A good, steady run 'with no holes in it' from Stuart Davidson’s Lee, led a closely packed list at Cashlie, the last trial of the season before the hill lambing started.

A dull morning cleared to a fine day and the Cheviot hoggs were lively on the course and could be difficult to pen. The cross drive was not easily judged, with a small ridge running across potentially misleading the handler.

The sheep were more settled on their second time around, but by that time they knew that the exhaust pen was set beyond the cross drive and would happily have gone directly there, rather than participate in the cross drive gate, return to the pen and the close work.

Lee (C Davidson’s Cap, SL Davidson’s Gillieglen Queen) overshot her sheep a little at the top which impacted slightly on the lift. She brought them down the fetch with just a waver on the way down and a good line thereafter.

She made a good turn round Stuart and worked well on the drive, keeping good lines and turns and made a good return to the pen. The hoggs were unsettled at the pen, but with a little time Lee secured the packet. A clean shed completed the run in first place.

Michael McNally’s Finn (M MacNally’s Killiebrae Moss, R Welsh’s Maid) ran out well to the back of his sheep, and after a slight swing at the start of the fetch, kept a good straight line, but he had a wide turn on to the drive.

The first leg started well, but the hoggs split before the drive away gate and only two went through. Once Finn had regrouped the sheep, and driven them on to the second leg with a slightly wide turn, the cross drive went well. Typically, the hoggs resisted at the pen, but Finn stopped any major breaks and finished the run with a good shed and second place.

Mosse Magnusson’s Kemi Sally (A Lehtio’s Kemi Rhys, DK Evans’ Meg) ran out well, and although the sheep were on the move as she lifted, she took control, but the line swung at the start of the fetch.

Once en route, the fetch went well, but again, the turn round Mosse’s feet was wide. The drive was ship-shape and it followed by an excellent pen. The balance between man and dog tipped a little towards Mosse at the shed, but when the work was done, the run was ranked third, with another three dogs in close contention for fourth place.

LEADING awards

Cashlie (Judge: K Kelly, Killin). Open – 44 ran – 1, SL Davidson’s Lee, Sandbank, 86; 2, M MacNally’s Finn, Invergarry, 85; 3, M Magnusson’s Kemi Sally, Mid Derry, 84; 4, L Magnusson’s Kate, Mid Derry, 83 outbye; 5, N McVicar’s Bill, Benmore, 83 Outbye; 6, N McVicar’s Mist, Benmore, 83.

Skeld, Shetland (Judge: MC Hughson, Scalloway). Nursery – 14 ran – Under 18 months – 1, J Ramsay’s Ellie, Ollaberry, 47/60; 2, R Colclough’s Skye, Yell, 44; 3, J Ramsay’s Fly, Ollaberry, 41; 18-30 months –1, D Murray’s Petra, North Roe, 49; 2, S Fraser’s Tess, Cullswick, 45; 3, J Ridland’s Jill, Skeld, 43. Championship – 1, S Fraser’s Tess, Cullswick, 47; 2, R Colclough’s Skye, Yell, 45 outbye; 3, J Ramsay’s Ellie, Ollaberry, 45. Open – 20 ran – 1, C Williamson’s Moss, Ollaberry, 88; 2, D Murray’s Petra, North Roe, 85; 3, S Fraser’s Tess, Cullswick, 84.