Magnussons dominate trial

Two near perfect runs, only a point apart, from husband and wife, Mosse and Lotta Magnusson with Kemi Sally and Liz, respectively, led a very closely packed and high scoring list at Atholl and Weem.

Mosse was back in the list with Sprout in third place, leading a block of four equally pointed dogs, only a point short of Liz, ahead on outbye.

The Beltex cross Texel ewes ran tremendously well on the 280-yard course, and were a credit to Jimmy Menzies who hosted the trial. Dogs needed to be able to show their authority, but for those that are accustomed to that, the work went smoothly and the judge was forced to look for the most minor of flaws, which might go unnoticed on a day of a more agricultural standard.

Kemi Sally (A Lehtio’s Kemi Rhys, DK Evans’ Meg) showed tremendous control over the sheep, fetched them up the steep bank to Mosse, and was faulted only for a slightly wide turn out of the cross drive. She walked them into the pen and shed them cleanly to earn first place.

Lotta’s Liz (RJ Hutchinson’s Sweep, L Magnusson’s Kate) followed the same pattern, with her only weakness at the same point as Sally’s, and although her turn was just a little wider than that of Liz, she soon had them on a straight line back to the pen and second place.

The strong Cheviot gimmers at Fort Augustus ran well on a flat field that rose at the far end, but they were difficult at hand, particularly to shed and some good runs collapsed there.

John MacKillop’s Straid Ben (R Hutchinson’s Sweep, D Young’s Straid Goldie) worked very well outbye, but the gimmers slipped the cross drive gate. One of very few dogs to make a good finish, Ben earned first place.

Hot on Ben’s heels were two runs, equally pointed and similar to each other, separated only on outbye; Peter Martin’s Jill and Neil McVicar’s Mist both worked cleanly outbye and on the course.

Jill (R Dalziel’s Joe, N McVicar’s Nikki) had breaks at the pen, but shed well and took second place.

Mist (R Hutchinson’s Sweep, IM Brownlie’s Mo) had a little bother at the pen, but more at the shed, and came third.

The Cheviot ewes at Gatehouse were unsettled at the top of the field, flighty on the course and cheeky at the pen. The ground rolled gently up and down on its way to the top of field which looked down on the course.

Stuart McCrindle’s Kate ran out to the top but her sheep broke to the top fence as he approached. Kate (S McCrindle’s Bill, M MacIlwraith’s Tanhill Nell) showed her experience and made a good job of bringing them off the fence and fetching them them down to Stuart. She turned them neatly round the post and worked well on the drive, with just a slightly low line on the cross drive against her. The ewes were bold at the pen, but Kate stood no nonsense and secured them within. A clean shed set the seal on the winning run.

The Mule ewes at Colmonell were hard to handle over the testing Kilwhannel course on a day of foul weather.

In wild, wet conditions, a line of trees growing across the 350-yard outrun diverted many dogs inward to cross their course, failing to hear their handler’s whistles of encouragement to go further out. There was little hope of redirecting them back.

Jock Welsh’s Tanhill Sam (A Baines’ Tanhill Rick and Tanhill Meg) had a very good outrun, one of very few. There were some minor wavers on the fetch as the sheep came down through the trees. Sam had a very good drive, and although breaks at the pen threatened the good work, Sam eventually penned successfully and finished his winning run, with a very good shed.

Neil Gillon’s Shweep (N Gillon’s Bhoy, S McCrindle’s Peg) overlapped his sheep, and had to come back on them from the other side. That put them off line for the start of the fetch and they missed the gate. The drive went more smoothly and, followed by a clean pen and a good shed, the run took second place.

THE PREVIOUS week, Lotta Magnusson’s Liz had taken full advantage of a very good packet at Lochbroom’s 30th anniversary trial, which proved a great success with 69 dogs competing from all directions and as far as the central belt of Scotland and great support shown from local individuals and businesses.

The Cheviot gimmers ran very well, and were well presented to the dogs at the top of field, but some packets were hard to pen and some runs were timed out there. In the afternoon, the gimmers recognised the course and wanted to break from the first leg of the drive to the exhaust pen.

Liz (RJ Hutchinson’s Sweep, L Magnusson’s Kate) handled the sheep very well; she ran out and lifted cleanly, fetched very well and had good drive, with just minor wavers. She managed to pen without too much difficulty and completed the winning run with a clean shed.

Joe McKenzie’s Tweedie (G Simpson’s Del, W Davidson’s Tide) was a little short on her outrun, but lifted cleanly and had a very good fetch. The line of the first leg of the drive wavered slightly and at the cross drive gate, one gimmer slipped by the gate, but a clean pen and shed finished the run in second place.

The course at New Cumnock was set on a big, gentle incline, but the Blackface ewes were unsettled in their packets, many having one awkward member determined to split from the other three. It proved tricky to make a neat turn through the cross drive gate, with dogs tending to need to be on the nearside of the sheep to funnel them through the gate, which gave them a long road, round the back of the sheep to the far side of the gate to turn them neatly toward the pen. They were loathe to be penned and many handlers ran out of time there.

Fraser Shennan’s Mia (JR Welsh’s Tanhill Nap, FW Shennan’s Fizz) got off to a good start outbye, but the ewes wavered from side to side on the first leg of the drive and although Mia put them through the gate, the turn was wide. The ewes came in on the cross drive and made another wide turn through the gate. A clean pen followed, the best of the day, and a clean shed completed the winning run with a long lead over the field.

Neil Gillon’s Lhuke ran out and lifted fine, but ewes wavered on fetch and drive and the turn through the cross drive gate was wide. Lhuke eventually penned after a number of breaks, but a clean shed secured second place with a comfortable gap behind him.

The Mule ewes at Westruther ran well on a good, big, flat, open field.

Davie Wallace’s Bill (D Smith’s Cap, D Wallace’s Kate) had a very tidy run, working very steadily and dropping just minor points outbye and on the long drive. The ewes were inclined to come in on the cross drive, but Davie was on the lookout for that, and Bill made sure they stayed on line. Patience produced a clean pen and a clean shed set the seal on the winning run.

The Blackface hoggs at Gruline on Mull, were manageable in general but proved difficult for the last few handlers in both the morning and afternoon sessions, with the sheep standing up to the dogs. They were easier to pen than in previous years, which meant there were more completed runs than usual.

LEADING awards

Last week

Atholl and Weem (Judge: J Ogston, Killin). Open – ran –1, CM Magnusson’s Kemi Sally, Mid Derry, 99; 2, L Magnusson’s Liz, Mid Derry, 98; 3, CM Magnusson’s Sprout, Mid Derry, 97 Outbye; 4, AD Carnegie’s Jess, Comrie, 97 Outbye; 5, IM Brownlie’s Tib, Deuchrie, 97 Outbye; 6, L Hinnekens’ Meg, Auchterarder, 97; 7, I Wilkie’s Floss Keithhall, 95 Outbye ; 8, SL Davidson’s Gillieglen Queen, Sandbank, 95; 9, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 95; 10, IM Brownlie’s Lia, Deuchrie, 93. Local – 1, K Craig’s Eadie, Tulliemet, 62; 2, K Craig’s Bug, Tulliemet, 61; 3, R Lean’s Don, Butterstone, 60;

Gatehouse (Judge; R Armour, Sorn). Open – ran – 1, S McCrindle’s Kate, Palnackie, 95; 2, N Gillon’s Shweep, Dailly, 91; 3, C Caygill’s Luck, Whinnyliggate, 90; 4, T Welsh’s Don, Patna, 88 Outbye; 5, JA Common’s Cowlow Rosie, Lockerbie, 88 Outbye; 6, K Donald’s Sia, Dalrymple, 88; 7, JA Common’s Cammen Roy, Lockerbie, 87; 8, S McCrindle’s Zak, Palnackie, 84.

Fort Augustus (Judge: H Munro, Inverness). Open – 55 ran –1, J MacKillop’s Straid Ben, Fort Augustus, 93; 2, P Martin’s Jill, Glenlyon, 92 Outbye; 3, N McVicar’s Mist, Benmore, 92; 4, I Wilkie’s Floss Keithhall, 91 Outbye; 5, N McVicar’s Bill, Benmore, 91 Outbye; 6, E Moore’s Cap, Gruline, 91. More than £1000 raised for Cancer Research.

Lockerbie (Judge; S Rae, Dalmellington). Open – 65 ran – 1, R Watson’s Sally, Yourkshire, 89; 2, JA Common’s Cowlow Rosie, Lockerbie, 87; 3, C Dickson’s Straid Star, Coldingham, 86 Outbye; 4, R Henderson’s Jude, Crawford, 86; 5, M Arres’ Moss, Ashkirk, 84; 6, I Lockhart’s Chip, Carsphairn, 82; 7, JA Common’s Cammen Roy, Lockerbie, 81; 8, A McCulloch’s Risp, Dalmellington, 80.

Colmonell (Judge: JG Templeton, Fenwick). Open – 37 ran –1, JR Welsh’s Tanhill Sam, Dalrymple, 83; 2, N Gillon’s Shweep, Dailly, 81; 3, S McCrindle’s Kate, Palnackie,75; 4, S McCrindle’s Zak, Palnackie,73; 5, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 69; 6, A McCulloch’s Fern, Dalmellington, 66.

Northumberland League

Warton (Judge: G Thompson, Penmansheil). Open – 27 ran – 1, M Davidson’s Groesfaen Taff, Lilburn, 84; 2, E Gray’s Tweeddale Jamie, Great Elsdon, 82; 3, J Pattinson’s Graylees Jean, Roman Wall, 80; 4, C Smith’s Ricky, Belsay, 76; 5, J Edgar’s Redgate Dot, Consett, 74; 6, JJ Pattinson’s Boo, Roman Wall, 73.

Previous week

Shetland County Championship (Judge: J Williamson, Lunna) – 27 ran – 1, D Murray’s Ali, North Roe, 100/120; 2, J Ramsay’s Fly, Ollaberry, 96; 3, J Ramsay’s Jim, Ollaberry, 91;

Lochbroom (Judge: J Lamont, Portree). Open – 69 ran – 1, L Magnusson’s Liz, Mid Derry, 94; 2, J McKenzie’s Tweedie, Turriff, 91; 3, JR Welsh’s Tanhill Sam, Dalrymple, 89; 4, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 88; 5, CM Magnusson’s Sprout, Mid Derry, 86; 6, AD Carnegie’s Jess, Comrie, 85; 7, M MacNally’sTarff, Invergarry, 84; 8, I MacDonald’s Zoe, Staffin, 83; 9, H MacLean’s Dan, Culloden, 82; 10, S Campbell’s Flint, Skye, 81. Local – 1, F Renwick’s Fly, Inverbroom; 2, G MacDonald’s Tia, Ullapool; 3, S Robison’s Meg, Lochbroom. Novice – 1, S Hurford’s Nell, Lochbroom; 2, S Robison’s Bell, Lochbroom; 3, M McKenzie’s Jet, Auchiltibuie; 4, N McKenzie’s Ben, Auchiltibuie.

Westruther (Judge: R Henderson, Crawford). Open – 32 ran – 1, D Wallace’s Bill, Blythbank, 92; 2, IM Brownlie’s Tib, Deuchrie, 89; 3, C Dickson’s Lethens Craig, Coldingham, 83; 4, S Morgan’s Tess, Heriot, 80; 5, H Brown’s Groesfaen Kadi, Coulter, 72; 6, V Parkes’ Megg, Yarrow, 68.

Teviothead (Judge: K Lyon, Shildon) Open – 37 ran – 1, IM Brownlie’s Tib, Deuchrie, 80; 2, H Brown’s Groesfaen Kadi, Coulter, 79; 3, D Wallace’s Tess, Blythbank, 77; 4, RB Henderson’s Tweed, Heriot, 75; 5, D Robertson’s Joe, Langholm, 73; 6, JA Common’s Groesfaen Mac, Lockerbie,72; 7, D Robertson’s Moss, Langholm, 71; 8, RB Henderson’s Bonnie, Heriot, 61.

Gruline, Mull (Judge; N MacEachern, Dunoon). Open – 27 ran – 1, J MacKillop’s Straid Ben, Fort Augustus, 90; 2, J Shanks’ Kim, Ardtornish, 84; 3, AJ Hughson’s Fay, Brunthamarsland, 81; 4, C Mellin’s Moor Lodge Ben, Oakworth,76; 5, A MacDiarmid’s Sal, Strathlachlan, 75 Outbye; 6, L Gast’s Ben, Scalpsie, 75. Local – 1, J Shanks’ Kim, Ardtornish, 84; 2, E Moore’s Cap, Gruline, 74; 3, E Moore’s Bea, Gruline.

New Cumnock (Judge: T Welsh, Patna). Open – 35 ran – 1, F Shennan’s Mia, Barr, 88; 2, N Gillon’s Luke, Dailly, 80; 3, A McCulloch’s Sam, Dalmellington, 75; 4, N Gillon’s Shweep, Dailly,71; 5, S McCrindle’s Zak, Palnackie,70; 6, L Gast’s Fae, Scalpsie, 69; 7, T Blacklock’s Ben, Kirkconnell, 65; 8, D McMullan’s Eve, Dunloy, 61 Outbye; 9, I Lockhart’s Bill, Carsphairn, 61; 10, R Middleton’s Jake, Neilston,60.

Birchburn, Arran (Judge: N Henderson, Arran). Open – 10 ran – 1, G Brooke’s Cap, Southpark, 92; 2, W Stevenson’s Maid, Whiting Bay, 89; 3, I McConnell’s Drift, Lamlash, 79.