Geordie Simpson opened the North’s nursery season in characteristic form, taking the top three places at Durness with his team of young dogs led by Greiston Mick.

Mick (RW Laurie’s Groesfaen Nap, Jay Beez’ Sky) responded to Geordie’s whistles and lifted and fetched nicely, despite being newly recovered from a torn ligament. His drive started well, but he let the sheep offline on the cross drive and they missed the gate. A good pen and shed completed his run in first place. Two of Mick’s kennel mates finished three points behind him, separated from each other on outbye work.

Lexi (G Simpson’s Lad, K Brehmer’s Thistledown Fern) had a good fetch with slight wavers. She missed her first drive gate and had a break at the pen before she completed a good shed and finished runner-up.

Jan (P McGoldrick’s Braehead Lad, M McAlistair’s Lynn) needed a whistle to get out to the top, and had a good fetch with minor wavers. She penned after a slight break and finished with a clean shed and third place.

Two fairly similar runs led the field at Abington, where testing Blackface ewes ran on a huge, undulating field.

Davie Wallace’s Taz (D Wallace’s Rick and Tess) ran out and lifted cleanly and although the line of his fetch wavered, they were minor on the drive.

A break at the pen threatened the run, but once Taz had secured the sheep, he completed a winning run with a clean shed.

Ross Henderson’s Lad (J Hill’s Priory Kep and Mollie) also started with a clean outrun and lift. He had a good fetch and drive, but breaks at the pen and a slip at the shed detracted from the good work already achieved and put him into second place.

The running at Luss echoed that at Abington, with tricky Blackface ewes running on a flat field with a long drive which tested the dogs, particularly young dogs preparing for the nursery season, and the second leg caught out several.

Hamish Mitchell’s Dan (JP McGee’s Glencregg Silver, D Mullaney’s Nan) worked well outbye and although the ewes were off line on the drive, he managed to put them through the gates. Good work at hand, with only minor faults, set the seal on the winning run.

Stuart Davidson’s Dan (RW Harris’ Flynn and Straid Joe) stopped short on his outrun impacting his lift, but a clean pen followed, and although a first attempt at the shed did not come off, once completed, came second.

MORE NEWS | John and Patrick Harkin set NI Blackie record at 40,000gns

MORE NEWS | Bluefaced Leicesters ram lamb sets centre record at J36

Leading Awards

Yetholm (Judge: M Arres, Dryden). Open – 45 ran – 1, C Balmbro’s Liz, Wooler, 87; 2, R Dalziel’s Soul, Ettrick,76; 3, JA Common’s Groesfaen Mac, Lockerbie, 89; 4, P Turnbull’s Pablo, Debdon, 68; 5, D Robertson’s Zac, Langholm, 87; 6, E Foster’s Bess, Brotherston, 87. Novice – 1, A Hughes’ Copper, Brampton, 54.

Abington (Judge:N Campbell, Kinross). Open – 46 ran – 1, D Wallace’s Taz, Blyth Bridge, 87; 2, R Henderson’s Lad, Gifford, 86; 3, IM Brownlie’s Lark, Dunbar, 85; 4, W Welsh’s Jan, Dalcairney, 82; 5, L Hinneken’s Zorg, Quothquan, 78 Outbye; 6, C Armstrong’s Emma, Archbank, 78. Local – 1, I Fleming’s Tui, Douglas, 69. Shepherds’ Cup – D Wallace’s Taz, Blyth Bridge, 87.

Luss (Judge: N McVicar, Benmore). Open – 46 ran – 1, H Mitchell’s Dan, Glenfarg, 86; 2, SL Davidson’s Dan, Sandbank, 84; 3, R Howatson’s Graylees Chip, Fairlie, 80; 4, A Kent’s Lucy, Dunoon, 78; 5, AD MacKenzie’s Jess, Luss, 77 outbye; 6, AD Carnegie’s Kim, Comrie, 77.

Durness (D Murray, Rogart). Nursery –17 ran – 1, G Simpson’s Greiston Mick, Forgue, 81; 2, G Simpson’s Lexie, Forgue, 78 outbye; 3, G Simpson’s Jan, Forgue, 78; 4, M MacQueen’s Ted, Skye, 74; 5, N Sutherland’s Benji, Strathnaver, 73; 6, J Grant’s Gael, Dunbeath, 65; 7, I Sutherland’s Bob, Strathnaver, 62; 8, G van Dyck’s Seal, Invergordon, 50; 9, G van Dyck’s Liz, Invergordon, 46; 10, K Low’s Alba, Reay, 33.