Good work on a tricky sidelings course gave Scott McAuley and Mirk the edge at Ardormie, with the competition hot on their heels.

The easy care hoggs were consistent on a day of wild winds, but they were not easily navigated round the course which rose from one side to the other. That created a drive which went uphill on the first leg and down on the second. Some dogs struggled to put the sheep through the chute.

Mirk (AP Gallagher’s Cain, C McNaughton’s Mist) responded to Scott’s single whistle on his outrun and lifted nicely. He fetched and drove well, keeping a good hold over his sheep as they went round the course, and returned to a clean chute. The shed took a little time to come off, but once it was made, the work earned first place.

Michael Gallagher had two dogs within two points of Mirk.

Michael’s Avon Roy (A Gallagher’s Cain, A Warmington’s Kim) set the standard with the first run of the day. He ran out and lifted well, but the hoggs went off line, which spoiled his fetch. Once Roy put them on line, he had a good drive with good lines and turns. A clean chute and shed completed the run in second place, a point behind Mirk.

His Jacobsdale Bruce (J McLaughlan’s Ben, R Herdsman’s Morag) ran out and lifted well and had a good fetch. His drive went well and a clean chute followed. The hoggs were touchy at the shed and not easily set up for the split, but Bruce came in when called and took third place, a single point short of Roy.

The Cheviot hoggs at two trials at Bargenoch responded to careful treatment, but could be touchy on a rising course that ran up to a corner. They were hard to pen, but with good judgement between handler and dog, most packets went in.

In the first trial, Ian Fergie’s Heatherhill Mac (Heatherhill Skip, High Peak Gem) ran out wide, but he lifted nicely and had the best fetch of the day. He kept good lines on the drive, but his turns were wide. He penned after retrieving breaks and although his shed was hesitant, he took full control of his sheep and finished in first place, with the also rans far off in the distance.

Willie Welsh’s Jet (T Vickers’ Kemi Bryn and Groesfaen Anita) was slightly short at the top and pushed his sheep off line as he lifted them. They stayed off line and missed the fetch gate, but improved on the drive with good turns, and emerged as the best of the day. The hoggs broke repeatedly before they were safely penned, but a tidy shed finished the run in second place.

Jet avenged himself in the second trial. He ran out cleanly, but pushed his sheep off line at the lift. He corrected that and then had another waver before he went through the fetch gate. He kept good lines and decent turns on the drive, which gave him an edge. Again, he penned after a break and was hesitant to shed, but with good work on the course, he earned first place, but Mac was not far behind.

Mac, too, ran out cleanly and pushed his sheep offline, but he took longer to realign them than Jet did, and incurred more wavers on the way. His drive started well, but his turns were wide. Again, he had breaks at the pen, but his sheep were unsettled at the shed, making it difficult for Ian to risk any potential splits, but he eventually shed and took second place.

LEADING awards

Boreland of Anwoth (Judge: A McCulloch, Dalmellington). Nursery – 12 ran – 1, F Shennan’s Belle, Barr, 91; 2, D Robertson’s Cap, Langholm, 82 outbye; 3, WJ Welsh’s Heyshaw Fletch, Sanquhar, 82; 4, J Thomson’s Brober Rock, Carsphairn, 79; 5, R McClement’s Sosige, Crocketford, 69. Novice – 1, J Thomson’s Northtyne Spear, Carsphairn, 85. Pro novice – 1, D Aitken’s Kim, Peebles, 81; 2, R Malcolm’s Gael, Gatehouse, 78; 3, H Jackson’s Tom, Carsphairn, 63; 4, H Jackson’s Blue, Carsphairn, 61.

Ardormie (Judge:AD Carnegie, Comrie). Nursery – 25 ran – 1, S McAuley’s Mirk, Crieff, 90; 2, M Gallagher’s Avon Roy, Crieff, 89; 3, M Gallagher’s Jacobsdale Bruce, Alyth, 88; 4, A Wilkie’s Vic, Glenmoy, 81 Outbye; 5, K Dickson’s Liz, Fintry, 81; 6, K Craig’s Nell, Tulliemet,72. Novice – K Craig’s Nell, Tulliemet,72.

Coylton Bargenoch I (Judge:WJ Welsh, Sanquhar). Nursery – Six ran – 1, I Fergie's Heatherhill Mac, Straiton, 81; 2, W Welsh’s Jet, Dalmellington, 69; 3, A McCulloch’s Maid, Dalmellington,55; 4, JR Welsh’s Rock, Dalrymple, 44; 5, W McMillan’s Spud, Straiton, 41.

Coylton Bargenoch II (Judge: N Gillon, Dailly). Nursery – Six ran – 1, W Welsh’s Jet, Dalmellington, 84; 2, I Fergie's Heatherhill Mac, Straiton, 82; 3, A McCulloch’s Maid, Dalmellington, 66; 4, JR Welsh’s Rick, Dalrymple, 40.