Siblings score at Kirknewton

The Blackface gimmers ran well on the big, flat course, but could be unwilling to go round the handler and unco-operative in the closer work.

Doug (J Foster’s Tay, M Arres’ Jess) ran out slightly tight, but fetched his sheep on a good line. With a couple of flanks, he put them round the post and went on to a very good drive. Doug worked well to pen the sheep with no breaks and set the seal on the winning run with a clean shed and a wide margin.

Mark stopped Clyde (C Dickson’s Scott, M Arres’ Jess) short on his outrun, but realised he needed to go further on and Clyde responded to Mark’s whistle. He lifted the sheep, fetched them on a good line, turned them and had a very good drive, with just a little flanking before the gates.

Clyde walked the sheep smoothly into the pen, but at the shed, one gimmer moved off and took another with her, but Mark felt the dog should make the shed, so he regrouped and Clyde made the shed properly for second place.

Andrew Nicolson and May (F McCulloch’s Craig, T Henning’s Skye) made the most of a day of well behaved sheep and achieved a fine run at Yell, with near perfect work on the course and at hand.

The Shetland cross Cheviot gimmers were the best behaved anyone could remember on the rough terrain of the flat, Yell ground. The compact course meant that there was little time to realign sheep if they went off line, and some missed the fetch gate, but May had no trouble.

She ran out to her sheep a little short, lifted cleanly and had a very good fetch. Her drive was perfect and a clean pen and shed secured first place.

David Murray’s Ali (M Gallagher’s Cap, S Garvey’s Lil) too, was very slightly short on his outrun, but he worked flawlessly on the course, with a clean lift, fetch and drive. He had a little trouble before he penned successfully and completed his run with a clean shed.

At the West Side, the Shetland cross Cheviot ewes and gimmers generally ran well, but they could bolt uphill on the first leg of the drive.

Andrew Hughson’s Fay (S Garvie’s Roy and Jess) ran out slightly short, but lifted and fetched cleanly. Very good work followed on the drive and at the pen, before a clean shed completed what would be a winning run.

Billy Morrison’s Kep (N Docherty’s Taff, A McKirdy’s Straid Jean) too, started out very well outbye, and had a good drive with only minor wavers. Clean work at hand ensured second place.

Mule gimmers at Monkridge Hall improved throughout the day and a late run from Willie Welsh’s Cap (A Owen’s Llangwm Cap, M Jones’ June) triumphed. Cap ran downhill and lifted his sheep flawlessly, but the line wavered a little at the start of the fetch.

Once on line, Cap brought them up on a good line and made a good start to the drive. On the cross drive, the line came low, but once Cap had realigned them, they went through the gate. A clean pen and shed completed the work in first place.

Mark Elliot’s Pat started out very well, but had similar trouble to Cap on the cross drive and at the shed, he turned his attention to the remainder sheep rather than the target, but once re-focused, he made a successful shed and earned second place.

The North Country Cheviot gimmers could be tricky to handle on the brae face at College Valley, could take off on the first leg of the drive and were not readily penned or shed.

Billy Common’s Cowlow Rosie (GRN Saxon’s Cammen Rip, I Hulme’s Cowlow Fan) stopped short at the top, but got the balance of the sheep, although they were sticky to lift. She made a decent fetch and turn, but found them sticky to drive away.

The gimmers went through the gate with a slightly wide turn, and drifted from line on the uphill cross drive, but they got the gate and made a good return to the pen. Rosie made a good pen and shed, although the shed took a little time, and earned first place.

LEADING awards

Yell, Shetland (Judge: J Williamson, Lunna). Open – 27 ran – 1, A Nicolson’s May, Ollaberry, 97/100; 2, D Murray’s Ali, North Roe, 96; 3, J Nicolson’s Todd, Scalloway, 95; 4, J Ramsay’s Jim, Ollaberry, 93; 5, AJ Hughson’s Faye, Brunthamarsland, 92 outbye; 6, J Ramsay’s Rooten Brook Mac, Ollaberry, 92. Championship – 1, AJ Hughson’s Fay, Brunthamarsland,105/110; 2, J Ramsay’s Jim, Ollaberry, 105; 3, J Nicolson’s Todd, Scalloway, 101. Limit –1, J Ramsay’s Meg, Ollaberry, 56/60; 2, C Williamson’s Sweep, Ollaberry, 55; 3, J Ramsay’s Tweed, Ollaberry, 46.

West Side, Shetland (Judge: J Williamson, Lunna). Open – 36 ran – 1, AJ Hughson’s Faye, Brunthamarsland, 96; 2, W Morrison’s Kep, Yell, 95; 3, J Priest’s Cap, Raewick, 92 Outbye; 4, D Murray’s Sweep, North Roe, 92; 5, W Morrison’s Tanhill Will, Yell, 91 outbye; 6, J Ramsay’s Jim, Ollaberry, 91; Championship – 1, AJ Hughson’s Faye, Brunthamarsland,105 /110; 2, W Morrison’s Tanhill Will, Yell, 102; 3, D Murray’s Sweep, North Roe, 99; 4, W Morrison’s Kep, Yell, 85. Junior – 1, E Robertson’s Queen, 43/60. Limit – 1, J Ramsay’s Tweed, Ollaberry, 47/60; 2, R Colclough’s Pip, Yell, 46; 3, C Williamson’s Sweep, Ollaberry, 45.

Kirknewton (Judge: K Lyon, Shildon). Open – 64 ran – 1, M Arres’ Doug, Ashkirk, 96; 2, M Arres’ Clyde, Ashkirk, 93; 3, D Naylor’s Moss, Wooler, 91; 4, B Jordan’s Angel, Whitfield, 90; 5, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 86; 6, V Parkes’ Megg, Yarrow, 83. Novice – D Naylor’s Moss, Wooler.

Lilburn (Judge: T Iley, Longframlington). Open – 44 ran – 1, D Henderson’s Star, Allendale, 93; 2, D Naylor’s Moss, Wooler, 90; 3, D Henderson’s Burndale Brad, Allendale, 89; 4, A Temple’s Floss, Holmrook, 84 outbye; 5, M Davidson’s Groesfaen Taff, Lilburn, 84; 6, P Schellhorn’s Jack, Ferryhill, 78.

Monkridge Hall, Otterburn (Judge: P Walton, Alston). Open – 54 ran – 1, W Welsh’s Cap, Dalcairney, 92; 2, M Elliott’s Pat, Lazonby, 86; 3, B Jordan’s, Bozo, Whitfield, 84 outbye; 4, P Turnbull’s Peg, Debdon, 84; 5, B Jordan’s Angel, Whitfield, 83; 6, C Smith’s Gypsy, Belsay, 82;

Falstone (Judge: I Shearlaw, Gordon). Open – 57 ran – 1, K Preston’s Roy, Cathpair, 91; 2, JW Common’s Grit, Lockerbie, 90; 3, B Jordan’s, Bozo, Whitfield, 89; 4, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 88; 5, M Elliott’s Pat, Lazonby, 86; 6, K Preston’s Nip, Cathpair, 85.

Northumberland League

Shirley Hope (Judge: B Jordan, Whitfield). Open – 53 ran – 1, E Gray’s Tweeddale Jamie, Great Elsdon, 89; 2, K Preston’s Scruff, Cathpair, 87; 3, M Elliott’s Pat, Lazonby, 85; 4, JJ Pattinson’s Boo, Roman Wall, 84 Outbye; 5, M Northwood’s Llangwym Floyd, West Woodburn, 84 outbye; 6, C Smith’s Gypsy, Belsay, 84;

College Valley (Judge: W Armstrong, Bamburgh). Open – 25 ran – 1, JW Common’s Cowlow Rosie, Lockerbie, 81; 2, B Jordan’s, Bozo, Whitfield, 80; 3, K Preston’s Roy, Cathpair, 79 Outbye; 4, I Jackson’s Chap, Ancrum, 79; 5, JW Common’s Jaff, Lockerbie, 78 outbye; 6, C Smith’s Ricky, Belsay, 78. Novice – JM Common’s Grit, Lockerbie.