George Redpath and Scott win at Thornton-le-Dale

Along with a few Swaledales, the running was on strong Scottish Blackface ewes and shearlings. As they pulled towards the exhaust pen, situated at the bottom right of the field, most took the rising gather right-handed.

The sheep were testing over the course, although reasonable to pen, but hard to single as they often refused to settle. Jackie Goulder judged the entry of 48 dogs.

Change of lead

Over the morning, Les Jones and Bess were standing top on 75 points and took the prize for the best run before lunch. Just after the lunch break, Chloe Cropper pulled ahead with Ned on 76.

It was with run 31 that George with red-and-white Scott had the winning trial. Scott had a faultless gather followed by a clean lift. He lost four marks on the fetch and seven throughout the left-hand drive for line deviations. Finishing clean at both the pen and single, he earned 79 marks and a three-point advantage.

Harry Hutchinson judged the entry of 37 at the annual Lake District Open held at Ings. Rising to the lift, the course was set over two fields. Throughout, the Mule shearlings were not easy to manage and very hard to pen.

With an early run, Richard Briggs set the standard with Bill on 73 points. They stood top until, with the very last trial, Thomas Longton gained a single-point advantage to take the title with Tot.

An undulating 7ha (17-acre) field at Babcary provided ample room for a good-sized course at the Somerset open trial.

Gordon Martin judged the entry of 62. Running was on packets of four Mule shearlings which, were quite good to manage, provided they were not pressured.

In the open driving class, running at two, Richard Montgomery set a good standard with Flo, gaining 92 points. However, at 27, Bill Evans pulled ahead to win with Fly on 93.

In the Maltese cross class, dogs took the same gather and fetch but, instead of proceeding into the driving once turned at the post, the sheep were taken both ways through the cross, shed and finally penned. At 22 John Carter took the lead with Jake on 70, but at 28 Graham Glanville earned an undisputed victory with Jill on 85.

Trawden

Although good to handle over the course, the Mule shearlings at the Trawden Show open were tricky to pen. Keith Salisbury judged the entry of 58.

After almost perfect outfield work, where just one point was lost in the last leg of the drive, Jim Cropper and Mirk boxed their packet of sheep without fault to take the title four points clear of runners-up John Palmer and Jim.

After taking his first open title on Friday at Macclesfield, this was Mirk’s second win in three days. Luke Bancroft won best young handler with Moss.

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