Peter Martin’s Daisy won a narrow lead at Durness despite the sheep trying to bolt from Peter’s feet.

The flat course rose towards the back where the sheep were released, giving good viewing, but the Cheviot ewes were keen to take their own route off the field. They tended to lean to one side on the fetch and they could bolt as they turned round the handler, if they saw a chance.

Daisy (D Naylor’s Straid Moss, P Martin’s Jill) ran out nicely and found her sheep had moved from the release post, but she lifted them well and worked against their urge to draw to one side on the fetch, and put them through the gate. They bolted round Peter, but once Daisy got them on to the drive she kept good control and completed the winning run with a good pen and a clean shed.

Michael Shearer’s Tib (MC Shearer’s Jim, IM Brownlie’s Star) started out very well and won the prize for best outbye work. Her drive went well, but the good work was threatened at the pen. A single ewe broke away and ran round the pen, but Tib retrieved her and secured the packet. Her shed was not the tidiest, but once achieved, the run took second place a point behind first.

The cross ewes at Lintrathen behaved very well on a steep course with a big patch of rocks and whins in the middle.

Elinore Nilsson’s Tweeddale Fergie (B McAllister’s Spot, D Aitken’s Tami) got off to a very good start, with a clean outrun and lift and a very good fetch, with just minor wavers at the start. He turned the sheep nicely, and had a good first leg with minor wavers and turned the sheep neatly on to the cross drive which went well, if slightly high, but Fergie put the sheep through the gate. The pen was more difficult, and when the ewes wanted to break in two directions, although Fergie managed to pen them without letting them get far, his pressure kept them on high alert. A clean shed set the seal on the winning run.

Andy Carnegie’s Suus (E Groot’s Preseli Roy, J Roos’ Bess) ran out and lifted cleanly and although the ewes went through the fetch gate, the line had a squiggle. The drive started well, but the turn out the first gate was wide, so Suus squared up the sheep and got them across the second leg; the line was a little high, but again the sheep went through. The ewes stopped at the pen and tried to break away but Suus stopped that before it developed and finished her run with a clean shed and second place, on outbye work.

Stephen McAuley’s Cora (M Davidson’s Ardmor Corrie and Dot) was wide on her outrun, but responded to the whistle and made a good lift and fetch, with just a small waver. The line was wide round Stephen’s feet, and in squaring up the sheep, Cora over corrected her line and pulled them in too far. Once she had them on the right line, the drive went well, and although the cross drive was high, Cora turned the sheep down through the gate. Her pen won the admiration of the judge and although, at the shed, she looked briefly on the unwanted sheep, Stephen corrected her and the pair completed their work in third place, level on points with second.

LEADING awards

Durness (Judge: T McPhee, Wick). Open – 60 ran –1, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 93; 2, MC Shearer’s Tib, Westfield, 92; 3, D Simpson’s Gael, Barrock, 89; 4, D Murray’s Brae, Rogart, 87; 5, A Cameron’s Sal, Callander, 85; 6, S Campbell’s Queen, Skye, 82; 7, M Sutherland’s Liz, Halkirk, 81; 8, M Sutherland’s Gyp, Halkirk, 80 Outbye; 9, MC Shearer’s Cap, Westfield, 80; 10, H Munro’s Lil, Inverness, 79; Local – 1, K Keith’s Foinaven Skye, Durness; 2, M MacKay’s Buzz, Durness; 3, S Curtis’ Pip, Durness.

Lintrathen (Judge: K Wood, Blairlogie). Open – 46 ran – 1, E Nilsson’s Tweeddale Fergie, Balintore, 88; 2, AD Carnegie’s Suus, Comrie, 87 Outbye; 3, S McAuley’s Cora, Inverurie, 87; 4, S MacFarlane’s Willow, Blairgowrie, 82 Outbye; 5, M Arres’ Doug, Ashkirk, 82; 6, M Arres’ Jock, Ashkirk, 81 Outbye; 7, J Grant’s Pat, Dunbeath, 81; 8, A Olofsson’s Templehall Fred, Alyth, 79 Outbye; 9, IM Brownlie’s Boyd, Deuchrie, 79 Outbye; 10, AD Carnegie’s Linburn Rook, Comrie,79.

Northumberland League

Otterburn (Judge: D Scrimgeour, Raise Lodge). Open – 48 ran – 1, C Balmbro’s Liz, Wooler, 89; 2, A Ridley’s Tess, Durham, 83; 3, B Jordan’s, Bozo, Whitfield, 77; 4, H Svobadova’s Trey, Hallbankgate, 75; 5, W van Dongen’s Quaya, Carlisle, 70; 6, E Foster’s Bess, Brotherston, 67; Novice – C Pattinson’s Jean, Roman Wall.

Slaggyford (Judge: A Wallace, Bellingham). Open – 70 ran – 1, G Miller’s Pik, Penruddock, 93; 2, B Jordan’s, Bozo, Whitfield, 92; 3, JA Common’s Cowlow Rosie, Lockerbie, 91; 4, G Miller’s Barny, Penruddock, 90; 5, D Henderson’s Jewel, Allendale, 93; 6, J Foster’s Tay, Earlston, 86.