A clean finish gave Mike Watt’s Dale the edge at Glenlyon, where the Blackface gimmers outsmarted some dogs at the pen.

The gimmers ran well on the haugh course, but could be cheeky at the pen.

Dale (M Watt’s Bob and Lyn) ran out well, but slightly overshot the sheep and pushed them a little off line. There was no gate on the fetch, but Dale kept a decent line from top to bottom. He was wide through the first drive gate, to the extent that it affected most of his cross drive, but he put the sheep through the gate. A clean pen and shed set the seal on the winning run.

Kevin Howlett’s Spot (IM Brownlie’s Boredale Gus, K Howlett’s Fly) responded to Kevin’s whistle on his outrun, but he was sharp and aroused the sheep on his lift which made for a fast fetch, but the gimmers came on line. The drive was good, and although the sheep were slightly off line, Spot kept them well, and put them through both gates. A good pen followed, and when a first attempt at the shed failed to come off, it cost Kevin and Spot the trial, but success at the second attempt secured second place.

A strong wind unsettled the Blackface ewes on the brae face at Farden, but they behaved better on the flat ground, lower down.

Fraser Shennan’s Spot (A Owen’s Llangwm Cap, F Shennan’s Mia) ran out cleanly to the top, and lifted slightly off line. The ewes were off line on the fetch, but the drive went well and Spot finished his run with a clean pen and shed.

Kenny Donald’s Kemi Sia (DK Evans’ Kemi Ross and Vicky) got off to a good start, with the first run of the day, but again, the ewes were off line on the fetch. They were off line again on the cross drive, but the pen was good, the shed clean and Sia earned second place.

The Shetland County Championship at Fetlar, was set on a rough, grass field, sloping down before rising up again to the lift post, on a lovely dry day, with a light, cold wind. Packets of four Cheviot cross Shetland gimmers behaved well on the field, but they tested some dogs, and they were not easy to split on the first shed.

The 12 top dogs of the season ran in the championship. Jerry Ramsay’s Drift (J Ramsay's Kemi Tim, R Ramsay's Marchup Roxy) started out with a near perfect outrun and lift and a slight waver on the fetch. The gimmers were a little offline on the drive, and although Drift’s first shed was good, there was a near break before he penned successfully. A perfect single completed the winning run.

On a fine day at Acharacle, the Blackface gimmers were flighty in the morning, on a flat field, and although they were generally tricky to pen, a good standard of work prevailed.

Peter Martin’s Daisy (D Naylor’s Straid Moss, P Martin’s Jill) got off to a clean start, had the most minor of wavers and a slightly wide turn round the post, but an excellent drive and clean work at hand completed the winning run with a comfortable lead.

The Cheviot gimmers at Rogart behaved on the flat course, but were difficult to pen.

Ian Wilkie’s Pip (R Hutchinson’s Sweep, I Wilkie’s Floss) was a little short on her outrun but lifted and fetched nicely and made a good start to her drive. The line of the cross drive was higher than it should have been as the gimmers approached the cross drive gate, but they went through, and Pip went on to make a good pen and shed, and won the trial with a clear margin.

Hamish MacLean’s Moss (J McIntyre’s Shep, A Morley’s Tess) stopped on his outrun and came tight on to his sheep, but he achieved a good fetch. The gimmers were off line on the cross drive, but Moss got his gates and a good finish completed the run in second place.

Leading awards:

Acharacle (Judge: J Ferguson, Strontian) - Open – 49 ran – 1, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 97; 2, C Davidson’s Fuzz, Sandbank, 94 Outbye; 3, M MacNally's Ash, Invergarry, 94; 4, P Martin’s Kay, Glenlyon, 89; 5, SL Davidson’s Maid, Sandbank, 88; 6, F Fulford’s Pip, Eracht, 84 Outbye; 7, C Davidson’s Jed, Sandbank, 84 Outbye; 8, AD Carnegie’s Linburn Rook, Comrie, 84. Local – 1, F Fulford’s Pip, Eracht, 84; 2, J Shanks’ Joe, Ardtornish, 80 Outbye; 3, JC MacLachlan's Merv, Spean Bridge, 80 Outbye; 4, JC MacLachlan's Queen, Spean Bridge, 80; 5, J Shanks’ Kim, Ardtornish, 69; 6, B Tennant’s Joe, Ardgour, 64.

Moniaive (Judge: N Hurcomb, New Luce) Open – 48 ran - 1, D Robertson’s Moss, Langholm, 93; 2, F Shennan’s Mia, Barr, 91; 3, F Shennan’s Spot, Barr, 90 Outbye; 4, D Robertson’s Joe, Langholm, 90 Outbye; 5, JA Common's Groesfaen Mac, Lockerbie, 90 Outbye; 6, T Blacklock’s Ben, Kirkconnell, 90. Local – I Robertson’s Bill, Carsphairn.

Rogart (Judge: I MacKay, Leananch) Open – 45 ran – 1, I Wilkie’s Pip Keithhall, 91; 2, H MacLean’s Moss, Culloden, 86; 3, W Cormack’s Nap, Dunnet, 78; 4, H Johnstone’s Roy, Fyvie, 77 Outbye; 5, H Johnstone’s Fellgate Bella, Fyvie, 77; 6, K Keith’s Skye, Durness, 75; 7, EC MacKinnon’s Midge, Lochcarron, 74; 8, J MacDiarmid’s Lass, Eynort,74. Local – 1, D Murray’s Mirk, Rogart, 67; 2, J Ross’ Nan, Achaillach, 61; £400 (estimate) raised for Chest, Heart and Stroke charity.

Carrick, Farden (Judge: R MacDiarmid, Cairndow) Open – 50 ran - 1, F Shennan’s Spot, Barr, 89; 2, K Donald’s Kemi Sia, Dalrymple, 88; 3, K Donald’s Choc, Dalrymple, 87; 4, I Fergie's Craig, Straiton, 84 Outbye; 5, F Shennan’s Mia, Barr, 84 Outbye; 6, W Welsh’s Cap, Dalcairney, 84. Novice dogs – 1, J Shennan’s Rose, Barr, 75; 2, W Welsh’s Doug, Dalcairney, 73; 3, N Gillon’s Boss, Dailly, 63.

Edinburgh (Judge: A Dickman, Oxton ) Open – 45 ran - 1, CM Magnusson’s Sprout, Mid Derry, 89; 2, RB Henderson’s Bonnie, Heriot, 85; 3, AR Mundell’s Taff, Moffat, 83; 4, P Anderson’s Cap, Chickamauga, 82 Outbye; 5, RB Henderson’s Tweed, Heriot, 82; 6, D Wallace’s Bill, Blythbank, 81.

Ettrick and Yarrow (Judge: R Henderson, Crawford) Open – 44 ran - 1, IM Brownlie’s Lia, Deuchrie, 84; 2, RB Henderson’s Bonnie, Heriot, 79; 3, M Davidson’s Groesfaen Taff, Lilburn, 78; 4, J Saukkonen’s Gannon, Middlewich, 77; 5, S Morgan’s Tess, Heriot, 73; 6, P Anderson’s Cap, Chickamauga, 72.

Glenlyon (Judge: C Toner, Drimsynie) Open – 47 ran – 1, M Watt’s Dale, Kirriemuir, 84; 2, K Howlett’s Spot, Comrie, 82; 3, P Martin’s Jill, Glenlyon, 81; 4, SL Davidson’s Gillieglen Queen, Sandbank, 80; 5, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 79; 6, AD Carnegie’s Linburn Rook, Comrie,78; Glenylon league – 4 Glenlyon trials – P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon. Local – 1, K Bergan’s Kealy, Glenlochay, 62.

Shetland County, Fetlar (Judge: J Thomason, Fetlar) Championship – 12 ran – 1, J Ramsay’s Drift, Ollaberry, 89 /110; 2, B Smith’s Lass, Dunrossness, 88; 3, B Smith’s Chip (Flash), Dunrossness, 86; 4, S Fraser’s Jan, Cullswick, 77; 5, O Brown’s Queen, Yell, 72.

Northumberland – Dunterly (Judge: I Shearlaw, Gordon ) Open – 49 ran – 1, M Davidson’s Angus, Lilburn, 94; 2, E Gray’s Tweeddale Jamie, Great Elsdon, 89; 3, E Irvine’s Dennis, Great Elsdon, 87; 4, M Davidson’s Dot, Lilburn, 86; 5, B Jordan’s, Bozo, Whitfield, 84; 6, E Irvine’s Larry, Great Elsdon, 83. Novice – C Pattinson’s Jean Roman Wall.

Slaggyford (Judge; J Fyall, Tarset) Open – 68 ran – 1, E Irvine’s Dennis, Great Elsdon, 89; 2, G Fearon’s Dave, Keswick, 88 Outbye; 3, TW Longton’s Lucy, Quernmore, 88; 4, T Longton’s Roy, Quernmore, 86; 5, M Davidson’s Angus, Lilburn, 85; 6, R Watson’s Sally, Millom, 82.