Chris Toner and Niro Mace won the double lift final of the four day series of Trials of Bute for the third consecutive year, where 120 dogs from throughout UK and Europe competed for three days of qualifying trials on three different fields and18 dogs went forward to the final. The course was set on flat ground overlooking the sea and fine weather added to the grandeur of the view of Arran and Kintyre across the water, providing a perfect backdrop to the final.

The first, 600yd, outrun over flat, seaside ground tested the 18 dogs which qualified to run in the final, but Mace (R Watson’s Ace, C Toner’s Maid), the highest pointed dog of the qualifiers, took it in his stride. He brought the second packet of nine ewes down a further 450yds, united them and drove them smoothly round the broad course. He set himself apart, working steadily over the whole course, finding no job too big and leaving no holes in the work where other dogs struggled, whether to reach their sheep, to shed or to pen them.

The shedding of 13 sheep took time, but Chris and Mace didn't waste any time and the pair managed their allotted span well. They walked five slightly reluctant Mules to the pen, but had no trouble putting them in and finished with full marks for that element and held on to the championship they have made their own, annually, since the inception of the trial series.

At Aberfeldy, a run off on a challenging hill course gave Elinore Nilsson’s Tweeddale Fergie the edge over Dean Aitken’s Kim.

The cross gimmers ran well on the steep course but proved testing at the pen. With dogs and sheep out of sight of handlers at the top at times, dogs had to be trusted to use their initiative.

Fergie (B McAllister’s Spot, D Aitken’s Tami) ran out and lifted cleanly, had a good fetch and worked well on the drive, although the turn through the cross drive gate and the return to the pen were just a little wide. She had to work hard to pen the sheep, but managed that without a break and a good shed set her on track for success.

Kim (D Nevin’s Mack, S Walh’s Jan) ran out wide and lifted at a slight angle, but had a good fetch. She was a little low on the cross drive, and again, the turn through the gate and return to the pen were a little wide, but a clean pen and shed made up for that and put the run into contention for first place, until the run off rendered Kim, the runner up.

Shetland Cheviot cross gimmers at Fetlar were workable, but lively enough to create a testing trial for the first of Shetland’s new season.

Brendon Smith’s Chip rose to the challenge over a course that started on 200yds of flat ground, before rising to more than 100yds of hill. Chip (Flash) (P Byrne's Jim, A Gallagher's Tess) started out with a clean outrun and lift and worked well to keep the sheep on a good line down the steep fetch. His drive went well, marred only by a slightly wide turn through the drive away gate. Good work at hand completed the winning run with a clear lead over the field.

Packets of assorted breeds and ages at Coltcrooks stuck together well over a flat field with a hollow marking the former site of a fence. They tended to be heavy to move and prepared to face the dogs, but the presence of leggy Zwartbles could add an element of speed to the run.

Bobby Dalziel’s Maybe (I Fournay’s Spot and Floss) ran out and lifted faultlessly and kept the sheep flowing round the course with tight turns and only minor wavers of the line. The packet broke from the mouth of the pen, but once Maybe had retrieved them, Bobby was quick to ensure they went in without further opportunity to depart; a clean shed secured first place.

Leading Awards

Trials of Bute – Dunagoil (Judge: I McConnell’s Joe, Lamlash). Brace 12 x 2 ran – 1, S Campbell’s Queen and Shadwell Cait, Uig, 105 /140; 2, P Martin’s Linburn Hamish and Ivy, Glenlyon,102; 3, S Martin’s Cherry and Kate, Cashlie, 101; 4, E McAuley’s Jonny and Tam, Larne, 92; 5, E Connell’s Taff and Clyde, Ireland, 91 outbye; 6, C Cassie’s Diva and Pip, 91.

Ardros A (Judge: P Turnbull, Debdon). Open – 62 ran – 1, A Snippe’s Jim, Assen, 92; 2, E Connell’s Clyde, Ireland, 88; 3, JP McGee’s Roeldog Becca, Ballybofey, 87 outbye; 4, AD Carnegie’s Suus, Comrie, 87; 5, F Farthing’s Nantymoel Nip, Pontardawe, 86 outbye; 6, S Morgan’s Vann Queen, Heriot, 86.

Scalpsie A (Judge: A Dickman, Oxton). Open – 62 ran – 1, SL Davidson’s Dan, Sandbank, 93 outbye; 2, E Gray’s Banjo, Ardros, 93; 3, S Morgan’s Vann Queen, Heriot, 92 outbye; 4, AD Carnegie’s Suus, Comrie, 92 outbye; 5, JP McGee’s Airgid Gold, Ballybofey, 92; 6, P Johnson’s Sooty, Barton Under Needwood, 90.

Plan Farm A (Judge: JG Templeton, Fenwick). Open – 56 ran – 1, AD Carnegie’s Suus, Comrie, 91; 2, S VD Zweep’s Jaff, 90 outbye; 3, JP McGee’s Roeldog Becca, Ballybofey, 90 outbye; 4, JP McGee’s Airgid Gold, Ballybofey, 90;5, C Davidson’s Fuzz, Sandbank, 87; 6, N Watkins’ Jazz, Blaenau Gwent, 86.

Plan Farm B (Judge: JG Templeton, Fenwick). Open – 62 ran – 1, E McAuley’s Tam, Larne, 89; 2, W Gallagher’s Moss, Kilcar, 88; 3, A Blomkvist’s Soya, Sweden, 85; 4, W Gallagher’s Dell, Kilcar, 84; 5, IM Brownlie's Lark, Dunbar, 83; 6, C Caerts’ Glen, Belgium, 79 outbye.

Ardros B (Judge: P Turnbull, Debdon). Open – 62 ran – 1, C Toner's Niro Mace Drimsynie, 93; 2, A McCulloch’s Sam, Dalmellington, 91 Outbye; 3, J McCloskey’s Fly, Co Donegal, 91; 4, A Owen’s Jim, Corwen, 89; 5, K Cropper’s Jacobsdale Gin, Shap, 88 Outbye; 6, P Tomkins’ Fynydd Kylo, Llandridnod Wells, 88.

Scalpsie B (Judge: A Dickman, Oxton). Open – 51 ran – 1, C Toner's Niro Mace Drimsynie, 94; 2, K Cropper’s Jacobsdale Gin, Shap, 93 Outbye; 3, J McCloskey’s Fly, Co Donegal, 93; 4, E McAuley’s Jonny, Larne, 92; 5, C Toner’s Niro Tammi, Drimsynie, 90; 6, I Lockhart’s Roy, Carsphairn, 89 outbye.

Double lift final (Judge: F Shennan, Barr; J MacDougal, Milton of Campsie). 18 ran – 1, C Toner's Niro Mace Drimsynie, 283/320; 2, K Cropper’s Jacobsdale Gin, Shap, 268; 3, J McCloskey’s Dollar, Co Donegal, 261; 3, JP McGee’s Airgid Gold, Ballybofey, 249; 4, JP McGee’s Roeldog Becca, Ballybofey, 228; 5, SL Davidson’s Dan, Sandbank, 213.

Fetlar, Shetland (Judge: P Fowler, Fetlar). Open – 19 ran – 1, B Smith’s Chip (Flash), Dunrossness, 99 /100; 2, O Brown’s Craig, Yell, 93; 3, J Ramsay’s Spot, Ollaberry, 92; 4, J Nicolson’s Flo, Scalloway, 87; 5, R Colclough’s Marje, West Sandwick, 85 Time; 6, J Ramsay’s Josie, Ollaberry, 85. Championship – Six ran – 1, J Ramsay’s Josie, Ollaberry, 89; 2, J Ramsay’s Spot, Ollaberry, 83; 3, B Smith’s Chip (Flash), Dunrossness, 81; 4, R Colclough’s Marje, West Sandwick, 79; 5, O Brown’s Craig, Yell, 75; 6, J Nicolson’s Flo, Scalloway, 74. Limit – 1, R Colclough’s Marje, West Sandwick,48 /50; 2, J Ramsay’s Sally, Ollaberry, 27; 3, C Williamson’s Dodi, Ollaberry, 20.

Coltcrooks (Judge: C Balmbro, Wooler). Open – 32 ran – 1, R Dalziel’s Maybe, Ettrick, 90; 2, M Arres’ Midge, Dryden, 86; 3, AR Mundell’s Yitte, Moffat, 83; 4, D Gilchrist’s Del (Bill), Oxton, 81; 5, R Henderson’s Lad, Gifford, 79 outbye; 6, WS Elliot’s Cap, Yetholm, 79.

Aberfeldy (Judge: M Gallagher, Alyth). Open – 33 ran – 1, E Nilsson’s Tweeddale Fergie, Balintore, 87 run off; 2, D Aitken’s Kim, Peebles, 87; 3, S Martin’s Cherry, Cashlie, 82; 4, J Hastie’s Graylees Rose, Saline, 76; 5, AD MacKenzie’s Dime, Luss, 74; 6, D Aitken’s Tweeddale Jill, Peebles, 72. Local – 1, S Martin’s Daisy, Cashlie, 72; 2, N Boyne’s Jess, Ballinluig, 67; 2, K Craig’s Nell, Tulliemet, 64. Young Farmers – 1, N Boyne’s Jess, Ballinluig, 67; 2, R Brown’s Pip, Remony, 61; 3, K Kennedy’s Rory, Lurgan.

St Boswells (Judge: S Wallace, Prendwick). Open – 62 ran – 1, N Campbell’s Moss, Kinross, 90; 2, C Dickson's Tom, Coldingham, 89; 3, C Dickson's Bill, Coldingham, 88; 4, IM Brownlie's Lark, Dunbar, 87; 5, J Paterson’s Scalpsie Roy, Kirkcowan, 86; 6, WS Elliot’s Cap, Yetholm, 85. Novice – B McSporran’s Cass, Wester Middleton.

Durness (Judge: J Ogston, Killin). Open – 53 ran – 1, MC Shearer’s Viking Cap, Westfield, 89; 2, L Ronaldson’s Bob, Wick, 85; 3, I MacDonald’s Meg, Staffin, 79; 4, M Sutherland’s Missy, Halkirk, 76; 5, D Worthington’s Bob (Albert), Skarfskerry, 75 outbye; 6, M MacQueen’s Don, Thurso, 75; 7, MC Shearer’s Heilan Rab, Westfield, 74; 8, V Shearer’s Viking Misty, Westfield, 73 outbye; 9, I Sutherland’s Dan (Hielan Cap), Strathnaver, 73; 10, N Sutherland’s Spot, Strathnaver, 68. Local –1, J MacDonald's Breagh, Kinlochbervie; 2, J Sutherland’s Spot, Durness; 3, K Keith’s Jen, Durness.

Balmaha (Judge: R Henderson, Gifford). Open – 52 ran – 1, C Toner’s Niro Tammi, Drimsynie, 84; 2, AD MacKenzie’s Jess, Luss, 83; 3, S Martin’s Kate, Cashlie, 81; 4, AD MacKenzie’s Dune, Luss, 81; 5, P Martin’s Ivy, Glenlyon,71; 6, E Nilsson’s Avon Jacob, Alyth, 68.