A tidy and well controlled run gave Cameron Dickson’s responsive Tom a long lead over the field at Dryden.

The Cheviot hoggs ran well on a course running gently downhill.

Tom (DK Evans’ Ace, U Stromer’s Caeflyin Gwen) ran out and lifted cleanly, but half way down the fetch, the hoggs went off line, Tom got them back online and turned them neatly round Cameron.

The lines of the drive were good, but the turns through the drive gates were not as tight as they might have been. A clean pen and shed completed the winning run, with the rest of the field far behind.

If dogs did not upset the North Country Cheviot hoggs at Easter Bush, they generally behaved on a course that ran gently down from the handler’s post and then levelled out.

As the hoggs turned round the handler, they were inclined to bolt away and miss the first drive gate; the cross drive tended to be better, but it was not easy to make a neat turn through the gate.

The pen was set on sloping ground, which did nothing to make the job of penning hoggs with a nursery dog any easier than usual.

Ian Fleming’s Glen (D Aitken’s Buzz, A Frame’s Jill) ran out and lifted his sheep well and made a good fetch, with just minor wavers.

The hoggs turned neatly round Ian, and went down the drive away on a good line, but like other packets, slipped by the gate.

The cross drive went well and the hoggs went through the gate, but the turn was a little wide. A good return and a good pen followed, and although the shed took a little time, Glen made a good job of it and finished in first place.

The Cheviot cross hoggs at Moniaive were good to handle round the fairly flat course, which had no gates on the fetch and a cross drive that ran slightly uphill. They were easy to pen, but could be a little difficult to shed.

Billy Common’s Jimmy (M Cannon’s Bob, DP Mullaney’s Bell) covered his sheep well at the top of the field.

His lift was well controlled and Jimmy started down the fetch on a good line. He turned the sheep and took them on a good line up the first leg of the drive, through the gate and started on a good line for the cross drive.

As the hoggs came up onto the rise, they got a little unsettled and missed the cross drive gate. Jimmy settled the sheep again, and finished the winning run with a good pen and shed, level on points with Duncan Robertson’s Derwen Roy, but taking the lead on the superior outbye work.

Derwen Roy (S Holt’s Hybeck Blake, G Jones’ Derwen Mali) also ran out well, but the hoggs were slightly spooked at the lift and went offline, which affected the fetch.

Duncan and Roy worked well to get them back on track and managed to settle the hoggs, so they made a good drive with only minor deviations. They finished on a clean pen and shed, matching Jimmy’s points, but taking second place.

Jim Thomson’s Northtyne Spear (M Elliot’s Stan, M Northwood’s Cilla) ran out with a little difficulty at the top end. The hoggs drifted a little, which affected the fetch, but Jim and Spear worked well once the hoggs were turned, and had a good first leg to the drive. They went through the drive away gate, onto a good line across and again through the cross drive gate.

The hoggs were settled, which lead to a good, clean pen and although the shed was not so smooth, Spear was top novice dog.

Leading awards:

Dryden (Judge: J McKenzie, Alyth). Nursery – 12 ran – 1, C Dickson’s Tom, Coldingham, 94; 2, E Foster’s Bess, Westruther, 81; 3, J Robinson’s Nap, Coldingham, 75; 4, A Dickman’s Meg (Kate), Oxton, 63; 5, WS Elliot’s Moss, Yetholm, 61; 6, J Robinson’s Rock, Coldingham, 53; 7, G Pate’s Fly, Humbie, 52.

Everor, Shetland (Judge: AJ Hughson, Brunthamarsland). Nursery – 15 ran – 1, J Ramsay’s Nan, Ollaberry, 90; 2, AWP Hughson’s Nortrow Lol, Girlsta, 89; 3, C Williamson’s Nap, Ollaberry, 88; 4, J Ramsay’s Bud, Ollaberry, 85; 5, J Ramsay’s Josie, Ollaberry, 81.

Easter Bush (Judge:C Dickson, Coldingham). Nursery – 26 ran – 1, I Fleming’s Glen, Douglas, 80; 2, IM Brownlie’s Maid, Deuchrie, 77; 3, J Hill’s, Ben, Heriot, 76 outbye; 4, GC Gardner’s Bonnie, Lesmahagow, 76; 5, D Wallace’s Jock, Blyth Bridge, 74; 6, A Watson’s Cap, Shotts, 73; 7, J Hill’s Priory Kep, Heriot, 72 outbye; 8, S Morgan’s Jess, Heriot, 72; 9, IM Brownlie’s Bob, Deuchrie, 70; 10, L Hinneken’s Zorg, Quothquan, 69. Novice – 1, K Blackwood’s Hank, Abington, 63; 2, M McColm’s Sky, Leadhills, 56; 3, R Reid’s Taff, Carnwath, 55; 4, D MacKinnon’s Jura, Bathgate, 54; 5, A Walker’s Dot, Hamilton, 46; 6, T McKinlay’s Ben, Coulter, 44; 7, D MacKinnon’s Jim, Bathgate, 40; 8, A Frame’s Belle, Corsock, 39; 9, M McColm’s Linc, Leadhills, 33.

Kirkcudbright Farm, Moniaive (Judge: M McTeir, Penpont). Nursery – 11 ran – 1, JW Common’s Jimmy, Lockerbie, 80 outbye; 2, D Robertson’s Derwen Roy, Langholm, 80; 3, AR Mundell’s Groesfaen Roy, Moffat, 78; 4, M Wilson’s Tam, Corsock, 72; 5, J Thomson’s Shilo, Penpont, 68; 6, D McGarva’s Tess, Granton, 67; 7, J Thomson’s Sid, Penpont, 63; 8, AR Mundell’s Groesfaen Tweed, Moffat, 62; 9, D McMillan’s Ruby, Carsphairn, 60. Novice 1, J Thomson’s Northtyne Spear, Penpont, 70.