Annette Olofsson and Templehall Fred showed how to boss tricky sheep at Kintyre trial, held at Skipness. The Mule gimmers were either very good or very difficult to handle on a flat field but Annette and Fred (RJ Hutchinson’s Sweep, KA Doig’s Jura) worked very well together to make the most of their sheep and keep them under firm control, bossing them when they needed it, but letting them move without anxiety. Fred ran out to his sheep, lifted well and kept a good relationship with them round the course, so they kept to the route, incurring only very minor faults on the way and reaped the benefit, winning the trial.

Craig Davidson took a similar approach with Fuzz (C Davidson’s Cap, R Harris’ Straid Jen), but a short pause before the gimmers went through the drive away gate detracted slightly and put him into second place, a point behind Fred.

Next day, Skipness trial was held on the same ground. The Mules tested any dogs that were not willing to walk forward to them. Neil McVicar’s Baledmund Pete (IM Brownlie’s Boredale Gus, J Menzies’ Baledmund Jess) ran out to his sheep, but found them a little flighty, once he got them on line he had only minor wavers on the fetch, turned them smoothly round Neil and away on to a good drive. The gimmers were lively at the pen, but Pete penned them at the first attempt and a good shed secured first place.

Annette and Templehall Fred were still in good form and started out well. The sheep were not readily turned round Annette at the post, so the turn was wide, but the drive went well and Fred’s good work at hand completed the run in second place, a single point behind Pete.

The cross gimmers at Ardlamont were lively on a slightly rising course and not keen to be penned or shed.

Stuart Davidson’s Dan (RW Harris’ Flyn and Straid Joe) ran out cleanly to his sheep, handled them well, manoeuvred them back down to Stuart and round the course, getting all his gates. The pen took time, but Dan secured them without a break and had to work to make his shed, but he achieved that and completed the winning run with a comfortable lead over the field.

Extremely testing Shetland cross Cheviot gimmers ran on a rough, downhill sloping, grass field at Tingwall, most of which had had been topped. The gimmers were hard to control on the fetch, and some were difficult to pen.

Brendon Smith’s Chip (P Byrne's Jim. and A Gallagher's Tess) had a clean outrun and lift and minor wavers on the fetch and drive. Chip lost a little at the pen and the shed, but finished the winning open run with a comfortable lead.

David Murray’s Jill (A Brown's Jock, L Hendry's Wisp) ran out and lifted cleanly, the gimmers were offline on the fetch, and although Jill dropped points at the shed and pen, she finished the winning run of the championship class with a perfect single.

Jerry Ramsay’s Spot (K W Bremner's Huthwaite Roy, J B Ramsay's Fly) dropped a little on his outrun, but lifted well. He had a slight waver on the fetch, and although they were not easy to pen, Spot put his sheep in and finished the winning limit class run with a good shed.

LEADING awards

Kintyre (Judge: R MacDiarmid, Cairndow). Open – 52 ran – 1, A Olofsson’s Templehall Fred, Alyth, 93; 2, C Davidson’s Fuzz, Sandbank, 92; 3, SL Davidson’s Maid, Sandbank, 90; 4, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 89 Outbye; 5, J MacKillop's Zac, Fort Augustus, 89 Outbye; 6, A McCulloch’s Sam, Dalmellington, 89; 7, P Martin’s Corrie (Cora), Glenlyon, 87; 8, AD Carnegie’s Sue, Comrie, 86. Local – 1, A McCuish’s Andy, Skipness, 81; 2, A McCuish’s Mirk, Skipness, 75; 3, K Grieve's Jed, Skipness, 70; 4, L Clark's Kyle, Ronnachan, 63.

Skipness (Judge: N Docherty, Bute). Open – 50 ran – 1, N McVicar’s Baledmund Pete, Benmore, 89; 2, A Olofsson’s Templehall Fred, Alyth, 88; 3, E Nilsson’s Midderry Kid, Balintore, 87; 4, AD Carnegie’s Sue, Comrie, 86; 5, C Dickson’s Tom, Coldingham, 84; 6,C Joelsson’s Storybrooke Louise, Sandbank, 83. Confined –1, A McCuish’s Mirk, Skipness, 78; 2, K Grieve's Jed, Skipness, 75; 3, A McCuish’s Andy, Skipness, 73.

Ardlamont (Judge: R MacDiarmid, Cairndow). Open – 50 ran – 1, SL Davidson’s Dan, Sandbank, 89; 2, N McVicar’s Baledmund Pete, Benmore, 85; 3, C Toner’s Tammi, Drimsynie, 81; 4,C Davidson’s Fuzz, Sandbank, 61 Outbye; 5, SL Davidson’s Maid, Sandbank, 61 Outbye; 6, C Toner’s Derwen Gus, Drimsynie, 56; 7, E Irvine’s Larry, Bute, 55. Local – 1, D MacRae’s Rab, Kilfinnan; 2, B Crawford’s Dot, Kilfinnan.

Tingwall, Shetland (Judge: MC Hughson, Scalloway). Open – 28 ran – 1, B Smith’s Chip (Flash), Dunrossness, 90; 2, K Birkett’s Lyn, Orkney, 86; 3, D Murray’s Jill, North Roe, 85; 4, D Murray’s Sweep, North Roe, 84; 5, B Smith’s Kim, Dunrossness, 83; 6, E Graham’s Craig, Lerwick, 82. Championship – 5 ran - 1, D Murray’s Jill, North Roe, 94; 2, K Birkett’s Lyn, Orkney, 92; 3, W Morrison’s Meg Jnr, Yell, 75; Limit – 11 ran – 1, J Ramsay’s Spot, Ollaberry, 49 /60; 2, R Colclough’s Malin, Westsandwick, 47 Outbye; 3, J Nicolson’s Flo, Scalloway, 47.

Irish National (Judges: R Kelleher, K McFadden). 150 ran – 1, P Morgan’s Mossee 338120; 2, D McAuley’s Joe 356453; 3, M Healy’s Bill 359962; 4, E McLauglin’s Dot 355642; 5, C Byrne’s Jack, 359541; 6, J McLaughlin’s Prince 368877; 7, T Lambe’s Bruce 350915; 8, A Lyttle’s Twm 351892; 9, S Long’s Lad 354244; 10, T O’Sullivan’s North Hill Tess 344147; 11, B Marley’s Mot 334793; 12, JP McGee’s Nan 371944; 13, S Gallagher’s Iona 334807; 14, P McLaughlin’s Jill 355640; 15, S O’Kane’s Moss 320983; Res., M Feeney’s Bob 322853. Brace (Judges: S Gallagher and F Cashen). 1, D McAuley’s Dot and Joe; 2, J Maginn’s Lad and Kate.