Roy’s efficient shed wins Hamish the Tomatin trial

They were quiet and steady to lift but once they had been fetched up the steepish slope they were more inclined to play up.

They disliked the pen and, under the pressure of the shed, were inclined to make a break, taking the handler’s hope of a good finish with them.

Hamish MacLean sent Roy out to the left, rather than risk the blind spot, although some were happy to chance it. Roy ran out well, but Hamish felt he was short and urged him on, to his detriment, but Roy lifted quietly and managed the sheep well.

With only a minor waver, Roy put the hoggs through the fetch gate, turned them neatly round a post set out on the field and drove well, keeping tight turns throughout. Roy struggled to pen, but he stopped the attempted breaks in their early stages and went on to make a very efficient shed.

A well controlled, workmanlike run gave Stuart Davidson’s Rob the lead at Blairgowrie.

The Mule gimmers were unsettled at the top of the field and lively on the course, but with packets of varied temperament, some took advantage of dogs failing to stamp their authority, while other packets responded to a dog that gave them space.

Consequently, it was difficult to judge how to deal with them. Rob had an exceptional outrun, but lost a little on the lift. His fetch was clean, his drive very good and only a minor swerve before going through the chute marred Rob’s

otherwise good work at hand.

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