Two dissimilar runs at Durness from George Simpson’s Celt and Will Cormack’s Nap levelled on points, but outbye work put Celt into the lead.

The Cheviot gimmers behaved well, but could be sticky to shed. The flat field, rising towards the end, gave good viewing on a lovely autumn day.

Celt (DW Davies’ Prince, H Hughes’ Nan) ran out and lifted cleanly and fetched very well. The drive got off to a good start, but on the cross drive, Geordie misjudged the line, and the gimmers slipped by the gate. A clean pen and shed followed and the run took first place.

The Blackie ewes at Carco were good to handle on a flat course, but they proved testing at the pen and shed.

Dean Aiken’s Tweeddale Vicky (E Gray Tweeddale Jamie, D Aitken’s Tami) ran out nicely and although she lifted the sheep a little off line, she fetched the sheep with only minor deviations.

She turned them neatly round Dean’s feet and had a good drive until the ewes split at the pull through gate on the cross drive and only two went through. The ewes were well settled at the pen and Vicky handled them with ease. Dean and Vicky had difficulty separating them at the shed, but eventually they made their shed and earned first place.

Duncan Robertson’s Derwen Roy (S Holt’s Highbeck Blake, G Jones’ Derwen Mali) also had a good outrun and made a nice lift. Roy fetched the sheep down through the fetch gates on a straight line and turned the sheep nicely round Duncan.

He kept good lines on the drive and got both sets of gates. At hand, the ewes broke round the pen, became thoroughly unsettled and time ran out on an incomplete run, but good work achieved on the course put the run into second place.

Murray Common’s Cowlow Rosie (GRN Saxon’s Cammen Rip, I Hulme’s Cowlow Fan) ran out cleanly and had a nicely controlled lift. She fetched the sheep down through the gates on a good line and turned them neatly round Murray.

The drive went well, with only minor deviations. Murray and Rosie had a little difficulty at the pen resulting in their running out of time at the shed, but again, good work achieved on the course put them into first place in the novice section.

Fit Mule ewes at Hamilton Hall ran well on a gently rising course, on a glorious day, but they were unforgiving of dogs that made mistakes and they were not keen on the pen.

Julie Hill’s Bill (J Hill’s Ban, P Hulburd’s Tess) had a very smooth run round the course with only minor wavers, but they had to work hard at the pen, and when the ewes found that Bill would not give way to them at the pen, they tried instead to make their way past Julie. She too, stood her ground and once the ewes were penned successfully, a clean shed completed the winning run with a comfortable margin over the field.

At Hillswick, the Shetland cross Cheviot ewe lambs were tricky to handle on a testing course set on a grass field sloping to the bottom and also proved hard work at the pen.

After classes for dogs over and under 18 months, the five top pointed dogs from both ran in a championship and as winner of the youngest class, Rob Colclough’s Rosefield Pip (T Sutherland’s Rosefield Hudon and Foxy) came forward to win the nursery championship.

Pip ran out clean to the sheep and lifted well, but the lambs missed the fetch gate. There was no drive or shed for the nursery dogs, and when Pip penned after a small break, she earned first place for the second time that day.

LEADING awards

Hamilton Hall (Judge: W Todd, Langholm). Nursery – 18 ran – 1, J Hill’s Bill, Heriot, 91; 2, RB Henderson’s Lad, Heriot, 80; 3, GC Gardner’s Gum, Lesmahagow, 76 outbye; 4, S Morgan’s Kim, Heriot, 76; 5, J McRobert’s Ross, Tweedsmuir, 74 outbye; 6, J Hill’s Liz, Heriot, 74; 7, IM Brownlie’s Oz, Deuchrie, 69; 8, D Colthart’s Min, Peebleshire, 67; 9, J McRobert’s Jim, Tweedsmuir, 67; 10, D Smith’s Ross, Lanark, 57. Novice – 10 ran – 1, N Shaw’s Jess, Gorebridge, 77; 2, R Reid’s Taff, Carnwath, 62; 3, T McInley’s Pat, Coulter, 50; 4, A Walker’s Midge, Hamilton, 43.

Durness (Judge: D Murray, Rogart). Nursery – 21 ran – 1, G Simpson’s Celt, Forgue, 87 outbye; 2, W Cormack’s Nap, Dunnet, 87; 3, N Sutherland’s Heatherhill Heck, Strathnaver, 83 outbye; 4, 1, I Sutherland’s Sid, Strathnaver, 83; 5, T McPhee’s Scot, Wick, 83; 6, G Simpson’s Kim, Forgue, 81; 7, W Cormack’s Roy, Dunnet, 79; 8, K Keith’s Skye, Durness, 78; 9, H MacLean’s Lynne, Culloden, 75; 10, H MacLean’s Penny, Culloden, 73. Older dogs – 7 ran – 1, W Cormack’s Jill, Dunnet, 86; 2, I Sutherland’s Jimmy, Strathnaver, 85; 3, H MacLean’s Moss, Culloden, 78.

Carco (Judge: I Fleming, Douglas). Nursery – 11 ran – 1, D Aitken’s Tweeddale Vicky, Lockerbie, 65; 2, D Robertson’s Derwen Roy, Langholm, 64; 3, J Thomson’s Nell, Penpont, 63; 4, JA Common’s Braan, Lockerbie; 5, J Thomson’s Tom, Penpont. Novice – 1, JM Common’s Cowlow Rosie, Lockerbie, 72; 2, J Thomson’s Drift, Penpont, 70; 3, M Forster’s Meg, Shawhead, 67; 4, JM Common’s Queen, Lockerbie, 62.

Hillswick, Shetland (Judge: MC Hughson, Scalloway). Nursery under 18 months – 7 ran – 1, R Colclough’s Rosefield Pip, Yell, 44/60; 2, D Murray’s Lace, North Roe, 39; 3, C Williamson’s Nap, Ollaberry, 32. 18-30 months – 4 ran – 1, A Nicolson’s Groesfaen Spot, Ollaberry, 51/60; 2, J Priest’s Mirk, Raewick, 43. Championship – 5 ran – 1, R Colclough’s Rosefield Pip, Yell, 52/60; 2, A Nicolson’s Groesfaen Spot, Ollaberry, 46; 3, J Priest’s Mirk, Raewick, 41. Intermediate – 4 ran – 1, J Ramsay’s Meg, Ollaberry, 74/100; 2, C Williamson’s Sweep, Ollaberry, 61; 3, B Smith’s Chip, Dunrossness, 59. Open – 14 ran - 1, R Colclough’s Skye, West Sandwick, 88 /100; 2, J Nicolson’s Todd, Scalloway, 82 outbye; 3, J Ramsay’s Drift, Ollaberry, 82 Outbye; 4, D Murray’s Sweep, North Roe, 82; 5, J Ramsay’s Fly, Ollaberry, 79.