Stuart McCrindle and Kate made the most of good sheep at Largs, achieving a big lead.

The Mule ewes ran well on the flat course, but made for the exhaust when regularly resisting the pen.

Kate worked flawlessly outbye and had a good drive, with just a slight wide turn out of the first drive gate and a minor waver before the cross drive gate. A clean pen and shed completed the run for a 17-point lead.

The Blackface gimmers at Ardlamont behaved well on a slightly rising course, where the pen was the bogey, but a clean effort there gave Bobby Middleton’s Jake the lead.

Jake covered his sheep well at the top, and fetched them on a good line. The drive started well, and although the gimmers tried to break from the first drive gate, he stopped them and put them through with a tight turn. The cross drive went well, but the turn was slightly wide. The only clean pen of the day followed and when the sheep split at the shed, Bobby called Jake in on the winning run.

The Mule gimmers at Skipness tested the dogs, facing the weaker ones, but generally ran well on the flat field.

Cameron Dickson’s Straid Star ran out and lifted cleanly and had a very good fetch. The sheep were slightly off line at the drive away gate and faced up to Star before she put them through. The cross drive went well, but for a minor waver before the next gate. Star penned cleanly and the shed took a little work, but enough to lead a close contest.

The Mule gimmers at Kintyre generally ran well on a flat field, but were less co-operative in the morning.

Duncan Robertson’s Joe ran out and lifted well and although the gimmers wanted to break to the release pen, Joe worked well and achieved a great fetch and drive, the best of the day. The pen went well, but Joe had to work to make his shed to top another tight pack.

LEADING awards

Largs (Judge: R Welsh, Patna). Open (35 ran) – 1, S McCrindle (Palnackie) Kate, 98; 2, R Middleton (Dalry) Jake, 81 outbye; 3, A. McCulloch (Dalmellington) Fern, 81; 4, N Gillon (Dailly) Shweep (Sweep),78; 5, N Docherty (Bute) Don, 76; 6, I Lockhart (Carsphairn) Bill, 72. Confined – 1, N Docherty (Bute) Don, 76; 2, N. Docherty (Bute) Chip, 59; 3, R Howatson (Fairlie) Cliff, 55.

Skipness (Judge: D Robertson, Langholm). Open (52 ran) – 1, C Dickson (Coldingham) Straid Star, 94; 2, AD McKenzie (Lochearnhead) Jess, 93 outbye; 3, C Davidson (Sandbank) Cap, 93; 4, S MacFarlane (Blairgowrie) Gem, 91; 5, W Welsh (Dalcairney) Cap, 90; 6, A McCulloch (Dalmellington) Risp, 89 outbye.

Kintyre (Judge: J. MacDougall, Milton of Buchanan). Open (55 ran) – 1, D Robertson (Langholm) Joe, 93; 2, L Magnusson (Mid Derry) Kate, 92; 3, CM Magnusson (Mid Derry) Kemi Sally, 91; 4, AD Carnegie (Comrie) Linburn Rook, 90 outbye; 5, SL Davidson (Sandbank) Gillieglen Queen, 90; 6, N McVicar (Benmore) Mist, 86; Confined – 1, A Ronald (Laggan) Robbie, 73; 2, L Clark (Menian) Moss, 69; 3, A McCuish (Skipness) Roy,63.

Ardlamont (Judge: J. MacKillop, Fort Augustus). Open (31 ran) – 1, R Middleton (Dalry) Jake, 93; 2, SL Davidson (Sandbank) Lee, 73; 3, AD Carnegie (Comrie) Linburn Rook, 88; 4, R Middleton (Neilston) Will, 87 outbye; 5, CM Magnusson (Mid Derry) Sprout, 66; 6, CM Magnusson (Mid Derry) Kemi Sally, 94. Local – 1, D MacRae (Ardlamont) Rob; 2, D MacRae (Ardlamont) Jock; 3, DK Crawford (Millhouse) Dan.

Carnwath (Judge: C Toner, Drimsynie). Open – 1, IM Brownlie (Deuchrie) Lia, 89 outbye; 2, JR Welsh (Dalrymple) Cree, 89; 3, RJ Hutchinson (Littledale) Jock, 84 outbye; 4, RJ Hutchinson (Littledale) Moya, 84; 5, GC Gardner (Lesmahagow) Meg, 83; 6, A McCulloch (Dalmellington) Sam, 82.

North Circuit

Kincraig I (Judge, B Strachan, Roybridge). Open (54 ran) – 1, W Morrison (West Yell) Straid Nell, 99; 2, JA Common (Lockerbie) Groesfaen Mac, 98 outbye; 3, JR Welsh (Dalrymple) Tanhill Sam, 98; 4, D Scrimgeour (Wigton) Lyn, 95; 5, K Brehmer (New Bythe) Cynfal Gwen, 94; 6, J Ramsay (Ollaberry) Fly, 92.

Kincraig II (Judge, M MacNally, Glengarry). Open (49 ran) – 1, JA Common (Lockerbie) Cammen Roy, 92; 2, P Martin (Glenlyon) Jill, 91; 3, P Martin (Glenlyon) Daisy, 90; 4, JR Welsh (Dalrymple) Tanhill Sam, 84; 5, AJ Hughson (Brunthamarsland) Faye, 82; 6, K Freeman (Killin) Cassie, 80 outbye.

Kingussie SDS, Kincraig (Judge, J McInnes, Alness) Open (50 ran) 1, D. Murray (North Roe) Petra,107; 2, P Martin (Glenlyon) Jill,103 outbye; 3, D MacKenzie (Inverness) Moss, 103 outbye; 4, N Ross (Kingussie) Bill, 103; 5, D Murray (North Roe) Ali, 102; 6, JR Welsh (Dalrymple) Tanhill Sam, 101.

Watten (Judge, M Cook, Halkirk). Open (51 ran) – 1, MC Shearer (Westfield) Roy, 90; 2, K Brehmer (New Bythe) Cynfal Gwen, 89; 3, P Martin (Glenlyon) Jill, 87; 4, D Murray (North Roe) Ali, 82 outbye; 5, MC Shearer (Westfield) Tib, 82; 60, JA Common (Lockerbie) Groesfaen Mac, 81. County – 1, MC Shearer (Westfield) Roy, 90; 2, MC Shearer (Westfield) Tib, 82; 3, MC Shearer (Westfield) Jim, 72; 4, M Grant (Forss) Cashlie, 69; 5, M Grant (Forss) Fred, 68; 6, D. Simpson (Barrock) Ellie, 64.

Mey (Judge, D. Mullan, Kinross). Open (52 ran) – 1, MC Shearer (Westfield) Tib, 93; 2, P Martin (Glenlyon) Daisy, 92 outbye; 3, M Davidson (Lilburn) Groesfaen Taff, 92; 4, MC Shearer (Westfield) Jim, 91; 5, JA Common (Lockerbie) Groesfaen Mac, 88; 6, W Cormack (Dunnet) Jill, 87. County – 1, MC Shearer (Westfield) Tib, 93; 2, MC Shearer (Westfield) Jim, 91; 3, W Cormack (Dunnet) Jill, 87; 4, M Grant (Forss) Cashlie, 82; 5, M Grant (Forss) Fred, 80; Lythemore Northern counties trophy – MC Shearer (Westfield) Tib; two-dog aggregate – M.C. Shearer (Westfield) Tib and Jim.

Brora (Judge, D McKenzie, Inverness). Open (56 ran) – 1, MC Shearer (Westfield) Roy, 90; 2, H MacLean (Culloden) Dan, 82 outbye; 3, D Mullen (Kinross) Wisp, 82; 4, W Morrison (West Yell) Straid Nell,81 outbye; 5, P Martin (Glenlyon) Jill, 81; 6, D Murray North Roe) Ali, 80.