Mid Derry Kim’s good work on the course gave Sion Morgan first place at Hartside, for Sion’s second successive year.

The Blackface hoggs ran well across a flat course on a wet and windy day, but they were testing at the pen and quick to repair any division at the shed. Kim (M Magnusson’s Kilcreen Seal, L Magnussons’s Mol) worked well outbye and had minor wavers on the fetch, with an excellent drive of good lines and tight turns, working well to achieve a clean pen.

Sion hurried Kim to make the shed, so it was not to the standard of the rest of the run, but Kim earned first place, with a long lead over the field, replicating Sions’s success there last year with his Tess.

Yeld Cheviot ewes at Springhill handled well on course that lay across a gently rising brae face, with a slightly downhill cross drive. Cameron Dickson’s Stuart (SL Davidson’s Gillieglen Queen, C Davidson’s Cap) ran out cleanly, lifted and fetched very well, and had an excellent drive with just very minor wavers. A clean pen followed, and although a missed first attempt at the shed threatened the standard, a successful second attempt set the seal on a very controlled and winning run, with the competition hot on his heels.

On a cold, wet and breezy day, at Garpen, the Blackface hoggs were light, and responsive on the course which was set on a flat, holm field. The hoggs were very hard to pen at the first trial.

Ian Fergie’s Craig (M McTeir’s Bob, A Sim’s Flo) stopped short on the outrun and pushed the sheep off a little on the lift; although there were wavers on the fetch, the hoggs hit their gates. They kept good lines on the drive, but the turns were wide. Craig penned after retrieving a number of breaks and although he was hesitant at the shed, once he had completed that job, he earned first place.

Willie Welsh’s Doug (B Smith’s Zac, A Blackmore’s Rosewood Class) ran out cleanly to the end of the 320 yd outrun, and although he was slightly hesitant on the lift he had the straightest fetch of the day. The hoggs missed the first set of drive gates, but the cross drive and the turn through the gate were good, but failure to pen put Doug into second place for a seriously depleted run.

On the second time round the course, the hoggs realised the pen was no great hurdle to their freedom and they proved much easier to pen.

Jock Welsh’s Sonny (P Byrne’s Lad and Bracken) ran out cleanly, but he was slow to lift. The fetch went well, with only minor points lost, and the lines of the drive were good, with again, only minor points dropped for the turns. Sonny penned after a small break, and despite difficulty in finding an opportunity to split the sheep, once it was done, Jock and Sonny finished well ahead of the field.

The Cheviot cross lambs at Kirkcudbright Farm were good to handle round the flat course and were easy to pen and shed. The cross drive was set slightly up hill.

Duncan Robertson’s Derwen Roy (S Holt’s Highbeck Blake, G Jones’ Derwen Mali) ran out purposefully to the left and covered his sheep nicely. He moved on his sheep at a smooth pace and made a good lift, creating a smooth start to the fetch. He fetched the sheep on a very good line, at a steady pace, and turned the sheep round the Duncan in a controlled manner.

There were wavers on the drive, but Roy got his gates and achieved a good, clean pen. Although he was a little hesitant to shed, Roy made a good job of it when he did, and took first place with a total score of 85 points out of 100.

LEADING awards

Garpen I (Judge: SL Davidson, Sandbank). Nursery –.12 ran – 1, I Fergie’s Craig, Straiton, 77; 2, W Welsh’s Doug, Dalcairney, 64; 3, C Derwent’s Dot, Dumfries House, 59 outbye; 4, N Gillon’s Burndale Lass, Dailly, 59; 5, WJ Welsh’s Cap, Sanquhar, 55; 6, J Shennan’s Rose, Barr, 54.

Garpen II (Judge: C Davidson, Sandbank). Nursery –12 ran – 1, JR Welsh’s Sonny, Dalrymple, 83; 2, W Welsh’s Doug, Dalcairney, 72; 3, I Fergie’s Craig, Straiton, 71; 4, J Shennan’s Rose, Barr, 68; 5, N Gillon’s Burndale Lass, Dailly, 63; 6, C Derwent’s Dot, Dumfries House, 61.

Kirkcudbright Farm (Judge: N MacDonald from Shawhead). Nursery – 12 ran – 1, D Robertson’s Derwen Roy, Langholm, 85; 2, JA Common’s Braan, Lockerbie, 66; 3, D Aitken’s Midge, Lockerbie, 63; 4, J Thomson’s Tom, Penpont, 61; 5, D Aitken’s Tweeddale Vicky, Lockerbie, 57. Novice – 1, J Thomson’s Drift, Penpont, 83 Outbye; 2, M Wilson’s Jill, Corsock, 83; 3, M Wilson’s Meg, Corsock,79; 4, M Forster’s Meg, Shawhead, 53.

Knocknagael (Judge: D MacKenzie, Inverness). Nursery – 23 ran – 1, G Simpson’s Kim, Forgue, 86; 2, G Simpson’s Hemp, Forgue, 80; 3, W Cormack’s Nap, Dunnet, 80; 4, G Simpson’s Elwy Rodger, Forgue, 79; 5, T Robertson’s Kate, Barrock, 76; 6, I MacKay’s Bo, Leanach, 75; 7, N Sutherland’s Heatherhill Heck, Strathnaver, 67; 8,W Cormack’s Roy, Dunnet, 65; 9, K Keith’s Skye, Durness, 62; 10, H MacLean’s Penny, Culloden, 60.

Hartside (Judge: D Clark, Coulter). Nursery – 21 ran – 1, S Morgan’s Mid Derry Kim, Heriot, 93; 2, RB Henderson’s Lad, Heriot, 86; 3, J Hill’s Liz, Heriot, 83; 4, H Brown’s Mac, Coulter, 81; 5, A Watson’s Moss, Shotts, 72 outbye; 6, IM Brownlie’s Templehall Oz, Deuchrie, 72; 7, D Smith’s Ross, Lanark, 58; 8, D Wallace’s Jill, Blyth Bridge, 54; 9, M McColm’s Sky, Leadhills, 45; 10, GC Gardner’s Gum, Lesmahagow. Novice – 1, T McInley’s Pat, Coulter, 72; 2, A Walker’s Midge, Hamilton, 59; 3, K Blackwood’s Jill, Abington, 55 outbye; 4, D MacKinnon’s Jura, Bathgate, 55; 5, N Shaw’s Jess, Selkirk, 47; 6, M McColm’s Sky, Leadhills, 45.

Springhill (Judge: P Turnbull, Debdon). Nursery – 11 ran – 1, C Dickson’s Stuart, Coldingham, 90; 2, J Robinson’s Quin, Coldingham, 89; 3, M McTeir’s Dan, Fountainhall, 88; 4, M Arres’ Jock, Ashkirk, 83; 5, G Pate’s Misty, Humbie, 78; 6, A Dickman’s Halloverhill Sweep, Oxton, 69; 7, WS Elliot’s Branshaws Cap, Yetholm, 68; 8, I Jackson’s Roy, Ancrum, 62. Novice – 1, G Pate’s Misty, Humbie, 78.

Awhirk I (Judge: J Ramsay, Glenluce). Nursery – 13 ran – 1, J McGowan’s Tony, Portpatrick,76; 2, A Stewart’s Jim, Lockerbie, 73; 3, I McMillan’s Straid Zac, Newton Stewart,68 Outbye; 4, J Paterson’s Penywern Jim, Kirkcowan, 68; 5, J Mitchell’s Paige, New Luce, 67; 6, D Mitchell’s Pip, New Luce, 62.

Awhirk II (Judge: J Ramsay, Glenluce). Nursery – 13 ran – 1, I McMillan’s Straid Zac, Newton Stewart, 89; 2, J McGowan’s Tony, Portpatrick, 80; 3, C Caygill’s Kimi, Whinnyliggate,78; 4, A Stewart’s Jim, Lockerbie, 73; 5, J Mitchell’s Paige, New Luce, 66; 6, J Paterson’s Penywern Jim, Kirkcowan, 63.

Glenkiln, Arran I (Judge: W Stevenson, Whiting Bay). Nursery – 16 ran – 1, N McMaster’s Gail, Bennan, 79; 2, G Brooke’s Rob, Southpark, 66; Open dogs – 1, M McNeish’s Pip, Sliddery, 87; 2, I McConnell’s Drift (Grif), Lamlash, 86; 3, G Brooke’s Rob, Southpark, 85.

Glenkiln II Nursery – 1, G Brooke’s Rob, Southpark, 85; 2, N McMaster’s Gail, Bennan, 70.