Neil Gillon won a challenging Scottish National trial at Letham Farm, Glenfarg, near Perth with his eight-year-old Boss – 10 years after his previous National success with Shweep.
“Boss kept the sheep calm and took his time, he has a good feel for sheep,” said Neil.
A testing combination of lively gimmers and a tough course saw many experienced handlers retiring or biding their time only to hear the bell ring on unfinished runs.
The course set out from a slope that ran a short way down to a deep, fenced ditch with wide gateways on either hand, each opening on to a bridge across. A green hill then rose up sharply, a distance of 450yds, to where the Mule and Texel cross gimmers were set out calmly by a very able team.
Dogs lifted five gimmers and fetched them downhill through a set of gates and over the bridge on a line for the handler. They were turned round the start post and driven away, but a rough, rocky patch of ground near the first set of gates made it hard for dogs to keep the sheep online for that obstacle. The 130yd cross-drive ran above the ditch and through a second set of gates before the return to complete the run with a shed, pen and single.
The long, steep outrun was testing and the judges were exacting, penalising dogs that struggled to get to their sheep without repeated encouragement.
Judge Brendon Smith said: “Some packets were trickier than others, but the best runs came when the dogs managed to settle the sheep. Neil’s dog settled his sheep. He made the best turn round the post and he had a very strong finish. Chris Toner’s dog saw his sheep and ran out for them, with conviction. It was a hard trial to judge, it tested the dogs.”
Neil whistled Boss on his outrun to ensure he found the gate and he went to the top, but Neil wrongly thought he was short, whistled him on and then corrected that. Boss (S Perello Galdan’s Murgia Jim, R Hutchinson’s Denwyn Moya) lifted nicely and walked the sheep down to the bridge with a minor wiggle, but he kept them settled, brought them calmly up to Neil and turned them neatly round him. The line wavered on the drive away, but Boss put the sheep through the gate and made another neat turn and a good cross drive until, approaching the gate, Neil gave Boss a flank which he did not like – it made for an untidy job, but Boss got his gate and made another tight turn and a good return.
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Boss came into his own at the close work, benefiting from the relationship he had built with the sheep. He shed two plain sheep, reunited the packet, walked them into the pen and completed the winning run with an excellent singling of one of two collared sheep to earn 186/220pts and the national championship.
Neil said: “I was pleased to be in the lead on Friday, but I knew that could change, and after I saw Chris’ run on Saturday afternoon, I thought it might! I was relieved that we didn’t have long to wait for the update.”
Former Scottish champions of 2023 and 2025, Chris Toner and Niro Mace proved still fit for the job. Mace (R Watson’s Ace, C Toner’s Maid) ran out, jumped the fence on the correct line, ran to his sheep and lifted them. The line of the fetch wavered, and the gimmers were unsettled on the drive, but a clean shed and single and a very good pen made him reserve on 184pts.
Fraser Shennan’s Sky (F Shennan’s Spot, J Shennan’s Rose) distinguished herself with a near-perfect outrun faulted by a single point mustered out of two judges. She had a very good lift and a decent fetch and became the first dog to win the newly presented JR Welsh Trophy for the best outbye work. The drive started well, but when the Mules gathered speed, Fraser sent her bye. Sky took her command but failed to stop when he asked her and the packet missed the gate. A clean shed, an excellent pen and a good single completed the run in third place on 178pts.
Receiving the trophy, Fraser said: “Jock helped me when I started, so this means a lot to me, especially being the first person to win it.”
Final dog of the trial, Neil McVicar’s Mark, upset the order when he achieved fourth place and put everyone below him further down the prize list. On the outrun, Neil repeatedly redirected Mark to find the bridge and again, after the gap, but Mark (JP McGee’s Glencregg Silver, IM Brownlie’s Lia) worked very well to make up for that with a very good lift, fetch and drive. He shed and singled cleanly and kepped a bold Mule very well at the pen to rack up 174pts.
Ian Brownlie’s Lark (D Robertson’s Joe, A Watson’s Fan) got off to a good start, although the gimmers went off line on the fetch and there were wavers on the drive. The shed and single took time and effort to come off, but a clean pen helped attain 163pts for a finished run which took fifth place.
Brace winners
Although Shadwell Ceit (L Thelen’s Jo, M Hutchinson’s Shadwell Fell) needed guidance from Seumas Campbell to get to her sheep, she and Queen lifted 10 sheep together. On the fetch, the gimmers tried to go offline and avoid the gate, and although Queen (RJ Hutchinson’s Jock, I Wilkie’s Floss) put pressure on them to get back on line, they resisted, but Queen held her ground and put them through. The kennel mates worked well on the drive, although their turns were a little wide. Queen shed off five sheep, penned and held them in an open pen, with full marks. Time ran out before Seumas and Ceit secured the remainder, but with sound work achieved, the Skye team claimed the brace championship on 196/280pts.
LEADING awards
Scottish National Sheepdog trial – Individual (Judges: I MacDonald, Staffin, B Smith, Dunrossness). 118 dogs – 1, N Gillon’s Boss, Barr, 186/220; 2, C Toner’s Niro Mace, Drimsynie, 184; 3, F Shennan’s Sky, Barr, 178; 4, N McVicar’s Mark, Benmore, 174; 5, IM Brownlie’s Lark, Dunbar, 163; 6, M Young’s Jess, Kilmarnock, 159; 7, H Brown’s Mainstay Pip, Coulter, 155; 8, N Campbell’s Moss, Kinross, 151; 9, D Wallace’s Jock, Blyth Bridge, 150; 10, D Kinloch’s Zak, Kilsyth, 149; 11, V Shearer’s Viking Misty, Westfield, 148; 12, F Shennan’s Belle, Barr, 144; 13, M Gallagher’s Hillrunner Rex, Alyth, 143; 14, R Henderson’s Spot, Gifford, 142 outbye; 15, S Young’s Frank, Barr, 142; Res., A Campbell’s Nap, Biggar, 138.
Brace (Judges: M McTeir, Moniaive, R Armour, New Cumnock). Five pairs – 1, S Campbell’s Queen and Shadwell Ceit, Uig, 196/220; 2, E Nilsson’s Midderry Kid and Ruh, Alyth, 162;
Special prizes
N Gillon’s Boss, Barr – John Angus MacLeod Memorial trophy, JM Wilson Challenge Shield, Rainie National shield, JW McNaughton Farmers’ cup.
C Toner’s Niro Mace, Drimsynie – Alexander Andrew trophy (Scottish-bred animal), AA Armstrong Shepherds’ cup.
H Brown’s Mainstay Pip, Coulter – Miss McFarlane trophy (new to Scottish team).
A Campbell’s Nap, Biggar – Warnock trophy (first day lead).
N McVicar’s Mark, Benmore – Tom Gilholm trophy (driving).
T McKinlay’s Heatherstane Squiggle, Parkhall – Drumclog cup (youngest competitor).
M Watt’s Jess, Letham – Jack Fraser trophy (sportsmanship).
F Shennan’s Sky, Barr – JR Welsh Memorial trophy (outbye).
S Campbell’s Queen and Shadwell Ceit, Uig – Helensburgh Brace trophy.
E Nilsson’s Midderry Kid and Ruh, Alyth – Jimmy Menzies, Baledmund Memorial trophy (brace runner up).
F Hood’s Min, Clova – Engraved Logan whistle (international young handler).
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