Brian Bell and Moss were in control at Danby Show

The 38 entrants, judged by Jackie Cook, ran over a flat course, gathered either way while the sheep were mostly Texel-cross ewes with a few Scottish Blackfaces and Swaledales.

With the first run Bob Harland set the standard, gaining 79 of 90 points with Shep. This score earned best run before lunch and ultimately second place in the trial, with Brian and Moss going ahead at 23.

Following a clean outrun and lift, Moss lost four points from his fetch and four throughout the right-hand drive. His sheep remained settled at the pen where, after some hesitation, Moss secured them at a loss of two points to earn a score of 80.

At the annual Rydal Dog Day, Arthur Temple took the Le Fleming Stakes open title with Meg, while Mike Beaty and Spy won the Rydal class.

The open trial is held on a dish-shaped course gathered either hand. Run in fours, the Swaledale shearlings were touchy and dogs had to work hard to get them into the pen. Norman Ireland judged the entry of 23.

First to the post, Richard Briggs set a high standard, earning 78 points with Bill to lead until, at 20, Arthur and Meg gained a single point advantage to win on 79. This was the second year running Arthur has taken this title, having won the previous year with Fly.

Rydal class

Richard Harrison judged the entry of 27 in the Rydal class, where the running was on mixed breeds of hill sheep, which were again flighty, and had to be worked into the pen.

Mike and Spy ran just before the lunch break. They had a clean start before losing marks for line deviations, dropping three more points at the pen for a score of 74. With a later run, Elaine Hill and Kate made a strong challenge before settling for the runner-up spot on 72.

Competitors were able to practice over National style courses. At Northern, the running was over a flattish course on packets of five Mule ewes.

Brian Bell and Moss took the lead at 10 on 95 of 110 points, however, Kim Gibson running Dan, a dog she has had for three months that was previously owned by Jim Cropper, had the winning round at 29.

After a good right hand gather Dan kept nice control of his sheep over the first leg of the drive where the ewes tended to bolt off. After a good shed, Dan had an excellent pen but lost points at the single to score 98.

Fylde had three days of competition with qualifying opens on Friday and Saturday from which the top eight dogs from each day went forward into the double gather championship held on Sunday.

Over a rising course, the running was on Texel-cross Mule ewes. On Friday top of the 32 dogs judged by David Carlton were Arthur Temple and Meg, their second win in two days. Derek Scrimgeour and Zac topped the 29 dogs judged by Larry Cowper on Saturday.

On Sunday, the dogs firstly gathered eight sheep before going back for a further packet of eight. The driving was extended and, once in the mown shedding ring, the four collared sheep had to be shed along with one other and these five sheep were penned. With the final run John Palmer and Jim pulled one point ahead to take the title on 145.

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