Scott and Roci take Scottish National title

Scott Renwick of Ullapool and his young bitch, Roci (W.G. MacLeod’s Hemp, S. Renwick’s Queen), took an early lead on the morning of the first day with the seventh run of the trial.

Scotland’s new national champion, Scott, said: “Roci is a good hill bitch at home, a proper herding dog. I ran her in the nursery league this past winter, but this is the first trial she’s ever won.”

The course was ideal. Set on a fairly steep slope, it combined an open aspect with terrain that tested the handlers’ ability to judge a straight line.

Difficult shedding

The sheep behaved well above the average for a national, having been well schooled by local handlers in preparation for the trial. However, for reasons that could not be easily explained, they were very difficult to shed.

Roci ran out clean to the top but lifted off line, which affected the start of the fetch. She kept a good line through the gate and to Scott’s feet. The sheep veered off line on the first leg of the drive, but again, they went through the gate, turned neatly and kept a good line on the cross drive.

Three-year-old Roci was hesitant to come in on the shed, but made the split and worked more confidently from there, penning and singling flawlessly, earning full marks for both.

Lochcarron crofter, Ewen Mackinnon, not only took second place in the singles with Nan (E.C. MacKinnon’s Moss, C. MacKay’s Mist), but won the brace when Nan teamed up with her younger half sister, Gyp (E.C. Mackinnon’s Moss, C. MacKay’s Jan).

“I didn’t expect Nan and Gyp to work so well in the brace, Nan had a great relationship with my dog Glen, who died earlier this year, and I didn’t feel she had settled with Gyp who is only three years old,” said Ewen.

Nan ran out clean to the top and lifted without fault. The fetch was good, but as the sheep approached Ewen at the post, they were a little wide and it impacted on the start of the drive.

He corrected the line and, but for a slightly wide turn, the drive was very good. The shed took a little time, but Nan made the division cleanly, although she looked briefly on the discard sheep before she took control of the two unmarked gimmers. The pen was clean, but the single was not so easy, taking two attempts.

Northern trio

Third of the triumphant Northern trio was Caithness livestock farmer, Michael Shearer with his home-bred, Bob (M. Shearer’s Cap II and Tib).

The sheep were to the left of the post, so Michael sent Bob out on the left. He ran out on a good line to the back of the sheep, but stopped short. Fearing that moving Bob on could push the sheep further left, Michael instructed Bob to lift from where he had stopped.

His strategy worked; the sheep moved back on to line, but the judges penalised him.

The fetch was good, but at Michael’s feet, the sheep challenged the dog. Bob stood his ground, established his authority and a very good drive ensued.

At the shed, one awkward, collared gimmer faced the dog and acted as a stop for the rest. Michael left them to arrange themselves to give him access to two unmarked sheep, called Bob and achieved a clean shed.

The pen was good, but the same beast faced Bob, before backing down. For the single, Bob had no difficulty separating one collared sheep, making clean work of it.

“Bob fitted on well to the sheep and he had a very good run,” said Michael. “He would be a good hill dog, but it is mostly park work at home. Cap is still my main dog, but Bob is catching up fast.”

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