Sheepdog Trials: How trusty Buzz worked well with the sheep

Strong Mule hoggs ran well on a flat field with a slight rise to the right, beyond which was the let-out pen. The left side had more scope to draw a wider-running dog. The hoggs could stand up to the dogs at the pen, and the route to the shedding area beyond the pen unsettled the sheep as they sought their freedom, and they proved challenging at the shed.

Buzz (RB Henderson’s Hardberry Hill Bob, D Wallace’s Tess) got off to a good start and kept his sheep flowing on good lines with tidy turns. The hoggs broke before he put them in the pen, but once he had settled them at the shedding area, Buzz set the seal on his winning run with a successful shed.

Kintyre League returned to Skipness, where seasoned Cheviot gimmers ran well over a fresh, flat field that gave them scope. At the first of two trials, Johnnie MacLachlan’s Flo (J Shanks Mirk, M MacNallly’s Ash) worked well outbye, had only minor wavers on the drive and got all her gates. A good pen followed, and although Flo’s first attempt at the shed did not come off, she had better luck next time and earned first place.

Well-wintered hoggs ran on a flat stubble field for the Tomatin trial at Knocknagael, but they could split at the release post and could prove tricky on the course. A banking behind the course gave spectators a good view of the running.

Ian MacDonald’s Sweep (DM Howells’ Cia, DS MacAulay’s Nell) handled the sheep well, with a wide turnout of the cross drive gate and a little bother at the pen his only real faults.

LEADING awards

Skipness I (Judge: J Barr, Clochkeil). Nursery – Eight ran – 1, J MacLachlan’s Flo, Spean Bridge, 95; 2, A MacCuish’s Hielan Chip, Skipness, 90; 3, R Rennie’s Scalpsie Ice, Minard, 82; 4, M McNally’s Pip, Invergarry, 78; 5, K Strachan’s Clyde, Roybridge, 77; 6, N McMaster’s Scalpsie Jet, Bennan, 66.

Skipness II (Judge: A Ronald jnr, Peninver). Nursery – Eight ran – 1, A MacCuish’s Hielan Chip, Skipness, 91; 2, R Rennie’s Scalpsie Ice, Minard, 81; 3, J MacLachlan’s Flo, Spean Bridge, 78; 4, N McMaster’s Scalpsie Jet, Bennan, 70; 5, M McNeish’s Gael, Sliddery, 69; 6, M McNeish’s Kate, Sliddery, 64.

Hazeldean (Judge: J L’Etang, Slamannan). Nursery – 14 ran – 1, D Wallace’s Buzz, Blyth Bridge, 89; 2, I Fleming’s Nell, Douglas, 84; 3, J Murtagh’s Moss, Dunbar, 82; 4, C Caerts’ Moss, Biggar, 81; 5, IM Brownlie’s Glen, Dunbar, 80; 6, L Hinneken’s Lhinnek Gimli, Quothquan, 75; 7, IM Brownlie’s Swift, Dunbar, 72; 8, R Clarke’s Scout, Biggar, 67; 9, L Hinneken’s Viclo Sir, Quothquan, 62; 10, I Fleming’s Beacon Billy, Douglas, 53. Novice – 1, J Mitchell’s Aaro, Broughton, 61; 2, A Frame’s Zac, Quarter, 58; 3, R Clarke’s Floss, Biggar, 32. NSA –1, H Ryan’s Mo, Easter Howgate, 68; 2, H Ryan’s Vera, Easter Howgate, 54.

Milton (D Robertson, Largs). Nursery – 16 ran – 1, C Toner’s Twig, Drimsynie, 86; 2, L Gast’s Scalpsie Dino, Scalpsie, 85; 3, SL Davidson’s Roxy, Sandbank, 81; 4, D Kinloch’s Jan, Kilsyth, 80; 5, E Gray’s Sully, Ardross, 79; 6, L Gast’s Scalpsie Jock, Scalpsie, 72; 7, K Freeman’s Cole, Killin, 71; 8, C Toner’s Reba, Drimsynie, 69; 9, R Howatson’s Mirk, Fairlie, 67; 10, SL Davidson’s Al, Sandbank, 66.

Tingwall, Shetland (Judge: MC Hughson, Scalloway). Nursery – 11 ran – 1, B Smith’s Cruz, Dunrossness, 84; 2, J Ramsay’s Pen, Ollaberry, 78; 3, Y Mouat’s Scott, Yell, 74; 4, J Nicolson’s Lou, Scalloway, 62; 5, R Farquhar’s Swarthoull Skip, West Burrafirth, 61; 6, L Hunter’s Bjorg, Scatsa, 61; 7, I Murray’s Nortrow Ross, North Roe, 52; 8, S Fraser’s Nap, Cullswick, 51; 9, R Colclough’s Lark, Westsandwick, 47.

Tomatin (Judge: A MacLean, Tain). Nursery – 17 ran – 1, I MacDonald’s Sweep, Staffin, 90; 2, M Leggat’s Lass, Huntly, 84; 3, I Matheson’s Rinn, Reay, 77; 4, G Simpson’s Jan, Forgue, 76; 5, M MacQueen’s Nick, Skye, 71; 6, S Renwick’s Hope, Inverbroom, 61; 7, G Simpson’s Mwnt Vicky, Forgue, 60; 8, G Simpson’s Deo, Forgue, 57; 9, D Simpson’s Ellie, Barrock, 53; 10, J Buckley-Adkin’s Ormond Moss, Aberdeenshire, 47.