A very steady run on the course and at the pen from Chris Toner’s Niro Tammi ensured that even trouble at the shed failed to stop the young bitch from taking the lead over a challenging trial at Cairndow.

The steep hill course and a long fetch with dense patches of bracken tested the dogs, and Blackface gimmers fresh from the hill proved tricky to handle. A kep net behind the sheep helped to keep them from straying, but it created an additional barrier, requiring dogs to jump it or run round it and approach the sheep off line.

Tammi (BK Renwick’s Nip, C Toner’s Graham’s Sam) took a couple of whistles from Chris to reach her sheep but picked them up and worked very steadily over the fetch, drive and pen, with only very minor points dropped, so that even an unconvincing shed was not enough to break Tammi’s current, blazing good form.

Stuart Davidson’s Dan (RW Harris’ Flyn and Straid Joe) established an early lead which he held until Tammi overtook him. Dan’s outrun was not smooth on the rough ground, but he made a good lift and a good fetch and drive. He worked well to contain a difficult gimmer at the pen, shed successfully and finished his run in second place.

A single whistle sent Allan McKenzie’s Maid ( ) out on the best outrun of the day, but she upset the sheep at the lift which impacted on the start of her fetch. Once that was corrected, the work went very well and although the shed was not up to the standard of the rest of the run, good work already achieved secured third place.

LEADING awards

Bute (Judge: E Nilsson, Balintore). Open – 47 ran – 1, C Toner’s Niro Tammi, Drimsynie, 95; 2, J McGowan’s Tony, Portpatrick, 91; 3, M Gallagher’s Avon Roy, Alyth, 90; 4, N Gillon’s Glen, Dailly, 87 outbye; 5, SL Davidson’s Dan, Sandbank, 87; 6, C Toner’s Niro Mace, Drimsynie, Scot, 86; 7, SL Davidson’s Maid, Sandbank, 85; 8, A Kent’s Cass, Dunoon, 84.

Cairndow (Judge: R Lewis, Killin). Open – 26 ran – 1, C Toner’s Niro Tammi, Drimsynie, 80; 2, SL Davidson’s Dan, Sandbank, 78; 3, ACD MacKenzie’s Maid, Luss, 76; 4, K Howlett’s Rob, Glenalmond, 63; 5, K Howlett’s Spot, Glenalmond, 90; 6, C Caerts’ Luca, Belgium, 55. Local – 1, C Toner’s Niro Tammi, Drimsynie, 80; 2, J Jackson’s Shona, Pole.

Top 5 dogs from each day placed according to their positions on the day, reflected in apparent anomalies in scores.

English National – 1, FL Richards’ Lola 344413, run off; 2, N Vyas’ Kemi Lara 360667, run off; 3, B Smith’s Roy 355673, run off; 4, AD Scrimgeour’s Braehead Dot 363652, 182; 5, BW Jordan’s Bozo 332536, 176; 6, ACS Wilkinson’s Pip 358908, 175; 7, D Henderson’s Cemig Jewel 342608, 181; 8, ACS Wilkinson’s Grace 356432, 175; 9, C Pickford’s Peg 359583, 175; 10, JR Gilman’s Harry 355297,175; 11, J Dumbleton’s Sid 309641, 174; 12, GRN Saxon’s Don 346683, 171; 13, S Proctor’s Bronallt Nan’s 350379, 173; 14, E Hawkins’ Treflys Rob 348432, 172; 15, MR Day’s June 331366, 164; res., JS Howard’s Bill 330034, 173.