Sheepdog trials: Oz beats about the Bush to win

The border Leicester hoggs ran well on the downhill course, although it took a good dog to push them into the pen. Some packets stopped at the first set of drive gates and could burst from there. Some dogs let their sheep turn uphill from the cross drive gate, making a wide turn back to the pen.

Ian stopped Oz (K Doig’s Jura, RJ Hutchinson’s Sweep) short on his outrun, to get the balance of the sheep; that worked perfectly and he lifted cleanly. From there, the hoggs split, but Oz put the last two behind the leading pair, rejoined them and kept a straight fetch. The drive was nearly perfect, with tight turns and only a very minor waver.

The pen went well, although two hoggs wanted to break past Ian, but Oz penned the packet. The sheep drifted a little before the shed started, but the work went well for Oz to earn first place.

Julie Hill’s Liz, too, worked to a high standard, but a single lapse put her into second place.

Liz (RB Henderson’s Skid, J Glasgow’s Lynn) ran out and lifted cleanly, had a great fetch with just minor wavers and although the drive started very well, the line of the cross drive came low before the gate.

She turned the sheep back up and through the gate, but it took a little time to get to the top side to turn them back to the pen, so the turn was pretty wide. Liz worked very well to make a clean pen and completed her run with a clean shed and second place.

The Blackface hoggs at Whitefield were manageable on a field that rose and rolled away in front of the handler, with the work going well despite a cold, wet, windy day.

Ian McMillan’s Straid Zac (I McMillan’s Lamp, D Young’s Straid Gypsy) ran out to the right but stopped short – he responded to Ian’s whistle but overshot his sheep, and after a time, appeared to bring them from the left. He had, though, one of best fetches of the day and kept good lines on the drive although his turns were wide.

The pairing penned after a break and although there was hesitation at the shed, Zac finished well out in front of the field.

On a sunny, but cold and windy day, the Blackface hoggs at two Bargenoch trials were flighty, but manageable if the pressure was kept off them. They were hard to pen, tending to break, needing time at the shed.

Jock Welsh’s Sonny (P Byrne’s Lad and Bracken) ran out cleanly and lifted well. He fetched the sheep on a straight line, with only a slight waver. The lines of the drive were good, although the turns through the gates were wider than ideal. After a small break at the pen, Sonny finished the winning run with a clean shed.

Ian Fergie’s Craig (M McTeir’s Bob, A Sim’s Flo) stopped short on his outrun, responded to Ian’s whistle and lifted cleanly. The hoggs went a little off line at the start of the fetch, but Craig rectified that and the fetch went well from there.

The first leg of the drive started well, but the turn was a little wide, the cross drive was a little low and again, the second turn slightly wide. Craig penned after a break at the pen and although he was hesitant at the shed, he finished the job and completed his run in second place.

At the second trial, Ian and Craig focused on wresting first place from Jock and Sonny’s dominance of the past four trials.

Craig started out on his best form and never lost a point from leaving Ian’s feet until he returned to them. He was slightly wide at the first set of drive gates, but had an otherwise excellent drive.

There was some difficulty at the pen, and a few breaks marred an otherwise outstanding performance but Craig succeeded, gaining first place with a clear lead, but Sonny not too far behind.

Runner-up Sonny ran out cleanly, but he was hesitant at the lift. He had a very minor waver on the way down the fetch, but his lines on the drive were no match for Craig’s and although his pen was marginally better and his shed clean, Craig maintained his lead, but second placed Sonny was not defeated.

LEADING awards:

Easter Bush (Judge: L Welsh, Abington). Nursery – 23 ran – 1, IM Brownlie’s Templehall Oz, Deuchrie, 94; 2, J Hill’s Liz, Heriot, 92; 3, A Watson’s Moss, Shotts, 89; 4, S Morgan’s Kim, Heriot,75 outbye; 5, J Hill’s Bill, Heriot,75; 6, D Smith’s Ross, Lanark, 72; 7, RB Henderson’s Lad, Heriot, 71 outbye; 8, J McRobert’s Joe, Tweedsmuir, 71; 9, N Shaw’s Molly, Selkirk, 70; 10, D Wallace’s Jill, Blyth Bridge, 67. Novice – 1, N Shaw’s Molly, Selkirk, 70; 2, K Blackwood’s Jill, Abington, 69; 3, A Walker’s Midge, Hamilton, 59; 4, R Reid’s Taff, Carnwath, 69 outbye; 5, K Aitchison’s Beth, Mossdale, 48.

Ham, Dunnet (Judge: N Sutherland, Strathnaver). Novice –19 ran – 1, I Sutherland’s Jimmy, Strathnaver, 94; 2, I Sutherland’s Sid, Strathnaver, 91; 3, D Simpson’s Ellie, Barrock, 88; 4, I Sutherland’s Jaybeez Ben, Strathnaver, 87; 5, M Sutherland’s Liz, Lybster, 85 outbye; 6, D Worthington’s Ace, Scarfskerry, 85; 7, T Robertson’s Dahl, Barrock, 81 outbye; 8, K Keith’s Skye, Durness, 81 outbye; 9, H MacKenzie’s Rock, Badenloch, 81; 10, K Keith’s Lyn, Durness, 80.

Bargenoch I (Judge: T Blacklock, Sorn). Nursery – 10 ran – 1, JR Welsh’s Sonny, Dalrymple, 92; 2, I Fergie’s Craig, Straiton, 83; 3, W Welsh’s Doug, Dalcairney,77; 4, N Gillon’s Burndale Lass, Dailly, 73; 5, WJ Welsh’s Cap, Sanquhar, 65; 6, J Shennan’s Rose, Barr, 48.

Bargenoch II (Judge: R Armour, Sorn). Nursery – 10 ran – 1, I Fergie’s Craig, Straiton, 92; 2, JR Welsh’s Sonny, Dalrymple, 88; 3, N Gillon’s Burndale Lass, Dailly,78; 4, W Welsh’s Doug, Dalcairney,74; 5, C Derwent’s Dot, Dumfries House,73; 6, J Shennan’s Rose, Barr,70; 7, J Shennan’s Floss, Barr, 65; 8, WJ Welsh’s Cap, Sanquhar, 54;

Moss Side, Thornhill (Judge: N McVicar, Benmore). Open – 37 ran – 1, P Martin’s Kay, Glenlyon, 89; 2, E Nilsson’s Frej, Balintore, 88 outbye; 3, P Martin’s Jill, Glenlyon, 88; 4, AD Carnegie’s Bill, Comrie, 82; 5, M Watt’s Nap, Kirriemuir, 77 Outbye; 6, N Campbell’s Gwen, Kinross,77.

Skipness (Judge: AP Ronald, Laggan Braes). Nursery – 6 ran – 1, A McCuish’s Roy, Skipness, 86; 2, J MacKillop’s Jed, Fort Augustus, 84; 3, JC MacLachlan’s Queen, Spean Bridge, 82; 4, K Strachan’s Flora, Roybridge, 65; 5, M MacNally’s Glen, Invergarry, 42; 6, JC MacLachlan’s Rick, Spean Bridge, 40.

Birchburn, Arran I (Judge: J Craig, Imachar). Nursery – 16 ran – 1, G Brooke’s Rob, Southpark, 84; 2, N McMaster’s Gail, Bennan, 77. Open dogs – 1, M McNeish’s Pip, Sliddery, 90; 2, I McConnell’s Drift (Grif), Lamlash, 85; 3, G Brooke’s Rob, Southpark, 84.

Birchburn II Nursery – 1, N McMaster’s Gail, Bennan, 74; 2, G Brooke’s Rob, Southpark, 70.

Stobsheil (Judge: IM Brownlie, Deuchrie). Nursery – 14 ran – 1, C Dickson’s Stuart, Coldingham, 83; 2, WS Elliot’s Branshaws Cap, Yetholm, 76; 3, M McTeir’s Dan, Fountainhall, 70; 4, A Dickman’s Haverhill Sweep, Oxton, 65; 5, J Robinson’s Quin, Coldingham, 61; 6, I Jackson’s Roy, Ancrum, 60; 7, M Arres’ Jock, Ashkirk, 55; 8, G Pate’s Misty, Humbie, 49. Novice – 1, G Pate’s Misty, Humbie, 49.

South Annan (Judge: JJ Templeton, Fenwick). Nursery – 21 ran – 1, C Cropper’s Derwen Gus, Drimsynie, 79; 2, D Hamilton’s Arthur, Lochwinnoch, 75; 3, D Kinloch’s Zak, Kilsyth, 74; 4, C Toner’s Derwen Nell, Drimsynie, 66; 5, C Toner’s Maid, Drimsynie, 59; 6, R Middleton’s Jean, Dunlop, 59; 7, SL Davidson’s Maid, Sandbank, 59; 8, D Campbell’s Ben, Strachur, 56.

Whitefield (Judge: N Gillon, Dailly). Nursery – 13 ran – 1, I McMillan’s Straid Zac, Newton Stewart, 76; 2, J Paterson’s Penywern Jim, Kirkcowan, 66; 3, J Mitchell’s Paige, New Luce, 63; 4, D Mitchell’s Pip, New Luce, 56 outbye; 5, C Caygill’s Seth, Whinnyliggate, 56; 6, A Stewart’s Jim, Lockerbie, 53; 7, J McGowan’s Tony, Portpatrick, 50.

Northumberland League Dykehead (Judge: J Relph, Borrowdale). Nursery – 18 ran – 1, E Gray’s Brenna, Great Elsdon, 82; 2, P Telfer’s Telf Jill Haydon Bridge, 78; 3, E Irvine’s Dan, Great Elsdon,76 Outbye; 4, M Northwood’s Cian, East Woodburn, 76; 5, P Turnbull’s Chip, Debdon,71; 6, T Iley’s Snap, Longframlington, 70.