Stuart and Jim overcome lochside test

The Blackface hoggs were behaving very well on what proved to be a rough, rashy and undulating lochside course.

Running out to the left, dogs ran through a hollow which hid them from their handler and obscured the dogs’ view of the sheep, which were waiting on a small hill, but most came out on line for their sheep.

To the right, running along the lochside, the way was clear.

For most dogs, the lines of the fetch and drive were the hardest parts of the course.

Jim ran out to the left and lifted flawlessly.

The line wavered a little on the fetch, but the drive was very good and a clean chute and shed set the seal on the winning run.

Overshoots sheep

Robbie Welsh’s Maid (W. Welsh’s Dave and Dot) ran out very well on the right, but overshot the sheep a little at the top of the course costing Robbie the trial. She lifted cleanly and managed the rest of the course in a manner similar to Jim, finishing with clean work at hand.

A sea fog, which caused a ship to run aground, marooning some competitors on the mainland in its wake, did not augur well for the Dougarie trial at Kilpatrick, on Arran.

The mist rolled in over the course intermittently during the day, impairing visibility, and the strong mule hoggs were inclined to take off as they were fetched downhill, but a good standard of work was achieved.

Jock Welsh’s Tanhill Sweep (A. Baines’ Rick and Meg) was slightly tight at the top of the course, but he lifted cleanly, fetched and drove very well and finished with a clean pen and shed.

Alex MacCuish’s Moss (J.A. MacLeod’s Moss, K. Freeman’s Nell) ran out clean to the top, but the style of his lift upset both the sheep and the judge, only a little, but enough to count.

From there, Jim’s work followed the pattern of Sweep’s, but finished second by a single point.

• SCOTTISH RESULTS

  GREAT GLEN Open (Judge, H. MacLean, Culloden, 56 ran) 1, J. Casey’s (Campbeltown) Ben, 95 of 100; 2, C. Davidson (Sandbank) Taff, 93; 3, J.J. Templeton (Fenwick) Fan, 92; 4, S.L. Davidson (Sandbank) Jim, 89; 5, J.A. MacLeod (Killin) Garry, 88; 6, J. McKillop (Fort Augustus) Kep, 87.
  Local, 1, J. McKillop (Fort Augustus) Kep, 87; 2, J. McLachlan (Spean Bridge) Greg, 82; 3, B. Strachan (Roybridge) Sweep, 80; 4, J. Ferguson (Strontian) Craig, 76; 5, J. McLachlan (Spean Bridge) Taff, 74; 6,
  M. MacNally (Invergarry) Killiebrae Moss, 69.
  DOUGARIE Open (W. McConnell, Lamlash, 40 ran) 1, J.R. Welsh (Dalrymple) Tanhill Sweep, 94 ; 2, A. MacCuish (Skipness) Moss, 93; 3, J.J. Templeton (Fenwick) Spot, 92; 4, J. McLachlan (Spean Bridge) Taff, 88; 5, N McEachern, (Dunoon) Ann, 86; 6, J.R. Welsh (Dalrymple) Tanhill Nap, 84; 7, F. Shennan (Barr) Fizz, 82.
  Local, 1, J. Parke (Torbeg) Moss; 2, G. Brookes (Southpark) Shona; 3, N. McMaster (Bennan) Anne; 4, W. Stevenson (Whiting Bay) Arran Nell; 5, G. Todd (Shiskin) Spice; 6, J. Murchie (Blackwaterfoot) Meg.
  HARELAW Open (W. Fleming, Sorn, 66 ran) 1, S.L. Davidson (Sandbank) Jim, 93; 2, R. Welsh (Patna) Maid, 90; 3, D. Robertson (Luss) Shep, 89; 4, I. McMillan (Newton Stewart) Don, 88 outbye; 5, J.R. Welsh (Dalrymple) Tanhill Sweep, 88 outbye; 6, R. Middleton (Neilston) Bet, 88 outbye.
  SALINE Novice (L. Magnusson, Ardormie, 26 ran) 1, C Maitland Gardner (Muthill) Shug, 86; 2, A Sim (Kinross) Ceira, 71.
  Pro-novice, 1, D. Campbell (Strachur) Susie, 84.
  SPRINGHILL Open (K. Lyon, Shildon, 40 ran) 1, J. Hill (Heriot) Kim, 86; 2, C Dickson (Cornhill) Scott, 84; 3, J. Robinson (Coldingham) Cap, 81; 4, G. Thomson (Edmundbyres) Red,78; 5, P. Turnbull (Debdon) Mirk, 75 outbye; 6, M. Peugniez (Kirtlebridge) Snip, 75.

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