Sheepdog trials from Brora, Shetland, Mey and NI team

Some dogs struggled to see their sheep, if settled in a hollow at the bottom of the gentle, downhill slope from where they were released. The fit, park Cheviots continued the challenge to the dogs, tending to bolt from both drive gates and equally prepared to take off from the pen.

Maid (W Cormack’s Roy, G Cormack’s Gael) worked steadily, with no holes in her run, and only minor penalties dropped over the piece. Maid got all her obstacles on the course and George kept a cool head at the pen, where other good runs came adrift, so the local pair triumphed.

Aberfield gimmers at Brora ran well if handled appropriately at the top of a flat field, but they did not settle readily from any disturbance.

Peter Martin’s Ivy (K Freeman’s Mac, K Howlett’s Meg) ran out and lifted her packet well and kept them moving nicely on the course with only minor wavers on the fetch and drive. A clean pen followed, but good sheep staying together on the shed made that job a little harder to achieve, but once the sheep were shed, Ivy was top dog.

Texel and Cheviot cross ewes ran well on the big, flat, former national field at Watten, but they were tricky to pen and the cross drive gate was hard to judge.

Ian Sutherland’s Cap (RJ Hutchinson’s Jonah, C Taylor’s Redgate Midge) ran out a little tight at the top, but he lifted and fetched nicely. He made a good start to his drive and although the ewes went slightly off line on the cross drive, Cap put them through the gate. A good return to the pen was followed by a clean pen and shed and Cap took first place, with the prize list all within three points of him.

The cross ewes at Nethybridge drew to one side on the fetch and dogs had to fight to hold them and keep them on line. Two fairly similar runs led the pack.

Ian Wilkie’s Skye (E Nilsson’s Midderry Kid, I Wilkie’s Floss) ran out and lifted cleanly, but had to work to keep them on the fetch. Her drive went well and she penned with some effort. At the shed, Skye looked momentarily on the rejects before taking the targets and winning the trial.

Gert van Dyke’s Scalpsie Fey (LM Gast’s Shepherds own Hank and Kite) ran out for her sheep, and like Skye, she lifted cleanly, worked constantly on the fetch and went on to a good drive. Fey worked well at the pen and although she was slow to come in on her shed, she came in and finished a point short of Skye.

Half-bred ewes in great form could gather speed on the big course at Westruther and were not keen on the pen. Dogs had good exercise for the national trial running out over 400+, gently rising yds to lift their sheep, fetch them down again to drive them over level ground and complete the close work there.

Colin Balmbro stopped Liz (N Bird’s Llangwym Dan, D Lambie’s Elly) short at the top and the ewes came away on a good line, but wavered the line on the fetch. Despite that, Liz turned them neatly round Colin, but at a pace which increased on the drive away and although she got both drive gates, there was a race to turn them before they took off. She penned after a break and at the shed, Colin took advantage of a split and set the seal on the winning run.

Leading Awards

Shetland County, Eshaness, (Judge: J Thomason, Fetlar). Open – 12 ran – 1, D Murray’s Sweep, North Roe,104 /110; 2, J Ramsay’s Spot, Ollaberry,100; 3, D Murray’s Meg, North Roe, 99 outbye; 4, B Smith’s Chip (Flash), Dunrossness, 99; 5, AWP Hughson’s Midge, Girlsta, 97.

Westruther (Judge: IM Brownlie, Dunbar). Open – 43 ran – 1, C Balmbro’s Liz, Wooler, 87; 2, A Dawidowicz’s Buka, Dunsyre, 85; 3, D Wallace’s Taz, Blyth Bridge, 79; 4, D Aitken’s Tweeddale Vicki, Peebles, 71; 5, H Brown’s Mac, Coulter, 60 outbye; 6, C Dickson’s Tom, Coldingham, 60. Novice – C Kirkland’s Jill, Kirknewton.

North Circuit

Nethybridge (Judge: T McPhee, Wick). Open – 25 ran – 1, I Wilkie’s Skye, Tillypronie, 86; 2, G van Dyck’s Scalpsie Fey, Invergordon, 85; 3, P Martin’s Tilly, Glenlyon, 82; 4, S Martin’s Kate, Cashlie, 76; 5, I MacKay’s Patch, Leanach, 74 outbye; 6, I Wilkie’s Leah, Tillypronie, 74.

Watten (Judge: W Sutherland, Reay). Open – 36 ran – 1, I Sutherland’s Cap, Strathnaver, 93; 2, G van Dyck’s Lhinnek Rum, Invergordon, 91 outbye; 3, J MacKillop’s Viking Jed, Fort Augustus, 91 outbye; 4, P Martin’s Ivy, Glenlyon, 91; 5, MC Shearer’s Heilan Rab, Westfield, 90 outbye; 6, MC Shearer’s Viking Cap, Westfield, 90.

Mey (Judge: I MacDonald, Staffin). Open – 30 ran – 1, G Cormack’s Maid, Dunnet, 85; 2, T McPhee’s Scott, Wick, 83; 3, T McPhee’s Mick, Wick, 79; 4, MC Shearer’s Heilan Rab, Westfield, 78; 5, H MacKenzie’s Glen, Badanloch, 76; 6, P Martin’s Ivy, Glenlyon, 75.

Brora (Judge: M Sutherland, Halkirk). Open – 42 ran – 1, P Martin’s Ivy, Glenlyon, 95; 2, MC Shearer’s Mirk, Westfield, 92; 3, G van Dyck’s Lhinnek Rum, Invergordon, 91; 4, JC MacLachlan’s Queen, Spean Bridge, 90; 5, I Matheson’s Molly, Reay, 88; 6, N Sutherland’s Cefneithin Spot, Strathnaver, 87; 7, I Sutherland’s Dan (Hielan Cap), Strathnaver, 85 outbye; 8, I MacDonald’s Meg, Staffin, 85; 9, G Cormack’s Maid, Dunnet, 84 outbye; 10, T McPhee’s Scott, Wick, 84.

Top 5 dogs from each day are placed according to their positions on the day, this is reflected in apparent anomalies in scores.

Irish National team – 150 ran – 1, E McAuley’s Jonny 349514, 195 /220 run off; 2, P Morgan’s Nantmell Bob 377289, 182 run off; 3, JP McGee’s Roeldog Becca 391047, 181; 4=. C Byrne’s Tess 397755, 184; 4=, M Feeney’s Ben 387903, 179; 4=, J McLaughlin’s Eirier Rock Mac 389789, 172; 7=, P O’Donnell’s Joe 380367, 182; 7=, W Goligher’s Mainstay Taff 373349, 178; 7=, S Mosse’s Bob 346636, 168; 10=, M Cannon’s Glen 360770, 179; 10=, DM McAuley’s Nan 372397, 174; 10=, S Gallagher’s Tweeddale Dan 387208, 166; 13=, J Kinney’s Winnie 356755, 176; 13=, M Glyn’s Marshall 375709, 166; 13=, D McNeil’s Jimmi 345753, 164. Res, D McNeil’s Yellowhill Tommy 358820, 174. Brace – 1, E McAuley’s Jonny 349514 and Tam 359752, 204 /280; 2, J Maginn’s Rose 371831 and Jess 357837, 197.