Brendon Smith’s Chip settled his sheep from the first meeting, worked very well on the course and completed the winning run at Mull with a clean pen and shed and a comfortable lead.

The Blackface gimmers were unpredictable in the morning but improved in the afternoon, running on a flat field, on a wild and wet day which reduced the number of competitors able to make the crossing, due to issues with ferries.

Chip (P Byrne's Jim, A Gallagher's Tess) ran out well and although the gimmers had drifted offline, she settled them and fetched them to Brendon. They were a little off line on the first leg of the drive, but the cross drive was good and Chip worked well to put them through the gate with a tight turn and made a straight return. A clean pen and shed completed the winning run.

Meanwhile, the Mule and Texel ewes at Lockerbie were challenging, but workable, on a course that ran slightly downhill from the start post, but they were drawn to the right on the fetch and proved difficult to pen.

Billy Common’s Grit (DK Evans’ Spot, DC Meek’s Queen) an out and lifted cleanly, fetched well, with just minor wavers and had a good drive again with wavers of the lines. A clean pen and shed completed the winning run, ahead of equally pointed second, on outbye work.

Ludivine de Ravel’s Meg (C Thom’s Blue and Malta Jill) followed a similar pattern on her run – a very good outrun and a clean lift. Her line wavered a little on the fetch, but her drive was very good, with just slight wavers. Again, clean work at hand finished the run, this time for second place.

In the novice section, Murray Common’s Queen (DK Evans’ Flock, C Harding’s Fly) too ran out and lifted cleanly, but let the lines waver a little on the fetch and drive. Queen had to work to pen her sheep but once she achieved that, a good shed completed her run in first place in her class.

Billy Common’s Jim (M Cannon’s Bob, DP Mullaney’s Bell) stuck to the pattern, with a very good outrun, a clean lift and minor wavers on the fetch, but his sheep refused the first drive gate. The cross drive went well and another clean finish put Jim into second place.

Local knowledge of gateways to escape routes from the rising course at Teviothead made the Aberfeld cross ewes tricky customers to handle, as they aimed to run diagonally across the course. This tested the dogs, soon finding out any that were not up to the job, and created a final elimination round at the pen, where time ran out on some runs.

Sion Morgan’s Middery Kim (M Magnusson’s Kilcreen Seal, L Magnussons’s Mol) ran out to her sheep, but they had already moved off, so Sion stopped her short and in place to lift on line.

Kim stayed on her sheep and took them round the course, battling to keep them on line, but managing to make tight turns. The pen was a struggle, but once it was achieved, a good shed completed the winning run.

LEADINGawards:

Mull (Judge; H Munro, Tomatin). Open – 28 ran – 1, B Smith’s Chip (Flash), Dunrossness, 97; 2, SL Davidson’s Gillieglen Queen, Sandbank, 93; 3, M MacNally's Ash, Invergarry, 91; 4, SL Davidson’s Maid, Sandbank, 90; 5, J MacKillop's Straid Ben, Fort Augustus, 89; 6, B Smith’s Lass, Dunrossness, 86. Two-dog aggregate – B Smith’s Chip and Lass. Local – 1, J Shanks’ Joe, Ardtornish, 85; 2, E Moore’s Bea, Gruline, 82; 3, J Shanks’ Kim, Ardtornish, 76. Two-dog aggregate – J Shanks’ Joe and Kim.

Dougarie, Birchburn, Arran (Judge: N Henderson, Kilpatrick). Local – 8 ran – 1, I McConnell’s Sam, Lamlash, 97; 2, I McConnell’s Drift (Grif), Lamlash, 96; 3, L Robertson’s Jim, Machrie, 66.

Carnwath (Judge:A Stewart, Lockerbie). Open – 58 ran – 1, IM Brownlie’s Lia, Deuchrie, 97; 2, AR Mundell’s Taff, Moffat, 92; 3, A McCulloch’s Sam, Dalmellington, 91; 4, JM Common's Queen, Lockerbie, 90 outbye; 5, AR Mundell’s Rob, Moffat, 90; 6, GC Gardner’s Meg, Lesmahagow, 89 outbye; 7, W Welsh’s Doug, Dalcairney, 89; 8, J Hill’s Molly, Heriot, 89; 9, S Morgan’s Tess, Heriot, 88.

Lockerbie (Judge: N Ireland, Holmrook). Open – 60 ran – 1, JW Common’s Grit, Lockerbie, 93 Outbye; 2, L de Ravel’s Meg, Wigton, 93; 3, AR Mundell’s Taff, Moffat, 92 outbye; 4, A McCulloch’s Risp, Dalmellington, 92 outbye; 5, JA Common's Elwy Rodger, Lockerbie, 92; 6, A Stewart’s Tweed, Lockerbie, 91 time; 7, R Watson’ Jet, Millom, 91 Time; 8, S Atkinson’s Meg, Co Durham, 91. Novice – 1, JM Common's Queen, Lockerbie, 88 outbye; 2, JW Common’s Jim, Lockerbie, 88; 3, D McGarva’s Glen, Granton, 59.

Cairnryan and NewLuce (Judge: C Cropper, Drimsynie). Open – 52 ran – 1, JR Welsh’s Tanhill Sam, Dalrymple 90; 2, I Lockhart's Bill, Dalrymple, 80; 3, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 79 Outbye; 4, N Gillon’s Shweep (Sweep), Dailly, 79; 5, A McCulloch’s Risp, Dalmellington, 78; 6, C Toner’s Tammi, Drimsynie, 77. Confined - S McCrindle’s Zak, Palnackie, 70. Double-lift championship – 1, C Toner’s Tammi, Drimsynie, 123/140; 2, N Gillon’s Shweep (Sweep), Dailly, 122; 3, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 121; 4, A McCulloch’s Risp, Dalmellington, 118.

Teviothead (Judge: J Mitchell, Broughton). Open – 30 ran – 1, S Morgan’s Mid Derry Kim, Heriot, 81; 2, D Wallace’s Boy, Blythbank, 79 outbye; 3, L Hinneken’s K’eira, Quothquan, 79 outbye; 4, D Wallace’s Tess, Blythbank, 79; 5, C Dickson’s Lethens Craig, Coldingham, 68; 6, M Anderson’s Nell, Bellingham, 62; 7, P Howe’s Mirk, Teviotdale, 56; 8, P Howe’s Pip, Teviotdale Teviotdale, 43. Novice – T McInley’s Groesfaen Kadi, Coulter.