Two good runs from Alistair Stewart’s Kemi Ruby left the rest of the field well behind her at two trials in one day at Gillesbie.

In the first trial, the North Country Cheviot ewes were heavy to shift round the big, gently rising course and inclined to stamp their feet at the pen. The field opened out at the top and narrowed for the close work, but some recently trimmed branches lying at the top tended to distract some young dogs.

Ruby (DK Evans’ Tanhill Glen and Vicky) ran out well over the big outrun, but took a whistle to move the small distance on to the lift point. She worked well on the course, dropping only minor points and finished with a lead of more than 20 points.

The second trial of the day saw lively gimmers replacing the ewes and these were more resistant at the pen.

Ruby had a little trouble again at the top, but once more worked well on the course. Although she met more resistance at the pen, she penned without letting them break and to earn her second win of the day.

Geordie Simpson only had one Yonder Bognie trial, but achieved multiple success by securing the top three places with Gelert, Elwy Rodger and Kim, respectively.

There, the Texel cross ewes ran well if dogs handled them appropriately.

The course ran downhill, with a big outrun, a long drive, and the sheep fetched uphill to the handler.

Gelert (DW Davies’ Prince, HL Pritchard’s Bet) had a good run, dropping only minor points over the course, and a clean finish gave him first place.

Then, Elwy Rodger (J Richardson’s Shep, AH Roberts’s Morag) ran out to find his sheep unsettled, but once he had them under control it went better, with clean close work completing the run for second.

Kim (J Hey’s Don, SM Hey’s Tess) was slightly short at the far end, but lifted her sheep and took them round the course with just minor wavers.

Another good finish put Kim level on points with Rodger, taking third place, on outbye work.

A steep course at Dryden tested young dogs and two distinguished themselves by running across the face of a knowe at the top of the course, while some regarded it as an obstacle. Dogs ran out blind on either hand and although the left hand outrun was steeper than the right, the knowe was the bogey of the right hand.

John Allan’s Ellie (J Allan’s Rob and Meg) ran to the right, took the terrain in her stride, landed in the right spot and lifted the NCC hoggs flawlessly and made an excellent fetch. 

Her drive started out well, but there was a little waver before they went through the drive away gate. The cross drive also wavered a little and the passage through the gate was untidy, but a good pen and shed was enough to secure first, albeit by a small margin.

Bobby Dalziel’s Mack (I Fourney’s Spot, C Le Guelle’s Jeda) was a little too wide near the top of his right hand outrun and landed behind the hillock, out of the handler’s sight, but once he got to his sheep, he worked well on the course and finished second.

The Blackface hoggs at Bettyknowes were easy to handle on the flat course which, with no fetch gates, gave the young dogs a good chance.

Billy Common’s Cowlow Rosie (GRN Saxon’s Cammen Rip, I Hulme’s Cowlow Fan) ran out and lifted cleanly. She brought the sheep down to the bottom on a good line, with only minor deviations, making a good turn round the post, a nice line up the first leg of the drive through the gate with a tight turn.

Rosie had the sheep moving at a nice pace along the cross drive, through the gate, another neat turn and good return to the chute, with only very minor deviations. 

A good clean chute followed. A little difficulty arose at the shed, as the hoggs were not keen to separate, but Billy and Rosie worked hard, split the four sheep to earn first place.

Norman MacDonald’s Cap lifted cleanly and held a good line down the fetch. He made a good turn round Norman, put the sheep on a good line up the first leg of the drive and through the gate. Cap kept the sheep moving at a good pace on the cross drive, through the gates, and a good turn back to the chute, with minor wavers. Clean work at hand completed the run in second place.

Murray Common’s Queen (DK Evans’ Flock, C Harding’s Fly) ran out to the right, lifted in a controlled manner, losing nothing in the process. She fetched the sheep on a good line, with only minor deviations. A good drive followed, again with only minor deviations. The pen was clean, and although Queen had a little difficulty with the shed, she finished as first placed novice.

LEADING awards:

Yonder Bognie (Judge: I MacKay, Leanach).

Nursery – 20 ran – 1, G Simpson’s Gelert, Forgue, 94; 2, G Simpson’s Elwy Rodger, Forgue, 91 outbye; 3, G Simpson’s Kim, Forgue, 91; 4, J McKenzie’s Meg, Turriff, 82; 5, G Simpson’s Lad, Forgue, 80 outbye; 6, G Simpson’s Celt, Forgue, 80. Older dogs – 1, J McKenzie’s Tweedie, Turriff, 83; 2, W Davidson’s Mona, Turriff, 82; 3, H Johnstone’s Fellgate Bella, Fyvie, 79.

Gillesbie I (Judge: W Todd, Langholm). 

Nursery – six ran – 1, A Stewart’s Kemi Ruby, Lockerbie, 93; 2, J Mitchell’s Paige, New Luce, 70; 3, I McMillan’s Straid Zac, Newton Stewart, 66; 4, D Mitchell’s Kate, Stranraer, 64; 5, C Caygill’s Seth, Whinnyliggate, 46.

Gillisbie II (Judge: D Robertson, Langholm).

Nursery – six ran – 1, A Stewart’s Kemi Ruby, Lockerbie, 82; 2, I McMillan’s Dykecroft Fly, Newton Stewart, 70; 3, J Mitchell’s Paige, New Luce, 69; 4, I McMillan’s Straid Zac, Newton Stewart, 67; 5, D Mitchell’s Kate, Stranraer, 66; 6, C Caygill’s Seth, Whinnyliggate, 50.

Dryden (Judge:A Wilson, Philiphaugh).

Nursery – 17 ran – 1, J Allan’s Ellie, Mount Benger, 90; 2, R Dalziel’s Mack, Ettrick, 88; 3, M Arres’ Moss, Ashkirk, 87; 4, A Dickman’s Jaff, Oxton,77; 5, C Dickson’s Stuart, Coldingham, 76; 6, I Jackson’s Chap, Ancrum, 75. Novice – 1, S Blaikie’s Jeff, Cranshaws, 64; 2, G Pate’s Tib, Humbie, 61.

Bettyknowes, Crocketford (Judge: B White, Dalry).

Nursery – 18 ran – 1, JW Common’s Cowlow Rosie, Lockerbie, 86; 2, N MacDonald’s Cap, Shawhead, 84; 3, D Robertson’s Moss, Langholm, 83 outbye; 4, JW Common’s Jaff, Lockerbie, 83; 5, D Robertson’s Lad, Langholm, 74; 6, M Forster’s Meg, Irongray, 71. Novice – 1, JM Common’s Queen, Lockerbie, 84 outbye; 2, M Wilson’s Meg, Corsock, 84; 3, A Mair’s Wispa, Parkgate, 83; 4, JM Common’s Grit, Lockerbie, 79; 5, J Thomson’s Drift, Penpont, 75. Pro-novice – 1, N MacDonald’s Meg, Shawhead, 89; 2, D Aitken’s Tami, Lockerbie, 82; 3, D Aitken’s Tweeddale Buzz, Lockerbie, 79; 4, H Jackson’s Pip, Penpont; Killcreen Nan 60.

South Annan I (Judge: A McCulloch, Dalmellington).

Nursery – 17 ran – 1, I Lockhart’s Joe, Carsphairn, 78; 2, C Toner’s Kemi Doc, Drimsynie, 74; 3, L Gast’s Ben, Scalpsie, 71; 4, N McVicar’s Bill, Benmore,70; 5, C Toner’s Tami, Drimsynie, 65; 6, N Docherty’s Spot, Bute, 64.

South Annan II (Judge: C Armstrong, Archbank).

Nursery – 17 ran –1, C Cropper’s Rhydale Paddy, Drimsynie, 86; 2, SL Davidson’s Kep, Sandbank, 84; 3, N McEachern’s Misty, Dunoon, 82; 4, L Gast’s Ben, Scalpsie, 80 outbye; 5, C Toner’s Kemi Doc, Drimsynie, 80; 6, N McVicar’s Bill, Benmore, 78.