Islay’s Texel cross gimmers find weaker dogs wanting

Dogs needed power if the Texel cross gimmers challenged them, and those of the weaker type were soon found out. Jim (D. Brady’s Bob, K. O’Higgins’ Midge) hesitated at the top of the field, and although Roddy’s encouragement had an overflanking effect, Jim lifted on line.

The fetch and drive were good with only minor wavers and the pen was clean, but again, Jim was a little hesitant making his shed, but he made the split and finished in top spot.

Neil MacEachern’s Ann (R. Simpson’s Cloverhill Silver and Molly) was only a point behind, with a fairly similar run. Ann stopped short at the top, but she too lifted on line, and although the work was basically good, the lines of her fetch and drive wavered a little more than Jim’s, but the finish was comparable.

Neil was also in good form at Jura, where his Eila (R. Simpson’s Cloverhill Silver and Molly), aged a year and half, took a convincing lead. The sheep, cross gimmers with a few Blackface wethers amongst them generally behaved well on the gently rising course, but they were hard to pen and to shed.

Overshot

Eila overshot the sheep a little at the top but she too managed to lift on line. On the fetch, a wether in the packet created a confrontation but Eila dealt with it and had no more trouble from that direction, going on to have a good drive and a clean pen. A first attempt to shed failed but the second was successful.   

Peter Martin’s 18-months-old Lucy (D. Galbraith’s Bob, P. Martin’s Maid) took the lead on a big, steep, course at Balquhidder.

The Blackface gimmers behaved well but the dogs went out of sight in the rough and some outruns suffered.

Lucy ran out wide on the 600 yd brae face, but she reached the sheep and lifted them on line. The terrain of the fetch made it difficult to keep a good line as the route went down the face, through two fetch gates, to a turning post, and Lucy lost a little for her line.

The sheep were slightly wide turning out of the first drive gate and although the drive across the brae face was good, on the return to the pen Lucy lost contact with the sheep in the long grass. She had to work to pen, but she was fit for that and finished with a clear lead over the field.

Results

IRVINE, Invitation (Judge, R.J. Shennan, Turnberry, 25 ran) 1, J.R. Welsh (Dalrymple) Tanhill Nap, 97 of 100 Run-off; 2, R. Welsh (Patna) Maid, 97; 3, T. Welsh (Patna) Dave, 94; 4, W. Welsh (Dalmellington) Don, 92; 5, I. Fergie (Straiton) Max, 90 OLF; 6, W. Welsh snr (Kilmarnock) Rock, 90. Young handler, 1, R. Welsh (Patna) Maid, 97; 2, F. Shennan (Barr) Fizz, 89; 3, J. White (Dalry) Bracken, 70.

JURA, Open (C. Campbell, Port Ellen, 27 ran ) 1, N. MacEachern, (Dunoon) Eila (Chloe), 94; 2, A. MacCuish (Skipness) Moss, 86 Time; 3, A.D. Carnegie (Comrie) Lark, 86; 4, R. Baker (Islay) Billy, 85; 5, D. Robertson (Luss) Sarnfaen Mott, 83; 6, A. MacDiarmid (Strathlachlan) Rex, 82. Local (Islay and Jura) 1, R. Baker (Islay) Billy; 2, C. MacMillan (Ardbeg) Tam; 3, A. Smith (Ardfin) Mist; 4, C. MacMillan (Ardbeg) Floss ; 5=, D. Smith (Ardcraig) Moss; 5=, A. MacDonald (Ardfarnal) Lad.

ISLAY, Open (B. Strachan, Roybridge, 25 ran) 1, R. MacDiarmid (Cairndow) Jim, 90; 2, N. MacEachern, (Dunoon) Ann, 89; 3, D. Robertson (Luss) Shep, 85; 4, A. MacCuish (Skipness) Mist, 84; 5, A.D. Carnegie (Comrie) Lark, 84; 6, N. MacEachern Eila (Chloe), 83. Local, 1, C. MacMillan (Ardbeg) Floss, 77; 2, R. Baker (Islay) Billy; 76; 3, C. MacMillan Tam, 66; 4, A. Smith (Ardfin) Mist, 54.

BALQUHIDDER, Open (A. Buchan, Morenish, 60 ran) 1, P. Martin (Glenlyon) Lucy (Jess), 90; 2, I. Brownlie (Forestmill) Boredale Gus, 87 Time; 3, D. Campbell (Strachur) Susie, 87; 4, A. MacDiarmid (Strathlachlan) Rex, 86; 5, K. Howlett (Balquhidder) Swift, 85; 6, J. McIntyre (Moy) Tweed, 84 Time. Local, 1, K. Howlett Swift, 85; 2, A.D. Carnegie (Comrie) Lark, 83; 3, R. Wolfe (Dhu of Glengyle) Sheila, 82.

CREICH and KINCARDINE, Invercarron, Open (S. Grant, Strathcannaird, 33 ran ) 1, E.C. MacKinnon (Lochcarron) Gyp, 83; 2, H. MacLean (Culloden) Kim, 80; 3, J. Lamont (Portree) Nan, 77; 4, W. Davidson (Turriff) Tide, 73 OLF; 5, K. Freeman (Killin) Bill, 73; 6, D. Murray (Rogart) Kylie, 71.

GAIRLOCH, Open (J. McRae, Edinburgh, 64 ran) 1, J.P. McGee (Ballybofey) Becca, 100 of 110; 2, H. MacLean (Culloden) Roy, 97 OLF; 3, J.P. McGee (Ballybofey) Nell, 97; 4, M. Magnusson (Ardormie) Davy, 96; 5, E.C. MacKinnon (Lochcarron) Nan, 93; 6, J. Palmer (Clitheroe) Jim, 92.

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