A steady run at Luss, with good close work, gave Ian Lockhart’s Bill a comfortable lead over the field.

The Blackface ewes ran well on a course that ran slightly downhill from the starting post, but they were not keen to go into the pen and many good runs came adrift there. The first leg of the drive was downhill, and hard to judge, but the cross drive was more successful for most handlers.

Bill (J Irvine’s Bob, D McAuley’s Nan) ran out and lifted well, he had minor wavers on the fetch but his drive was good. A clean pen and a good shed set the seal on the winning run, six points ahead of the ‘also rans’.

Sandy McCulloch’s Sam (A Lehtio’s Coel, BJ Bowen’s Pat) overshot his sheep a little at the top and that affected his lift, but his fetch and drive were excellent. A clean pen followed and with victory in sight, the shed saw Sandy fail to shed before the clock sounded on an unfinished run which earned second.

A flattish hill field at Abington rose towards the far end. The Blackie ewes were difficult to keep on line on the fetch and on the cross drive, where they could take off if dogs came too tight upon them.

Stuart Davidson’s Maid (B Strachan’s Sam, JC MacLachlan’s Sheila) ran out and lifted cleanly and had a good fetch. Her drive started well, but on the cross drive the ewes came down the field and it took considerable work to turn them back up and through the gate, and Maid was not well placed to turn them neatly back for the return. A good pen and a decent shed helped to make up for the cross drive and Maid earned first place.

Sion Morgan’s Tess (E Nilsson’s Frej, A Wilkie’s (Nell) Queen) stopped short on her outrun and that impacted on her lift, but she made a good fetch and had an impressive drive. The ewes made a break from the pen before Tess retrieved them and put them in, but she finished her run with a good shed and eventual second place.

LEADINGawards:

Luss (Judge: D Robertson, Langholm). Open – 54 ran – 1, I Lockhart's Bill, Dalrymple, 90; 2, A McCulloch’s Sam, Dalmellington, 84; 3, A McCuish’s Mirk (Mac), Skipness, 83; 4, E Nilsson’s Tweeddale Fergie, Balintore, 82; 5, S MacFarlane’s Willow, Blairgowrie, 78 outbye; 6, SL Davidson’s Maid, Sandbank, 78.

Abington (Judge: A McCulloch, Dalmellington). Open – 58 ran – 1, SL Davidson’s Maid, Sandbank, 86; 2, S Morgan’s Tess, Heriot, 84 Outbye; 3, D Robertson’s Moss, Langholm, 84; 4, C Dickson’s Tom, Coldingham, 82 outbye; 5, C Dickson’s Stuart, Coldingham, 82; 6, W Welsh’s Cap, Dalcairney, 80; 7, J Saukkonen’s Gannon, Biggar, 78; 8, D Robertson’s Derwen Roy, Langholm, 76. Hired herd – S Morgan’s Tess, Heriot. Local – T McKinlay’s King, Coulter.

Northumberland league

Dunterly (Judge: D Corbett, Rochester). Open – 42 ran – 1, C Balmbro’s Liz, Wooler, 96 Outbye; 2, B Jordan’s, Judge, Whitfield, 96; 3, P Telfer’s Jill, Haydon Bridge, 95; 4, C Balmbro’s Bill, Wooler, 93 Outbye; 5, B Jordan’s, Burndale Cis, Whitfield, 93; 6, B Jordan’s, Bozo, Whitfield, 91. Novice – C Pattinson’s Jean, Roman Wall.