Mia attains best drive at Coltcrooks

The randomly mixed, speaned Texel, Suffolk and greyface ewes ran well on a big, flat field, but some dogs failed to turn them neatly through the drive gates. The course was designed with the shed before the pen and although the sheep were difficult to shed, they proved easier to pen.

Mia (JR Welsh’s Tanhill Nap, FW Shennan’s Fizz) overshot her sheep at the top and came on to them from the wrong angle, but despite that, she made an excellent job of the fetch and brought the sheep faultlessly to Fraser. She drove them away very well and kept good lines and made neat turns.

A clean shed followed and although one ewe wanted to break from the pen, Mia kept her close, secured the packet in the pen and completed the winning run.

David Henderson’s Star (R Dalziel’s Spot, D Henderson’s May) too, overshot her sheep but she made a clean lift. The line of the fetch wavered a little before the Star put them through the gate, and the drive went well, although the turns were not quite as neat as Mia’s. A clean shed and pen finished the run in second.

The Cheviot cross and Texel cross gimmers were reasonably well behaved on the course at Back Sands, South Shetland, but hard to control, especially if dogs put too much pressure on them at the pen.

The trial was run on a flat field of topped, rough grass, with a 320-yard outrun and the weather was dry, with a light wind, that grew cold later in the afternoon. The gimmers improved at the re-run in late afternoon.

Jerry Ramsay’s Fly (M Gallagher’s Cap and S MacAulay’s Gail) had a near perfect outrun and lift and just a small waver on the fetch. The gimmers went off line a little on the drive, but a clean pen and very good shed set the seal on the winning run.

In the championship round, David Murray’s Sweep (J McGee’s Silver and S McManus’ Nell) had a very good outrun and lift. There was a slight waver on the fetch, but the drive was pretty neat. The shed and pen were clean and a classy single completed the course.

Brendon Smith’s Cap (B Smith’s Jim, C Mann’s Nell) won the limit class, losing a little on his outrun, but managed a clean lift. The gimmers went offline on the fetch, and they were difficult to pen, but Cap eventually put them in and completed his run.

LEADING awards

Coltcrooks (Judge: A Dickman, Oxton). Open – 50 ran – 1, F Shennan’s Mia, Barr, 92; 2, D Henderson’s Star, Allendale, 89; 3, M Arres’ Doug, Ashkirk, 88; 4, D Henderson’s Burndale Brad, Allendale, 87; 5, A Stewart’s Tweed, Lockerbie, 86; 6, A Temple’s Jan, Holmrook, 85.

Aberfeldy (Judge: E Nilsson, Balintore). Open – 60 ran – 1, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 91; 2, A Lehtio’s Rhemy, Finland, 88; 3, AD Carnegie’s Jess, Comrie, 86 outbye; 4, P Martin’s Jill, Glenlyon, 86; 5, SL Davidson’s Maid, Sandbank, 85 outbye; 6, A McCulloch’s Sam, Dalmellington, 85; 7, JR Welsh’s Sonny, Dalrymple, 83; 8, A Lehtio’s Coel, Finland, 83.

Springhill (Judge: S Wallace, Prendwick). Open – 61 ran – 1, IM Brownlie’s Lia, Deuchrie, 91; 2, JR Welsh’s Jock, Dalrymple, 90; 3, W Welsh’s Cap, Dalcairney, 89; 4, D Scrimgeour’s Jet, Wigton, 85; 5, C Dickson’s Stuart, Coldingham, 87; 6, C Caert’s Mick, Belgium, 86.

South Shetland (Judge:K Birkett, Orkney). Open – 25 ran – 1, J Ramsay’s Fly, Ollaberry, 88; 2, B Smith’s Lass, Dunrossness, 79 outbye; 3, J Nicolson’s Riley, Scalloway,79; 4, D Murray’s Sweep, North Roe, 78; 5, J Ramsay’s Drift, Ollaberry,74; 6, B Smith’s Chip, Dunrossness, 70. Championship – 5 ran – 1, D Murray’s Sweep, North Roe, 97/110; 2, J Ramsay’s Fly, Ollaberry, 81; 3, J Nicolson’s Riley, Scalloway,77. Limit – 9 ran – 1, B Smith’s Cap, Dunrossness, 45/60; 2, D Murray’s Jill, North Roe, 44; 3, R Colclough’s Rosefield Pip, Westsandwick, 40; 4, AWP Hughson’s Lass, Girlsta, 33; 5, AWP Hughson’s Lol, Girlsta, 32.

Northumberland League

Lilburn (Judge: P Telfer, Haydon Bridge). Open – 44 ran – 1, D Henderson’s Star, Allendale, 75; 2, C Balmbro’s Liz, Wooler, 73 outbye; 3, W Welsh’s Cap, Dalcairney, 73; 4, R Watson’s Sally, Millom, 69; 5, P Turnbull’s Mick, Debdon, 64 outbye; 6, E Gray’s Tweeddale Jamie, Great Elsdon,64. Novice – 1, S McAuley’s Pete, Conachan, 49.