A steady, workmanlike run from Murray McTeir’s Dan won the day at Dryden, with keen competition vying for first place.

The Cheviot hoggs behaved very well, but they could find out the weaker dogs and tended to take off if upset at the lift. The steep brae face proved a challenge, with dogs running blind on the left side and blind from three quarters the way out on the right. Young dogs running to the right could be tempted to go wide, out of sight of the handler; some overshot their sheep. The good hoggs stayed together at the shed proving hard to be shed apart.

Sent to the left, Dan (M McTeir’s Bob, A Sim’s Flo) ran out well, but came in tight behind his sheep and lifted a little hard. The hoggs came away slightly off line, but Dan aligned them, made a good fetch and turned them nicely round Murray’s feet.

The drive went well, and although the sheep were slightly high on the cross drive, Dan turned them down and through the gate. The pen was clean, but it took a long time to make a shed; once it was done, Dan earned first place, with the competition hot on his heels.

Cameron Dickson’s Stuart (SL Davidson’s Gillieglen Queen, C Davidson’s Cap) got off to a tremendous start outbye and round Cameron’s feet, but he let the sheep veer uphill on the cross drive and failed to correct them. The hoggs missed the gate and that made a hole in the work. Stuart penned after retreiving breaks, and when the shed was complete, the run took second place, level on points with third, but ahead by virtue of good work outbye.

Paul Howe’s Cass (P Howe’s Mirk and Killiebrae Jet) had two whistles to keep her out on line on her outrun, but she reached her sheep and lifted them fine. They went slightly off line on the fetch, but the drive was good, with just minor wavers. A tight pen and a clean shed completed the work for third.

Litter sister, Queen, got off to a great start and maintained the standard onto the drive, but the close work proved more challenging, She penned after a break, but the shed took time to come off and Paul waited for a ‘perfect opportunity’. When complete, the run took fourth place.

The Texel cross Mule ewes at Yonder Bognie had minds of their own, but they responded to careful lifting and handling. The young dogs tended to come in tight on their outrun, so there were very few clean outruns. The ground ran into dip before it rose to the top.

George Simpson’s Elwy Rodger (J Richardson’s Shep, AH Roberts’s Morag) was tight at the top and disturbed his sheep at the lift, but he kept them under good control on the course and at hand. The fetch was good and the drive very good, with only the most minor of flaws. A very good pen and a clean shed completed yet another winning run for Rodge.

George’s Hemp (A Lyttle’s Jim, A McClintock’s June) started on an even better footing, losing a little at the top and making a remarkable job of the fetch and drive; difficulties at the pen, with repeated breaks, threatened the run. A good shed on top of earlier good work helped to make up for the pen, and Hemp finished in second place, a point behind kennel mate, Rodger.

LEADING awards

Dryden (Judge: M Davidson, Lilburn). Nursery – 18 ran – 1, M McTeir’s Dan, Stow, 85; 2, C Dickson’s Stuart, Coldingham, 84 outbye; 3, P Howe’s Cass, Hawick, 84; 4, P Howe’s Queen, Hawick,76; 5, WS Elliot’s Branshaws Cap, Yetholm,73; 6, J Robinson’s Quin, Coldingham, 67; 7, M Arres’ Rob, Ashkirk, 66; 8, P Howe’s Jack, Hawick, 64. Novice – 1, G Pate’s Misty, Humbie; 2, L Bird’s Sweep, Longformacus.

Yonder Bognie (Judge: A MacDonald, Fearn). Nursery – 18 ran – 1, G Simpson’s Elwy Rodger, Forgue, 84; 2, G Simpson’s Hemp, Forgue, 83; 3, T McPhee’s Scot, Wick, 81; 4, G Simpson’s Celt, Forgue, 80; 5, W Cormack’s Nap, Dunnet, 76; 6, J MacDiarmid’s Lass, Eynort, 75; 7, H Johnstone’s Kyle, Fyvie, 72; 8, W Cormack’s Roy, Dunnet, 71; 9, H MacLean’s Lynne, Culloden, 64; 10, K Keith’s Skye, Durness, 55. Older dogs – 8 ran – 1, H Johnstone’s Fellgate Bella, Fyvie, 95; 2, I Wilkie’s Vic, Keithhall, 93; 3, A Wilkie’s Spot, Glenmoy, 89.

Northumberland League

Dykehead (Judge: P Bristow, Kirkley Hall). Nursery – 20 ran – 1, C Balmbro’s Liz, Wooler, 91; 2, M Davidson’s Angus, Lilburn, 83; 3, P Telfer’s Telf Jill Haydon Bridge, 81; 4, E Gray’s Brenna, Great Elsdon, 79; 5, E Gray’s Telf Joff, Great Elsdon, 78 outbye; 6, E Gray’s Nessie, Great Elsdon, 78; Novice – C Pattinson’s Jean. New handler – C Murphy’s Tansy.