Sheepdog Trials – Strathnaver, Lintrathen and Dalmellington

Misty (JW Common’s Grit, B Smith’s Lass) worked well outbye and on the course, faulted only for a waver on the fetch. Immaculate work at the pen and shed set the seal on the winning run.

Ian Sutherland’s Cap (RJ Hutchinson’s Jonah, C Taylor’s Redgate Midge) also worked well and was on target for a win, until he put the sheep into the pen, only for two ewes to break before the gate closed. Cap wasted no time in retrieving them and re-penning the packet, but the damage was done and Cap took second place.

At Moniaive, the pen proved decisive too. The cross ewes were not easily kept on the flat of the course and a hill rising up on the right hand side which could hide the action of the lift also gave the ewes scope to create problems later on.

Emma Gray’s Graylees Flute (E Irvine’s Reiver Gray, E Gray’s Scalpsie Nessie) started out with good outbye work and had a good drive with just minor wavers. A very good pen and a clean shed put the run into first place.

Ross Henderson’s Lad (J Hill’s Priory Kep and Mollie) worked cleanly outbye, almost faultlessly on the drive, but had trouble with breaks at the pen. Once he had penned, a good shed made Lad runner up, with the rest of the prize list within two points of him.

Two very similar runs, only a point apart led the list at Dryden by a comfortable margin.

Odd packets of North Country Cheviot ewes proved tricky to handle on a course that started on the flat, but rose steeply to the top where some dogs failed to cover the sheep properly, allowing them to break for freedom.

Mark Arres’ Midge (M Arres’ Moss and Mo) stopped slightly short on her outrun, but managed to bring her three ewes away on a decent line and kept them under good control on the fetch, turn and drive. She penned cleanly, and then took her single in the ISDS approved shedding ring, but looked on the remaining pair before returning to take control of the target single.

Cameron Dickson’s Tom (DK Evans’ Ace and U Stromer’s Caefelin Gwen) also ran well on the course, if not quite so smoothly as Midge, but a more decisive single brought his score up to a single point behind her, with a clear gap ahead of the rest of the field.

Leading Awards

Strathnaver (Judge: B Anderson, Ollaberry). Open – 27 ran – 1, V Shearer’s Viking Misty, Westfield, 96; 2, I Sutherland’s Cap, Strathnaver, 92; 3, J Sutherland’s Spot, Durness, 91; 4, I Sutherland’s Dan (Hielan Cap), Strathnaver, 90; 5, I Matheson’s Molly, Reay, 86; 6, N Sutherland’s Cefneithin Spot, Strathnaver, 84.

Dryden (Judge: K Preston, Elsdon). Open – 52 ran – 1, M Arres’ Midge, Dryden, 95; 2, C Dickson’s Tom, Coldingham, 94; 3, B Parker’s Reba, Heriot 88; 4, B Parker’s Keita, Heriot, 86; 5, P Uhleman's Amy, Sweden, 85; 6, C Dickson's Bill, Coldingham, 84.

Moniaive (Judge: R Armour, New Cumnock). Open – 58 ran – 1, E Gray’s Greylees Flute, Ardros, 94; 2, R Henderson’s Lad, Gifford, 91; 3, C Caygill’s Seth, Whinnyliggate, 90 outbye; 4, D Robertson’s Derwen Roy, Langholm, 90; 5, A McCulloch’s Sam, Dalmellington, 89 outbye; 6, I Lockhart’s Kemi Sia, Dalrymple, 89. Confined – 1, H Jackson’s Bleau, Carsphairn; 2, H Jackson’s Lexi, Carsphairn; 3, E Craig, Carsphairn. Young handler – B Parker’s Keita, Heriot.

Lintrathen (Judge: I Wikie, Tilypronie). Open – 44 ran – 1, A Wilkie’s Spot (Mot), Glenmoy, 104 /110; 2, H Mitchell’s Dan, Glenfarg, 97; 3, S MacFarlane’s Willow, Blairgowrie, 95; 4, E Nilsson’s Ruh, Alyth, 91; 5, IM Brownlie’s Lark, Dunbar, 76; 6, J L’Etang’s Slip, Slamannan, 70; 7, H Mitchell’s Brae, Glenfarg, 65; 8, K Craig’s Dot, Tulliemet, 63; 9, J Hastie’s Lethans Bear, Saline, 62; 10, A Wilkie’s Craig, Glenmoy, 59. Local – 1, A Wilkie’s Spot (Mot), Glenmoy, 104; 2, A Wilkie’s Craig, Glenmoy, 59; 3, M Watt’s Craig, Kirriemuir, 84; 4, L Moore’s Finn, Lintrathen; 5, M Watt’s Craig, Kirriemuir. Junior handler – F Hood’s Min, Clova.