Chris and Niro Mace win the double lift at Bute for third time

Mace was also top qualifying dog in his group of 150 dogs, based on an aggregate of three days of open trialling.

Chris called Mace – his double Scottish national champion of 2023 and 2025 – “My dog of a lifetime.” Mace previously partnered Chris to success at Bute in 2023 and 2024, but missed out in 2025, because, as one of the judges, Chris did not compete.

Mixed packets of Blackface and Texel cross gimmers ran well on a testing course at Ardros, which sent dogs downhill, though a gate, up into the next field for 400yds before running a further 350yds up a banking to lift their first lot of sheep. Dogs then fetched them diagonally down and through a gate, back to the first gate of the outrun before turning back for the second packet. It proved difficult to keep the sheep on line on the second fetch as the dog brought them down the banking, 700yds from the handler, but some dogs managed better than others.

Mace (R Watson’s Ace, C Toner’s Maid) ran out perfectly, lifted his first packet smoothly and fetched the eight sheep down to the drop point. He turned back for the second eight, but had trouble bringing them down to join the first packet which was the only weak point of his run. Once they were united, Mace drove them round course, well nigh unfaulted. He shed four collared sheep nicely and penned them cleanly, to complete the winning run with a comfortable lead.

James McGee’s Roeldog Becca (JP McDaid’s Toby, E Kraan’s Eire Miss) worked well on her first outrun, made a good turn back and fetched them nicely back to join up with the rest. The drive went well with just minor wavers, the close work matched Mace’s, even to each judge’s opinion, so Becca finished runner up.

Floyd Farthing’s Sal (DM Howell’s Dick, LM Howell’s Tytal Wyn Lyn ) worked steadily on her first outrun, and on her turn back. Like Mace, she had trouble fetching her sheep down to join up, but once that was done she drove them round the course and completed her run with the only clean shed and pen of the trial, to earn third place.

Two good brace runs stood out from the also rans, with Seumas Campbell’s Queen and Shadwell Ceit a single point ahead of Bevis Jordan’s full brothers, Chase and Judge.

Queen (RJ Hutchinson’s Jock, I Wilkie’s Floss) ran out flawlessly to the sheep, and with the help of Seumas’ whistle, Ceit (L Thelen’s Jo, M Hutchinson’s Shadwell Fell) got there too. The pair worked together to effect a clean lift and made a good fetch. They drove their eight sheep round the course with just a wide turn out of the first drive gate to fault them. Queen made a perfect shed and took the first packet of four to the mouth of the un gated pen, three slipped between Seumas and the pen but she quickly retrieved them, penned and kept them there, while Ceit gathered the remainder and completed the winning brace run with a clean pen.

Despite Bevis’ attempt to give Judge (B Jordan’s Bozo and Burnside Cis) time for his accustomed big outrun, with a start ahead of Chase, Judge needed a whistle to get into place behind the sheep. Once the pair had them moving, they fetched them with a little wiggling of the line, but got them through the gate, and followed that with an excellent drive. Elder brother Judge shed, and Chase took the remnant to the pen. One gimmer broke apart, but Chase stopped her and penned his lot. Judge brought his sheep to the second pen, secured his packet and the home-bred, Northumbrian outfit earned second place.

LEADING awards

Trials of Bute double lift final (Judge: S VD Sweep, Netherlands, B Jordan, England). – 1, C Toner’s Niro Mace, Scotland, 296 /320; 2, JP McGee’s Roeldog Becca, Ireland, 289; 3, F Farthing’s Sal, Wales, 281; 4, D Jenkins’ Clwyd Bob, Wal, 269; 5, E Gray’s Banjo, Scot, 265; 6, P Martin’s Holly, Scot, 246; 7, N McVicar’s Baledmund Pete, Scot, 245; 8, CM Magnusson’s Midderry Nell, Sweden, 244; 9, DW Davies’ Treflys Fflos, Wal, 226; 10, P Morgan’s Nantmel Bob, Ire,193; 11, V Hebeler’s Dean, Germany, 178; 12, S McCulloch’s Sam, Scot, 166; 13, P Martin’s Stella, Scot, 147.

Brace (Judge: A Owen, Corwen). Eight ran – 1, S Campbell’s Shadwell Ceit and Queen, Scot, 125/140; 2, B Jordan’s Chase and Judge, Eng, 124; 3, T Michelon’s Buzz and Bet, Brazil, 112; 4, K Cropper’s Sam and Roy, Eng, 98.

Ardros day I, A (Judge: B Jordan, Whitfield). Open – 53 ran – 1, D Jenkins’ Clwyd Bob, Wal, 96; 2, P Johnson’s Sooty, Eng, 92; 3, DW Davies’ Treflys Fflos, Wal, 91; 4, E Gray’s Banjo, Scot, 91; 5, D Jenkins’ High Hills Jo, Wal, 91; 6, P Martin’s Stella, Scot, 89.

Scalpsie day II, A (Judge: GC Gardner, Lesmahagow). Open – 53 ran – 1, DW Davies’ Treflys Fflos, Wal, 99; 2, Mark O’Neill’s Tec, Ire, 96; 3, M Davidson’s Henry, Eng, 96; 4, D Jenkins’ Clwyd Bob, Wal, 95; 5, V Hebeler’s Dean, Germ, 93; 6, G Josien’s Rita, France, 93.

Plan Farm day III, A (Judge: S VD Sweep, Netherlands). Open – 52 ran – 1, P Martin’s Stella, Scot, 88; 2, M Davidson’s Jill, Eng, 83; 3, G Josien’s Rita, Fra, 83; 4, K Donald’s Hillrunner Bea, Scot, 80; 5, G Josien’s Urka Billy, Fra, 77; 6, D Robertson’s Derwen Roy, Scot, 77.

Plan Farm day I, B (Judge: S VD Sweep, Netherlands). Open – 52 ran – 1, S McCulloch’s Rhysgog Sarah, Scot, 96; 2, CM Magnusson’s Midderry Nell, Swed, 95; 3, CM Magnusson’s Don, Swed, 91; 4, C Toner’s Niro Mace, Scot, 89; 5, N McVicar’s Baledmund Pete, Scot, 89; 6, JP McGee’s Roeldog Becca, Ire, 89.

Ardros day II, B (Judge: B Jordan, Whitfield). Open – 52 ran – 1, F Farthing’s Sal, Wal, 98; 2, JP McGee’s Glencregg Silver, Ire, 96; 3, C Toner’s Niro Mace, Scot, 95; 4, A Blomkvist’s Kemi Samie, Swed, 95; 5, E McAuley’s Jonny, Ire, 94; 6, N McVicar’s Mark, Scot, 94.

Scalpsie day III, B (Judge: GC Gardner, Lesmahagow). Open – 49 ran – 1, JP McGee’s Roeldog Becca, Ire, 94; 2, S McCulloch’s Sam, Scot, 93; 3, F Farthing’s Sal, Wal, 91; 4,W Gallagher’s Del, Ire, 91; 5, C Toner’s Grace, Scot, 91; 6, SL Davidson’s Mack, Scot, 91.

Double lift finalists – 311 ran – 1, D Jenkins’ Clwyd Bob, Wal, 87; 2, C Toner’s Niro Mace, Scot, 85; 3, DW Davies’ Treflys Fflos, Wal, 75 outbye; 4, JP McGee’s Glencregg Silver, Ire, 75; 5, F Farthing’s Sal, Wal, 73 outbye; 6, JP McGee’s Roeldog Becca, Ire,73; 7, P Martin’s Holly, 71; 8, N McVicar’s Baledmund Pete, Scot, 70; 9, N McVicar’s Mark, Scot, 62; 10, E Gray’s Banjo, Scot, 61 outbye; 11, S McCulloch’s Sam, Scot, 61 outbye; 12, V Hebeler’s Dean, Germ, 61; 13, M O’Neill’s Tac, Ire, 60; 14, P Morgan’s Nantmel Bob, Ire, 58; 15, C Rundle’s Llangwym Patch, Wales, 55; 16, P Martin’s Stella, Scot, 54 outbye; 17, E McAuley’s Gem, Ire, 54; 18, CM Magnusson’s Midderry Nell, Swed, 50.