There is a well known saying, 'no pain, no gain' and that will be ringing true in the minds of Milk Link’s 1,600 producers, who are on the brink of reaping just reward for 12 years of loyalty and investment.WORKING DOGS
Cosmopolitan mix is winner
A DUTCH handler and a Welsh-bred dog, who built their reputation in Ireland, made their mark in Aberdeenshire this weekend.
Susanne Lejuez and Jaff earned first place at Monymusk, with only one point lost off 100, and second at Bennachie.
The clipped mule gimmers were hard to handle in the morning – they behaved better on the drive, but were difficult to pen.
They settled in the afternoon and the prize list comprised later runs on a course mainly on a flat area of a rolling field, with a hollow on the fetch.
Jaff kept the sheep settled, achieving good lines and tight turns and lost only one point – for his lift.
Realigned drive
Iain MacKay’s Sunnyview Bob worked similarly, but as Bob turned the sheep round Iain’s feet, he had to realign to drive.
Next day, the same sheep ran at Monymusk, and co-operated so well that judge Iain MacKay, had to search for faults. The terrain was less arduous than previously, with grass underfoot and the course set on a gentle rise, so the sheep were pulled up to the handler, but many lost points for their route from cross drive gate to the pen.
Stuart Davidson’s Jim led with a clean start and finish, a waver on the fetch and a good drive.
Susanne Lejuez and Jaff started out steadily; the line of the fetch wavered and the return marred the drive, but the work at hand was clean and Jaff led three equal runs for his outbye work.
Ewen Mackinnon’s Gyp was short on his outrun, but lifted cleanly. His fetch wavered, but his drive was good and he, too, had a clean finish.
RESULTS
MONYMUSK Open, Home Farm, Keithhall, Aberdeenshire (Judge, E.C. Mackinnon, Lochcarron, 60 ran) 1, S. Lejuez (Dollar) Jaff, 99 out of 100; 2, I. MacKay (Leanach) Bob, 97; 3, S.L. Davidson (Sandbank) Jim, 91 outbye; 4, J. Ogston (Killin) Tess, 91 outbye; 5, S. Grant (Strathcanaird) Vicky, 91; 6, S. Alexander (Abernethy) Scott, 90.
BENNACHIE Open, Old Keig, Alford, Aberdeenshire (I. MacKay, Leanach, 60 ran) 1, S.L. Davidson (Sandbank) Jim, 95; 2, S. Lejuez (Dollar) Jaff, 92 outbye; 3, E.C. Mackinnon (Lochcarron) Gyp, 92 outbye; 4, S. Alexander (Abernethy) Scott, 92; 5, P. Fullerton (Kingussie) Dean, 91; 6, H. MacLean (Culloden) Kim, 90; 7, E.C. Mackinnon (Lochcarron) Nan, 89.
MONACHYLE Open, Stirlingshire (D. Galbraith, Comrie, 45 ran) 1, P. Martin (Glenlyon) Maid, 76 of 100; 2, N. McVicar (Benmore) Nicky, 74; 3, J. Hastie (Saline) Cap, 73 outbye; 4, N. McEachern (Dunoon) Ann, 73; 5, J. McRobert (Tweedsmuir) Taff, 68 outbye; 6, P. Hetherington (Minishant) Liz, 68.
ETTRICK SERIES - RANGECLEUGH II Open (R. Wood, Greenlaw, 36 ran) 1, R. Dalziel (Ettrick) Joe, 87 of 90; 2, A. Driscoll (South Wales) Kinloch Sioux, 85; 3, A. Driscoll, Kinloch Bee, South Wales, 84; 4, C. Bunting (Lockerbie) Bess, 83 outbye; 5, A. Driscoll, Cheviot Jamie, 83; 6, L. Cunningham (Abernyte) Ffion, 82.
NETHERBRAE III Open (R. Wood, Greenlaw, 31 ran) 1, R. Dalziel (Ettrick) Joe, 95; 2, A. Driscoll (South Wales) Kinloch Sioux, 94; 3, S. Montgomery (Irongray) Craig, 90; 4, A. Driscoll, Meg, 88; 5, A. Blomquist (Sweden) Jed, 80; 6, L. Cunningham (Abernyte) Mist, 76.
BURNSIDE Open (A. Blomquist, Sweden, 28 ran) 1, R. Dalziel (Ettrick) Joe, 85 of 90; 2, A. Driscoll (South Wales) Kinloch Sioux, 83.5; 3, A. Driscoll, Meg, 83; 4, B. Swinbank (Isle of Man) Nell II, 80.5; 5, B. Swinbank, Nell I, 75 outbye; 6, A. Driscoll, Kinloch Bee, South Wales, 75.
BUSHIELAW Open (L. Hansson, Sweden, 32 ran) 1, C. Bunting (Lockerbie) Bess, 90; 2, A. Driscoll (South Wales) Kinloch Sioux, 81; 3, R. Davies (Wales) Dell, 80 outbye; 4, A. Driscoll, Meg, 80; 5, A Blomquist (Sweden) Jed, 72 outbye; 6, K. Gibson (Pateley Bridge) Dan, 72.
DYKEFIELD Open (S. Horn, Tweedsmuir, 44 ran) 1, A. Driscoll (South Wales) Kinloch Sioux, 91; 2, A. Driscoll (South Wales) Meg, 90 outbye; 3, A. Driscoll, Cheviot Jamie, 90; 4, L. Hansson (Sweden) Oscar, 87; 5, F. Greis (Sweden) Mick, 86; 6, R. Davies (Wales) Dell, 85.
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