’s Ruh, Fintry, 62; 7, M Watt jnr’s Joe, Kirriemuir, 54; 8, L Moore’s Tess, Lintrathen, 53 outbye; 9, S Martin’s Floss, Cashlie, 53;10, G van Dyck’s Graylees Lismore, Aberfeldy, 49. Novice – J Watt’s Kate, Kirriemuir, 73.

Dryden I (Judge: J McKenzie, Alyth). Nursery – 8 ran 1, M Arres’ Hemp, Ashkirk, 82; 2, M McClure’s Scooby, USA, 72; 3, J Robinson’s Jaybeez Drift, Coldingham, 63; 4, B McSporran’s Dot, Wester Middleton, 59; 5, J Robinson’s Rock, Coldingham, 55; 6, A Dickman’s Ben, Oxton. Novice / Young Farmers – 1, E Runciman’s Greiston Meg, Lauder, 69; 2, B McSporran’s Dot, Wester Middleton, 59.

Dryden II (Judge: J McKenzie, Alyth). Nursery – 8 ran – 1, J Robinson’s Rock, Coldingham, 74; 2, J Robinson’s Jaybeez Drift, Coldingham, 69; 3, M Arres’ Hemp, Ashkirk, 62; 4, D Gilchrist’s Brenda, Oxton, 50; 5, A Dickman’s Ben, Oxton, 49; 6, M McClure’s Scooby, USA, 47.

Borland of Anwoth (Judge: J Paterson, Kirkcowan). Nursery – 6 ran – 1, D Aitken’s Tweeddale Freddie, Dumfries, 77; 2, D Aitken’s Tweeddale Kap, Dumfries, 76; 3, DJ Aitken’s Tweeddale Swift, Moffat, 68. Novice – M Forster’s Dell, Shawhead, 51. Pro novice –1, R Malcolm’s Gael, Gatehouse, 65; 2, D McMillan’s Ruby, Carsphairn, 57. Sportsmanship – D Aitken, Moffat.

Springhill I (Judge: IM Brownlie, Dunbar). Nursery – 11 ran – 1, J Robinson’s Rock, Coldingham, 75; 2, P Losty’s Crockaine Kate, Yetholm, 70; 3, J Robinson’s Jaybeez Drift, Coldingham, 69; 4, M Arres’ Hemp, Ashkirk, 64; 5, B McSporran’s Dot, Wester Middleton, 62; 6, A Dickman’s Benger, Oxton, 48; 7, D Gilchrist’s Brenda, Oxton, 46. Novice – 1, A Saul’s Kim, Longformacus, 74; 2, P Losty’s Crockaine Kate, Yetholm, 70; 3, B McSporran’s Dot, Wester Middleton, 62.

Springhill II (Judge: IM Brownlie, Dunbar). Nursery – 11 ran – 1, M Arres’ Hemp, Ashkirk,70; 2, J Robinson’s Jaybeez Drift, Coldingham, 69; 3, B McSporran’s Dot, Wester Middleton, 68; 4, J Robinson’s Rock, Coldingham, 66; 5, A Dickman’s Ben, Oxton, 49; 6, 7, D Gilchrist’s Brenda, Oxton, 45. Novice – 1, A Saul’s Kim, Longformacus, 85; 2, B McSporran’s Dot, Wester Middleton, 60. YF – 1, P Losty’s Crockaine Kate, Yetholm.

Northumberland League

Ilderton (Judge: C Dickson, Yarrow). Nursery –15 ran – 1, M Davidson’s Henry, Lilburn, 89; 2, M Davidson’s Pepper, Lilburn, 88; 3, M Iley’s Dunelle Mabel, Longframlington, 76; 4, D Henderson’s Burndale Donnie, Allendale, 71; 5, M Davidson’s Poppy, Lilburn, 69; 6, T Iley’s Dunelle Zac, Longframlington, 65. Novice – T Aspin’s Dell, Alnwick, 76.

League Championship, Grange (Judge: C Dickson, Yarrow). Nursery – 5 ran –1, M Davidson’s Pepper, Lilburn,103 /110; 2, M Davidson’s Henry, Lilburn, 87; 3, D Henderson’s Burndale Roy, Allendale, 87; 4, D Henderson’s Burndale Donnie, Allendale, 86; 5, M Davidson’s Poppy, Lilburn, 56.