Chris and Twig take inter-district nursery title in Luss

The course was laid out on the broad, flat Glenfruin, set between two lines of steeply rising hills, on an unusually fine day for the annual event. Packets of four blackface hoggs were put through their paces; the cross drive was hard to judge and some dogs brought their sheep across a little low, but the bogey of the day was the pen. The hoggs did not like it and it was hard work for the young dogs to force them in. One handler commented that his bitch was so intent on holding the sheep at the pen, that she was still wary of letting two away at the shed.

On a day when the pen proved decisive for many promising runs which collapsed without a pen and were thus deprived of going on to the shed, Twig’s (C Toner’s Niro Mace, F Renwick’s Shiel) good work outbye set the foundation for his win. He ran out and lifted cleanly, had a good fetch and a good drive. Twig penned and shed, but it was hard work and points were dropped there before he and Chris walked off with six seconds left.

Good outbye work led Chris and Twig to victory (Image: web)

Judge, Mosse Magnusson, who travelled from Sweden to attend, said, “I’ve enjoyed the trial, it was a brilliant course and the sheep were good, but difficult to pen. Chris had brilliant outbye work. Neil Gillon, too had a good run, but he missed the first drive gate. I was honoured to be asked to judge.”

Significantly, the winner of the Tweeddale Sheepdogs trophy for best pen and shed went to a faultless pen and shed from Ian McMillan and Blue (S Macauley’s Mirk, D Mitchell’s Kate), the handler who knows that any dog he takes to a trial must be able to pen and shed on their own, without his stepping in, and credit must be given to Ian’s achievement working from his wheelchair.

Runner up went to Neil Gillon and Jet (Image: web)

Runner up to Twig was the final dog of the day. Neil Gillon’s Jet started out with a good outrun and lift, but the hoggs went offline. Jet (KG Gamble’s Ballyglass Dug, Atlantic Floss) took a wide flank to realign them, marring the start of the fetch, but he handled them well from there. At the sight of the first drive gate the hoggs started evasive action and zig zagged before the gate. In the fading light, they looked to be through the gate, but as they turned it was seen that they had slipped by the gate. The cross drive went well, with a good turn on to the last leg. Jet worked very well to secure his sheep. Neil was quick to take advantage of a lucky split, achieved a quick shed and Jet completed his run with 71 points and a minute to spare.

Peter Martin’s Jean (A McCulloch’s Sam, M Davidson’s Heather) ran out cleanly to her sheep, lifted nicely and had a good fetch and drive, which stood her in good stead when she spent the rest of the run at the pen. Time ran out before any successful close work was achieved, but with 68 pts already earned Jean took third place ahead of fourth on outbye.

Michael Gallagher’s Dalriada Grace (M Gallagher’s Hillrunner Shep and Val) started in similar style and came to the pen only two points behind Jean. Grace penned her packet although there was a cost; she earned two points for her pen, which brought her level with Jean. Time ran out before she shed, but Grace matched third place on 68 pts.

Fifth to seventh places went to three dogs on 66 pts.

Fraser Shennan with the 8th placed Skye (left) and fifth placed Bruce (Image: web)

Fraser Shennan whistled his 12 month old Bruce (F Shennan’s Fred, S Young’s Belle) on his outrun and he lifted nicely, had a good fetch and the best drive of the day, winning the John Paterson trophy for the effort. Although Bruce failed to pen, fine work already achieved put him into fifth place and good work outbye put him ahead of two others on 66 pts.

First dog of the day to run, Elinore Nilsson’s Roxy (L Christie’s Knock and Glenview Brea) ran out and lifted nicely and had a good fetch. Trying to make a neat turn out of the drive away gate, she was a little to quick and turned them before they were through, missing the gate. The cross drive went well and, with time, Roxy penned, and although there was not enough of the 11 minutes allocated to make the shed, she set a standard, not overtaken until the 21st dog ran.

Ian Fergie's Cris (R Games’ Scot and Venn Darcy) ran out but couldn’t see his sheep which had moved back from the release post, so Ian stopped him and redirected him on to them. That worked well and Cris lifted cleanly and had a very good fetch. His drive went well until the hoggs went offline before the cross drive gate, Cris put them through, but with a bend. He penned successfully which contributed to his seventh place, although time ran out in the shedding ring.

Fraser Shennan whistled his Sky (F Shennan’s Spot, J Shennan’s Rosie) on her outrun and stopped her short to be in position to lift her sheep. His judgement was good and Sky lifted nicely, but the hoggs fought her on the fetch and ran out wide to avoid the fetch gate. Sky got to grips with them after that, had a good drive and then penned the packet. Although again, time ran out in the shedding run, Sky took eighth place on 65 points.

Credit is due to two novice handlers who made the prize list among regular Scottish team members and past international champions.

Michael Leggat’s Lass (G Simpson’s Lad, T Morgan’s Mwnt Pip) ran out and lifted nicely, and although the hoggs bolted on the fetch and stopped at the gate, Lass got them through. The drive started well, but a bend on the cross drive and a misjudgement at the gate made a hole in the run. A good pen followed and with Michael’s help, Lass made her shed and finished ninth on 63 points, ahead of tenth on outbye.

Ben McSporran’s Dot (R Lewis’ Don, R Steel’s Sally) responded to Ben’s whistle to turn her out on her outrun, fetched well, got her first drive gate, but in an effort to make a neat turn, put them back through. Despite that, she made a good cross drive and penned well. A successful shed finished the run with 63 pts and tenth place.

Leading awards

2026 Inter district nursery final, Luss (Judge: M Magnusson, Sweden) – 10 teams of 5 dogs ran – 1, C Toner's Twig, Drimsynie, 73; 2, N Gillon’s Jet, Dailly, 71; 3, P Martin’s Jean, Glenlyon, 68 outbye; 4, M Gallagher’s Dalriada Grace, Alyth, 68; 5, F Shennan’s Bruce, Barr, 66 outbye; 6, E Nilsson’s Roxy, Alyth outbye; 7, I Fergie's Cris, Straiton, 66; F Shennan’s Skye, Barr, 65; M Leggat’s Lass, New Pitsligo, 63 outbye; 10, B McSporran’s Dot, Wester Middleton, 63. Teams – 1, South Ayr, 315; 2, North Ayr, 307; 3, Central, 294.

Main awards

John Ferguson Cup (Champion) – C Toner's Twig, Drimsynie;

Interdistrict trophy (Breeder of Champion) – F Renwick’s Sheil, Inverbroom;

RSABI quaich (Runner up) – N Gillon’s Jet, Dailly;

Robert Wallace Shield – South Ayr team;

Lyn Lewis trophy (competitor never previously competed in National trial) – M Leggat’s Lass, New Pitsligo;

James McNeil Memorial trophy (Best Outbye) – C Toner's Twig, Drimsynie;

John Paterson memorial trophy (Best Drive) – F Shennan’s Bruce, Barr;

Bill Fleming trophy (youngest competitor) – Y Mouat’s High Ash Scott, Yell;

HT Johnston Shield (handled by breeder) – M Gallagher’s Dalriada Grace, Alyth;

Tweeddale Sheepdogs trophy (Best pen and shed) – JL McMillan’s Blue, Newton Stewart;