Perfect trust

Todd McNeish sits on his mum’s sheepdog Glen.

Nearly 50 shepherds and their faithful sheepdog companions were penned into a field at Glenloig on the String Road.

They met at 9am on Wednesday for the 129th annual Dougarie open sheepdog trials which, this year, were judged by I McConnell.

The first eight entrants were Arran shepherds.

Virtually all of them said they were just getting the competition going before their mainland rivals appeared from the ferries.

First out was Niall McMaster with his five-yearold bitch Liz. He failed to pen the four sheep but succeeded on a second run later in the morning.

Liz Robertson’s dog Collie Jim was so slow her voice went hoarse and she resorted to sucking cough sweets. He seemed to be enjoying the sun sitting in the field watching the sheep.

Mrs Robertson said: ‘At least I did not get disqualified. With one of my previous dogs, the judge may have misheard and I was disqualified for swearing – the dog’s name was Tuck.’

The Banner will have the full results and further photos next week.

25_b20sheepdog03; Niall McMaster and collie Liz, above left, succeed in penning four sheep. two American tourists from Arizona, centre, were fascinated by the trial. 25_b20sheepdog05; Shepherds and their dogs herd sheep back into a holding pen after a trial, right. 25_b20sheepdog06

25_b20sheepdog02 Right, Margie Shepherd kept the shepherds fed and watered.

25_b20sheepdog04 Jen McNeish, left, with her 19-month-old son Todd and dog Glen.