Double win for Mark MacQueen at Forsie and Strathnaver

Cheviot ewes ran well on a flat course that served for both trials and were generally good to pen and shed.

At Forsie, Ted (R Games’ Scot, K Pritchard’s Preseli Kate) ran out a little wide and had a good fetch with just a slight waver. His drive started well, but he went off line on the cross drive, but got his gate. Clean work at hand gave him his first win of the day.

Geordie Simpson’s Greiston Mick (RW Laurie’s Groesfaen Nap, Jay Beez’ Sky) got off to a good start with good work outbye, but when he missed his cross drive gate it put a hole in the work. However, a clean pen and shed helped to make up for that and Mark took second place. At Strathnaver trial, Barcroft Brian (A Olsson’s Midderry Frank, S Holt’s Foinavon Ava) beat Ted into second place.

Jacob ewes generally ran well on a big, flat course, at Kippen, but were drawn to and from certain areas of the course. Some dogs failed to find their sheep and some ran past them, unseen in the distance. They tended to be difficult to lift and engage on the fetch, but once through the fetch gate they were far more tractable, would come straight down and turn nicely round the handler, but they were unsettled on the first leg of the drive and drawn up the field from there. On the cross drive, were again, more co-operative, possibly due to a sheep pad that suited the course. They were generally good to pen and shed.

Andy Carnegie’s Suus (E Groot’s Preseli Roy, J Roos’ Bess) ran out cleanly to her sheep, lifted them and experienced the common issue until she put them through the fetch gate. They behaved reasonably from there until they were on the drive, where Suus had more difficulty with them, but she got her gates and a clean pen and a very good shed set the seal on the winning run.

Emma Gray’s Banjo (E Gray’s Jamie, O Whitley’s Bracken) ran out and lifted cleanly, got them through the fetch gate and had a good line from there, but the first leg of the drive presented a major challenge. Once returned to close work, the standard improved. Despite awkward ewes milling at the mouth of the pen, Banjo secured the packet without too much trouble and a clean shed completed the run in second place.

The double lift final at Kippen saw Hamish Mitchell’s Dan (JP McGee’s Glencregg Silver, D Mullaney’s Nan) progress from sixth place in the open to become winner of the final.

Leading Awards

Forsie (Judge: D Worthington, Skarfskerry). Nursery –14 ran – 1, M MacQueen’s Ted, Skye, 90; 2, G Simpson’s Greiston Mick, Forgue, 88; 3, N Sutherland’s Benji, Strathnaver, 86 outbye; 4, J Grant’s Gael, Dunbeath, 86; 5, G Simpson’s Roy, Forgue, 83; 6, G Simpson’s Jan, Forgue, 75; 7, I Sutherland’s Bob, Strathnaver, 65; 8, D Simpson’s Sweep, Barrock, 60 outbye; 9, G Simpson’s Lexie, Forgue, 60.

Strathnaver (Judge:H MacKenzie, Badanloch). Nursery –14 ran –1, M MacQueen’s Barcroft Brian, Skye, 93; 2, M MacQueen’s Ted, Skye, 90; 3, G Simpson’s Greiston Mick, Forgue, 88; 4, G Simpson’s Roy, Forgue, 83; 5, G Simpson’s Jan, Forgue, 75; 6, I Sutherland’s Bob, Strathnaver, 65; 7, J Grant’s Gael, Dunbeath, 86; 8, D Simpson’s Ellie, Barrock, 64; 9, G Cormack’s Tweed, Dunnet, 64; 10, D Simpson’s Sweep, Barrock, 60 outbye.

Kippen (Judge: I Landsborough, Dailly). Open – 45 ran – 1, AD Carnegie’s Suus, Comrie, 84; 2, E Gray’s Banjo, Ardros, 80; 3, AD MacKenzie’s Jess, Luss, 79; 4, A Kent’s Lucy, Dunoon, 77; 5, A McCulloch’s Sam, Dalmellington, 76; 6, H Mitchell’s Dan, Glenfarg, 75. Double lift final – 1, H Mitchell’s Dan, Glenfarg; 2, AD Carnegie’s Suus, Comrie; 3, E Gray’s Banjo, Ardros; 4, AD MacKenzie’s Jess, Luss; 5, A Kent’s Lucy, Dunoon; 6, A McCulloch’s Sam, Dalmellington.

Northumberland League

Dunterley (Judge: R McRae, Morpeth). Nursery – 20 ran – 1, M Davidson’s Jill, Lilburn, 80; 2, N Walton’s Nell, Alston, 78; 3, P Turnbull’s Vic, Debdon, 77 outbye; 4, B Jordan’s Craigshield Dove, Whitfield, 77; 5, C Balmbro’s Jim, Wooler, 65; 6, D Henderson’s Burndale Jet, Allendale, 61. Novice – N Walton’s Nell, Alston, 78.