By Sine Robertson

A SUCCESSFUL pen at Gifford gave Jordan McGowan and Tony their first open win.

Blackface gimmers in tremendous form behaved consistently well throughout the day, but the pen proved the downfall of many good runs and few dogs completed the course.

Tony (JP McGee’s Glencregg Silver, D McAlister’s Jodi) ran out on a good line and fetched his sheep at a good pace, with just minor wavers. As the gimmers turned round Jordan, Tony established his authority, in a way that let him get close to them. As he put the packet into the pen, one came out but Tony stopped her, turned her back, and Jordan shut the gate. A quick shed completed the winning run with a 10-point lead.

A solid and unflustered morning run from Brendon Smith’s Chip achieved full marks at North Mavine, where quality Shetland Cheviot gimmers were strong and gave the dogs a good test on a gently rising course. Chip (Flash, P Byrne’s Jim, A Gallagher’s Tess) ran out to the back of her sheep, leaving them room to feel less pressured, lifted carefully and kept them settled round the course. She found the balance of the sheep and worked steadily, held them at the pen without a break, put them in and completed the winning, faultless run with a clean and calm shed.

Carol Mellin’s Pentre Bet claimed the Hebridean cup at the end of the week-long tour of the islands and added to that by lifting the winner’s cup at Aboyne. At Ness, the final trial of the circuit, a mixture of Blackface and Cheviot ewes needed careful handling as they were inclined to break from the lift. The make-or-break point proved to be the pen, but Carol moved her packet in tiny steps and secured the overall circuit win, which she has been chasing since 2011.

Bet (DK Evans Tanhill Glen, I Rees’ Nell) was slightly short on her outrun, but lifted her sheep and nudged them on line, taking them cannily round the course. Carol and Bet worked in perfect harmony at the pen and patience won the day as they secured the sheep without a break and, with no time to spare, finished the winning run with a good shed.

LEADING awards

North Mavine, Shetland (Judge: B Anderson, Ollaberry). Open – 32 ran – 1, B Smith’s Chip (Flash), Dunrossness, 100 /100; 2, J Ramsay’s Josie, Ollaberry, 99; 3, B Smith’s Lass, Dunrossness, 96 outbye; 4, J Nicolson’s Abby, Scalloway, 96; 5, D Murray’s Jill, North Roe, 95 outbye; 6, D Murray’s Sweep, North Roe, 95. Championship – 1, D Murray’s Sweep, North Roe, 106 /110; 2, B Smith’s Chip (Flash), Dunrossness, 98; 4, J Nicolson’s Abby, Scalloway, 90. Limit – 1, Y Mouat’s Vicky, Yell, 50 /60; 2, R Colclough’s Marje, West Sandwick, 41; 3, R Keith’s Moss, Ollaberry, 39.

Bute (Judge: R Armour, New Cumnock). Open – 60 ran – 1, C Toner’s Niro Mace Drimsynie, 99; 2, E Gray’s Graylees Chip, Ardros, 95 outbye; 3, K Maines’ Kraxa, Sweden, 95; 4, E Gray’s Banjo, Ardros, 93 outbye; 5, A McCulloch’s Breynor Juno, Dalmellington, 93; 6, C Davidson’s Kyle, Sandbank, 92; 7, N McVicar’s Baledmund Pete, Benmore, 90 outbye; 8, K Sodaberg’s Flynn, Sweden, 90. Local – 1, R Howatson’s Jed, Fairlie; 2, L Gast’s Foxridge Vix, Scalpsie; 3, J Howatson, Peat, West Kilbride; 4, C Kjelstrup Paterson ’s Lexi, Kilmalcolm; 5, E Irvine’s Reiver Gray, Ardros.

Gifford (Judge: A Stewart, Lockerbie). Open – 54 ran – 1, J McGowan’s Tony, Portpatrick, 91; 2, M Young’s Jess, Stranraer, 81; 3, C Dickson’s Tom, Coldingham, 79; 4, IM Brownlie’s Lark, Dunbar, 76 outbye; 5, A Dickman’s Meg (Kate), Oxton, 76; 6, F Shennan’s Fred, Barr, 75.

Aboyne (Judge: G Simpson, Forgue). Open – 24 ran – 1, C Mellin’s Pentre Bet, Oakworth, 91; 2, C Mellin’s Moor Lodge Ben, Oakworth, 89 outbye; 3, I Wilkie’s Skye, Tillypronie, 89; 4, T Long’s Lass, Ballybofey, 88 outbye; 5, H Cooper’s Roy, New Deer, 88; 6, S MacFarlane’s Willow, Blairgowrie, 83 outbye. Local – 1, I Wilkie’s Skye, Tillypronie, 94.

Hebridean circuit Staffin, Skye (Judge: H Munro, Inverness). Open – 1, I Wilkie’s Skye, Tillypronie, 94; 2, A Andersson’s Butch, Llanllawddog, 92; 3, R Newsome’s Maya, Rossendale, 91 Outbye; 4, L Hansson’s Lemon, Llanllawddog, 91 outbye; 5, T McPhee’s Mick, Wick, 91; 6, C Mellin’s Pentre Bet, Oakworth, 90.

Waternish, Skye (Judge:E MacKinnon, Lochcarron). Open – 1, L Conn’s Tess, Limavady, 86; 2, A Kyme’s Meg, Rosendale, 83; 3, S Campbell’s Queen, Uig, 82; 4, G van Dyck’s Lhinnek Rhum, Invergordon, 80 outbye; 5, M MacNally’s Creag, Invergarry, 80; 6, M MacQueen’s Tess, Thurso, 78.

Berneray, Uist (Judge: J MacKillop, Fort Augustus). Open – 47 – ran – 1, L Hansson’s Lemon, Llanllawddog, 90; 2, A Kyme’s Meg, Rosendale, 86; 3,I MacDonald’s Ben, Staffin, 85; 4, C Mellin’s Pentre Bet, Oakworth, 84; 5, S Campbell’s Queen, Uig, 82. Local – 1, D MacAskill’s Zoe, Berneray, 74; 6, L Conn’s Tess, Limavady, 77. Local – 1, DA MacAskill’s Zoe, Berneray, 74.

Scarista, Harris (Judge: T Mcphee, Wick). Open – 47 ran – 1, S Campbell’s Queen, Uig, 88 outbye; 2, C Mellin’s Pentre Bet, Oakworth, 88; 3, L Conn’s Rick, Limavady, 86; 4, T Long’s Gem, Ballybofey, 85; 5, A Andersson’s Butch, Sweden, 81; 6, S Renwick’s Dell, Inverbroom, 79.

Ness, Lewis (Judge: P Rigby, Lancs). Open – 48 ran – 1 C Mellin’s Pentre Bet, Oakworth, 83; 2, G Gower’s Leso, Lydden, 82; 3, L Conn’s Tess, Limavady, 79; 4, D MacRitchie’s Moor Lodge Nell, Ness, 78; 5, A Andersson’s Butch, Llanllawddog, 77; 6, S Campbell’s Shadwell Ceit, Uig, 76. Local – 1, D MacRitchie’s Moor Lodge Nell, Ness, 78.

Hebridean Cup – Lady of the Isles– C Mellin’s Pentre Bet, Oakworth.