South Ayrshire’s sheepdog season gets off to a Fly-ing start

The Blackface ewes ran very well if given space on the flat field, but they could bolt if upset. At the pen, the right approach generally achieved a good result, but the ewes were ready to bolt up the side of the pen if they were not fully covered and again, any pressure made it difficult to shed.

Fly (T Tennant’s Ben and Tess) ran out over the undulating ground and landed some distance behind her sheep, but lifted cleanly. The line of the fetch wavered, but she got her gate and made a good start to her drive until she made a wide turn out of the drive away gate and came low on her cross drive, but again she got her gate. A clean pen followed and although her shed was hesitant, Fly had her first win to her name.

Billy Welsh’s Kate (J McLaughlin’s Prince, S McManus’ Queen) overshot her sheep at the top and lifted offline. Again, they wavered on the way in and, once more, the turn through the first drive gate was wide. But although Kate’s cross drive started offline, she put her sheep through the gate. She penned after retrieving a break, and the ewes split repeatedly before Kate eventually shed successfully and earned second place.

At the second trial, Fly landed well behind her sheep again, and took some time to lift them, but her fetch was better than her earlier one, with just a minor waver. Her drive did not benefit from experience and started off with a wide turn onto the first leg, but again she got her gate and, once more, came low on her cross drive before putting her sheep through the gate. Very good, clean work at hand set the seal on Fly’s second win of the day.

Sandy McCulloch’s Storybrooke Guy (M Gallagher’s Avon Roy, C Joelsson’s Lynn (ROM) also ran out and landed a distance behind his sheep, but he lifted them cleanly and achieved a very good fetch, the best of the day. He started his drive very well, but once he succumbed to the low cross drive, he failed to correct it and missed the gate, which made a hole in the work that even another clean finish failed to atone for, and Guy took second place.

Outbye separated two similar runs at Ardormie. The Easy care hoggs ran well on a rising course, but they were not easily kept on line.

Alan Wilkie’s Bill (E Nilsson’s Midderry Kid & Jess) responded well to Alan’s whistle as he ran past a patch of rashes on his outrun and lifted and fetched without any difficulty. Hs drive started well and although the hoggs put bends on the downhill cross drive, they went through the gate. Bill penned cleanly but found the hoggs a little jumpy at the shed, but once the split was made he took first place, Michael Gallagher’s Hillrunner Bee (SL Davidson’s Dan, E Nilsson’s Fergie) ran out well, and although an awkward hogg slowed down her lift, her fetch was good. The drive started well, although the hoggs bent the line of the cross drive. Very good work at hand balanced points lost on the lift and Bee matched Bill on points, but took second place on outbye work.

Leading Awards

Caberston (Judge: K Keith, Lockerbie) Nursery – 15 ran – 1, S Morgan’s Mainstay Pip, Heriot, 94; 2, I Fleming’s Wheatwood Ruby, Douglas, 87; 3, B Parker’s Duke, Heriot, 85; 4, H Brown’s Meg, Coulter, 83 Outbye; 5, I Fleming’s Jake, Douglas, 83; 6, GC Gardner’s Glant Bob, Lesmahagow, 83; 7, T McKinlay’s Demi, Parkhall, 82; 8, IM Brownlie’s Lark, Dunbar, 80; 9, J Mitchell’s Aaro, Broughton, 79; 10, A Frame’s Kate, Quarter, 61; Novice – 10 ran - 1, R Reid’s Lynn, Carnwath, 77; 2, M McColm’s Viking Lee, Leadhills, 76 Outbye; 3, G Donald’s Glen, Carnwath, 76;

Troneyhill (Judge: K Lyon, Shildon) Nursery – 12 ran – 1, J Foster’s Cap, Earlston, 90; 2, I Jackson’s Zac, Ancrum,71; 3, WS Elliot’s Roy, Yetholm, 69; 4, A Dickman’s Lady, Oxton, 66; 5, B McSporran’s Cass, Wester Middleton, 64; 6, E Foster’s Glen, Brotherston, 62; 7, M Arres’ Tot, Ashkirk, 61; 8, J Robinson’s Nap, Coldingham, 59; Novice/ Young Farmers 1, B McSporran’s Cass, Wester Middleton, 64; 2, E Runciman’s Meg, Lauder, 51;

Ardormie (Judge: P Martin, Glenlyon) Nursery –16 ran – 1, A Wilkie’s Bill, Glenmoy, 87 Outbye; 2, M Gallagher’s Hillrunner Bee, Alyth, 87; 3, S Martin’s Cherry, Cashlie, 85; 4, A Wilkie’s Seal, Glenmoy,82 Outbye; 5, AD Carnegie’s Dot, Comrie, 82; 6, M Gallagher’s Dalriada Chief, Alyth, 80; 7, K Dickson’s Llwynsarn Sky, Fintry, 76; 8, C Maitland Gardner’s Max, Muthill, 73; 9, E Nilsson’s Dalriada Amy, Alyth, 71; 10, S MacFarlane’s Jim, Blairgowrie, 70;

Lanes, Barr I (Judge: M Young, Stranraer) Nursery – 10 ran – R Welsh’s Fly, Patna, 85; 2, B Welsh’s Kate, Beoch, 77; 3, J Shennan’s Dak, Barr, 76; 4, J Shennan’s Dash, Barr, 75; 5, N Gillon’s Uno, Barr, 69; 6, A McCulloch’s Storybrooke Guy, Dalmellington, 66;

Lanes, Barr II (Judge: J Paterson, Kirkcowan) Nursery – 10 ran – R Welsh’s Fly, Patna, 90; 2, A McCulloch’s Storybrooke Guy, Dalmellington, 87; 3, J Shennan’s Dak, Barr, 83; 4, N Gillon’s Uno, Barr, 69; 5, B Welsh’s Kate, Beoch, 67; 6, W Welsh’s Cap, Dalcairney, 66;

Kirkcowan (Judge: WJ Welsh, Sanquhar) Nursery – 15 ran – 1, I McMillan’s Cat, Newton Stewart, 83; 2, M Young’s Tandy, Stranraer, 78; 3, S McCrindle’s Play, Stranraer, 77; 4, C Armstrong’s Mirk, Archbank, 71; 5, A Stewart’s Jim, Lockerbie, 58; 6, K Keith’s Ellie, Lockerbie, 55; 7, A Stewart’s Spot, Lockerbie, 54; 8, J McGowan’s Roy, Portpatrick, 47 Outbye; 9, D Porter’s Nell, Stranraer, 47; 10, C Caygill’s Glen, Whinnyliggate, 40.