Willie Welsh’s Mitzy was in good form at Dalfarson Park, taking the lead in two trials in one day there, where the Blackface hill ewes were light and touchy at a cold, wet and windy event and did not like going in the pen.

The young dogs ran out over a tricky, undulating uphill with a 260yd outrun, crossing a turf dyke near the top. At the first trial, Mitzy (W Welsh’s Cap, C Darwent’s Maggie) needed a few commands to correct her on the outrun and again on her lift to hold the sheep online, but she worked well from there. She fetched with just minor wavers and although she was low on her cross drive, she put her sheep through the gate. A clean pen followed, and although indecision detracted a little from her shed, she earned first place.

Jamie Shennan’s Dak (E Grey’s Reiver Gray, J Shennnan’s Rose) ran out cleanly and lifted faultlessly. She had a good straight fetch, but was offline on both legs of the drive and missed the cross drive gate, which put put a big hole in the work after such a good start. The ewes broke repeatedly from the pen before Dak put them in in, but a tidy shed finished the run in second place.

At the second trial, Mitzy ran out cleanly, but was slightly hesitant on her lift. She had a tidy fetch, with only minor bends, and a good drive followed, although the ewes were slightly offline on the cross drive. Mitzy retrieved breaks before she penned successfully, and although Willie had trouble getting the sheep to open up to make the shed, once the opportunity came about, Mitzy finished the job and had her second win of the day.

Neil Gillon’s Mheg (N Gillon’s Shweep and Meg) stopped short on her way out but responded to Neil’s whistle. She lifted cleanly and had a tidy fetch, again with minor bends and a good drive with tight turns followed. The ewes broke from the pen and Mheg had trouble holding them at the mouth of the pen before she secured the packet inside and finished her run with a slightly hesitant shed and second place.

The hill Cheviot hoggs at Lieurary behaved well on an undulating, uphill course, and contributed to a high scoring trial, but they could be tricky to pen and reacted against dogs that put them under pressure.

Ian Sutherland’s Cap (RJ Hutchinson’s Jonah, C Taylor’s Redgate Midge) was slow to lift his sheep, but once he had them moving, Cap took them steadily and smoothly round the course. He had a waver before the fetch gate and was offline on the cross drive, but he got all his gates, finished the run with a clean pen and shed and nursery aged Cap won the open trial.

Jasmine Grant’s Pat (P Byrne’s Moss, and Bracken) ran out and lifted a light footed packet; they were cheeky on the fetch before Pat put them through the gate and they continued round the course at speed. Pat penned nicely and although Jasmine was a little distance from the action at the shed, she called Pat into a gap when she saw it. Pat came in, turned on the second pair and earned second place, with time to spare for more.

Vicky Shearer was hot on the heels of Cap and Pat, with siblings Viking Cap and Viking Misty (JW Common’s Grit, B Smith’s Lass) in third and fourth places, respectively.

At Birthwood, good work outbye, at hand and in driving lively Blackface hoggs on line on a rolling, uphill course gave Tyler McKinlay’s Hearthstane Squiggle the lead.

The hoggs benefitted from tactful management on a cold and windy day, but they were unsettled as they turned round the handler.

Squiggle (H Brown’s Mac and Heatherstane Keeve) ran out and lifted nicely, and had a good fetch with just minor wavers. She managed the sheep well around Tyler’s feet, and although she kept good lines on the drive, her turns were wider than ideal. A good pen and shed completed her winning run.

Cheviot Mule and Texel cross ewe hoggs were light to handle on a rolling course at Muthill, and unwilling to be driven away on the first leg of the drive.

Elinore Nilsson’s Hillrunner Ivy (A Owens’ Llangwm Cap, E Nilsson’s Tweeddale Fergie) ran out and lifted cleanly. She had a good fetch and a good drive, with minor wavers of the lines her only fault at both elements. Good work at hand set the seal on success for Ivy with her namesake a little way behind.

Peter Martin’s unregistered Ivy matched the winner outbye, but had more difficulty on the first leg of the drive and suffered a little for that. A clean chute and a good shed put her into second place.

LEADING awards

Lieurary (Judge: MC Shearer, Westfield). Open – 29 ran – 1, I Sutherland’s Cap, Strathnaver, 96; 2, J Grant’s Pat, Dunbeath, 95; 3, V Shearer’s Viking Cap, Westfield, 94; 4, V Shearer’s Viking Misty, Westfield, 92; 5, S Campbell’s Queen, Uig, 89; 6, H MacKenzie’s Rock, Badanloch, 88.

Dalfarson Park I (Judge:W Tod, Langholm). Nursery – Eight ran – 1, W Welsh’s Mitzy, Dalcairney,79; 2, J Shennan’s Dak, Barr, 76; 3, N Gillon’s Mheg, Dailly, 69; 4, I Fergie's Eryri Ben, Straiton, 51; 5, N Gillon’s Max, Barr, 47; 6, H Young’s Kate, Crosshill, 39.

Dalfarson Park II (Judge: D Robertson, Langholm). Nursery – Eight ran – 1, W Welsh’s Mitzy, Dalcairney, 82; 2, N Gillon’s Mheg, Dailly, 81; 3, I Fergie's Eryri Ben, Straiton,76; 4, B Welsh’s Meg, Beoch, 75 Outbye; 5, N Gillon’s Max, Barr, 75; 6, J Shennan’s Dak, Barr, 69.

Brodick, Arran I (Judge: L Robertson, Machrie). Nursery – Six ran – 1, W Stevenson’s Dusk, Whiting Bay, 75. Older dogs – 1, I McConnell’s Joe, Lamlash, 80; 2, I Logan’s Chris, Pirnmill, 70.

Brodick, Arran II (Judge: L Robertson, Machrie). Nursery – Six ran – 1, W Stevenson’s Dusk, Whiting Bay, 73.

Muthill (Judge: S Alexander, Rickarton). Nursery – 22 ran – 1, E Nilsson’s Hillrunner Ivy, Alyth, 88; 2, P Martin’s Ivy, Glenlyon, 85; 3, A Wilkie’s Lyn, Glenmoy, 84; 4, H Mitchell’s Dan, Lochearnhead, 83; 5, AD Carnegie’s Kim, Comrie, 76; 6, D Mullen’s Moss, Kinross, 75; 7, S Martin’s Cherry, Cashlie, 74; 8, S Martin’s Kate, Cashlie, 73; 9, E Nilsson’s Jacob, Balintore, 71;10, M Young’s Stella, Glenesk, 70.

Hunterston (Judge: M Bell, Mauchline). Nursery – 20 ran – 1, SL Davidson’s Hillrunner Ella, Sandbank, 86 outbye; 2, E Gray’s Banjo, Ardros, 86; 3, SL Davidson’s Finn, Sandbank, 85; 4, R Howatson’s Jacobsdale Fionn, Fairlie, 76; 5, I Lockhart’s Roy, Dalrymple, 67 outbye; 6, C Toner’s Lynn, Drimsynie, 67 outbye; 7, C Toner’s Nell, Drimsynie, 67; 8, V Mathie’s Venn, Kilmaurs, 65; 9, J Howatson, Peat, West Kilbride, 62; 10, D Kinloch’s Boss, Kilsyth, 60.

Birthwood (Judge: F McMillan, Moniaive). Nursery – 20 ran – 1, T McKinlay’s Hearthstane Squiggle, Coulter, 80; 2, R Henderson’s Lad Crawford, 77; 3, R Henderson’s Craig, Crawford, 76; 4, L Hinneken’s Pillot, Quothquan, 71; 5, M McColm’s Viking Lee, Leadhills, 67 outbye; 6, I Fleming’s Tweed, Douglas, 67; 7, D McMullen’s Lee, Haddington, 65; 8, D Wallace’s Flint, Blyth Bridge, 57; 9, RB Henderson’s Becca, Broughton, 51 outbye; 10, J Ralston’s Brie, Torrance, 51. Novice – Four ran – 1, A Walker’s Roy, Hamilton, 77; 2, G McKinlay’s Ben, Coulter, 70; 3, R Reid’s Lynn, Carnwath, 66; 4, R Reid’s Taff, Carnwath, 41.

Kirkcudbright (Judge: W Tod, Langholm). Nursery – 13 ran – 1, D Robertson’s Mirk, Langholm, 81; 2, D Robertson’s Kemi Cap, Langholm, 80; 3, J Thomson’s Houpland Bill, Thornhill, 79; 4, AR Mundell’s Yitte, Moffat, 74; 5, JA Common’s Gelli Jack, Lockerbie, 73; 6, T Blacklock’s Roy, Kirkconnel, 55; 7, T Blacklock’s Logue, Kirkconnel. Pro-novice – 1, J Thomson’s Brobar Rock, Thornhill, 90; 2, D Aitken’s Tweeddale Jill, Peebles, 78; 3, H Jackson’s Bleu, Carsphairn, 70; 4, D Aitken’s Kim, Peebles, 53.