Daisy edges out Roy at Ardgay

Mixed lots of ewes responded to careful handling on the good, flat field, but could be flighty otherwise and resisted the pen.

Daisy (D Naylor’s Straid Moss, P Martin’s Jill) worked faultlessly outbye and had a good drive with just minor wavers. Like others, Daisy had to work hard at the pen, but eventually secured the sheep and a clean shed put her in the running for first place.

Roy (H MacLean’s Roy, H Johnstone’s Fellgate Bella) ran out and lifted cleanly, had a good fetch and a good drive marred only by wide turns. The pen went well and a clean shed put the run in contention for top slot, until the run off deemed it second.

Cairndow, too, was decided by a run-off. Flighty Blackface gimmers running on the big, steep hill course and drawing to a familiar homeward route tested the dogs driving them round the course.

Stuart Davidson’s Gillieglen Queen ran out clean to the top with just a few whistles and lifted well. Her sheep broke on the fetch and made their way into bracken and rocks which proved the end of some runs, but Queen was one of very few dogs fit to retrieve them. The line wavered near the end of the fetch, but Queen put the sheep round the turning post, had a good drive, a good pen and shed and finished in line for first place.

Allan McKenzie’s Dot (R Fahimi’s Lad, PG Pugh’s Gilfach Maid) needed a little more whistling to get her out to the top, but she lifted well, got on top of her sheep and had a very good fetch. She put them round the post and had a good drive, with just minor wavers. A good finish put her in contention for first place until the run off made her second.

The Cheviot gimmers on the flat course at Heriot were touchy in the morning, but settled later, although they were inclined to move off as the dogs approached. Some dogs turned their sheep before the first drive gate.

Ian Brownlie’s Lia (R Hutchinson’s Sweep, IM Brownlie’s Mo) worked cleanly outbye and at hand and only very minor wavers on each leg of the drive put her into first place.

Eva Eriksson’s Zalt ran out cleanly, lifted and fetched very well and completed the run with only minor wavers on the drive and a clean finish. One of only two dogs on the prize list from the morning’s running, Zalt earned second place, ahead of a closely packed list.

The Blackface gimmers at Doon Valley ran well on the rough, uphill course, but they were tricky to pen. The outrun tested the dogs, while some good runs sank at the shed.

Willie Welsh’s Cap (A Owen’s Llangwm Cap, M Jones’ June) ran out cleanly, lifted very well and had a good fetch. He worked exceptionally well on the drive and penned after a few minor breaks. The gimmers were unsettled at the shed, but once Cap made his shed, he earned first place, with the field hot on his heels.

The Blackface gimmers at Cowal ran very well across a brae face and let good dogs show themselves to advantage.

Neil McVicar’s Mist (R Hutchinson’s Sweep, IM Brownlie’s Mo) worked well outbye, had minor wavers on the fetch and drive and finished the winning run with a clean pen and shed and Jock Welsh hot on his heels with two well matched dogs, Cree and Tanhill Sam.

Cree (JR Welsh’s Tanhill Nap, FW Shennan’s Fizz) too, worked well outbye but made a wide turn from Jock’s feet to the drive and wavers on the drive. Cree worked hard in the close work and penned and shed without a break and earned second place on outbye work.

Tanhill Sam (A Baines’ Tanhill Rick and Tanhill Meg) ran out well, but when his sheep went off line from the lift, he was a little slow to put them on line, but got them there, started the drive well, but had a wide turn out of the first drive gate. A successful pen and shed put the work into third place.

LEADING awards

Heriot (Judge: J Robinson, Springhill). Open – 70 ran – 1, IM Brownlie’s Lia, Deuchrie, 97; 2, E Eriksson’s Zalt, Sweden, 95; 3, CM Magnusson’s Kemi Sally, Mid Derry, 94; 4, IM Brownlie’s Tib, Deuchrie, 93 outbye; 5, L Magnusson’s Kate, Mid Derry, 93 outbye; 6, RB Henderson’s Skid, Heriot, 93; 7, JA Common’s Groesfaen Mac, Lockerbie, 92 outbye; 8, S Morgan’s Tess, Heriot, 92. Novice – 1, K Blackwood’s Jill, Abington, 85.

Ardgay (Judge: A Cameron, Callander). Open – 50 ran – 1, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 93 run-off; 2, H Johnstone’s Queen, Fyvie, 93; 3, J MacKillop’s Zac, Fort Augustus, 87; 4, P Martin’s Jill, Glenlyon, 85; 5, S Grant’s Tib, Strathcanaird, 84; 6, W Cormack’s Jill, Dunnet, 83; 7, S Grant’s Tia, Strathcanaird, 81; 8, S Renwick’s Rocci, Inverbroom, 80.

Cowal (Judge: N Gillon, Dailly). Open – 70 ran – 1, N McVicar’s Mist, Benmore, 92; 2, JR Welsh’s Cree, Dalrymple, 91 outbye; 3, JR Welsh’s Tanhill Sam, Dalrymple, 91; 4, CM Magnusson’s Kemi Sally, Mid Derry, 90; 5, C Cropper’s Fly, Drimsynie, 88 outbye; 6, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 88; 7, CM Magnusson’s Sprout, Mid Derry, 86 outbye; 8, SL Davidson’s Lee, Sandbank, 86.

Doon Valley (Judge: D Robertson, Langholm). Open – 51 ran – 1, W Welsh’s Cap, Dalcairney, 91; 2, A McCulloch’s Risp, Dalmellington, 90 Outbye; 3, SL Davidson’s Gillieglen Queen, Sandbank, 90; 4, F Shennan’s Mia, Barr, 89; 5, GC Gardner’s Nan, Lesmahagow, 87; 6, AJ Hughson’s Faye, Brunthamarsland, 85.

Cairndow (Judge: A Wright, Ballater). Open – 35 ran – 1, SL Davidson’s Gillieglen Queen, Sandbank, 91 run-off; 2, AC MacKenzie jnr’s Dot, Lochearnhead, 91; 3, AD MacKenzie’s Jess, Lochearnhead, 80 outbye; 4, AC MacKenzie jnr’s Maid, Lochearnhead, 80; 5, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 69; 6, S Martin’s Katie, Cashlie, 67.

Tingwall (Judge: MC Hughson, Scalloway). Open – 30 ran – 1, AJ Hughson’s Faye, Brunthamarsland, 90; 2, J Ramsay’s Fly, Ollaberry,82; 3, S Fraser’s Jan, Cullswick, 77 outbye; 4, J Nicolson’s Riley, Scalloway,77; 5, D Kinloch’s Jen, Kilsyth, 74; 6, C Williamson’s Jaff, Ollaberry, 73. Championship – 1, J Ramsay’s Fly, Ollaberry, 93; 2, AJ Hughson’s Faye, Brunthamarsland, 92; 3, D Kinloch’s Jen, Kilsyth, 78.5. Limit – 1, R Anderson’s Wallace, Ollaberry, 42/60; 2, C Williamson’s Alfie, Ollaberry, 41; 3, J Priest’s Cap, Raewick, 32.

North Mavine, Shetland (Judge: R MacDiarmid, Cairndow). Open – 29 ran – 1, D Murray’s Ali, North Roe, 88; 2, J Ramsay’s Jim, Ollaberry, 85; 3, AJ Hughson’s Faye, Brunthamarsland, 81; 4, D Kinloch’s Jen, Kilsyth, 72 outbye; 5, J Nicolson’s Todd, Scalloway, 72. Championship – 1, D Murray’s Ali, North Roe, 94; 2, AJ Hughson’s Faye, Brunthamarsland, 85; 3, J Ramsay’s Jim, Ollaberry, 84; 4, J Nicolson’s Todd, Scalloway, 71; 5, D Kinloch’s Jen, Kilsyth, ret. Doubles – 1, D Kinloch’s Jen and Gwen, Kilsyth, 50/120; 2, C Williamson’s Joe and Jaff, Ollaberry, 40. Limit – 1, J Ramsay’s Tweed, Ollaberry, 33; 2, I Sutherland’s Ice, Fetlar, 29; 3, C Williamson’s Sweep, Ollaberry, 21.

Northumberland League

Powburn (Judge: S Wallace, Prendwick). Open – 68 ran – 1, JW Common’s Cowlow Rosie, Lockerbie, 90; 2, D Henderson’s Star, Allendale, 89; 4, M Elliott’s Stan, Lazonby, 83; 5, M Northwood’s Queen, West Woodburn, 82; 6, I Murdoch’s Ben, Northumberland, 81.

English National – Singles – 1, S Perello’s Galdon Murguia Jim; 2, J Dumbleton’s Sid; 3, T Longton’s Rootenbrook Roy; 4, JS Howard’s Bill; 5, J Cropper’s Dan; 6, D Henderson’s Star; 7, V Morris’ Bob; 8, D Bristow’s Nell; 9, TSM Bulging’s Mist; 10, JR Scrivin’s Trefly Taff; 11, PM Hallam’s Upland Cap; 12, M Glasgow’s Finn; 13, B Bell’s Hutch; 14, TW Longton’s Maya; 15, RJ Hutchinson’s Jock; Res, J Goulder’s Chap. Brace – RJ Hutchinson’s Jock and Moya; Res, K Cropper’s Tsarvo and Zac.