The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Stuart ready to cap clear trials victory
Stuart McCrindle proved to be in a class of his own as he claimed his first Scottish National Sheepdog Trials title in Caithness.
The Stranraer stockman racked up one of the highest scores in recent competitions with his seven-year-old collie Zak.
The 43-year-old will now head the Scottish team in next month’s home international in Wales.
Going out next to last on the first day of the competition at Lythmore Farm, Forss, he and Zak scored 207 – just 13 short of a maximum.
“I knew it was a decent run but you don’t think much about the score when you’re in the middle of it,” said Stuart, of Boech Farm, Cairnryan. “I think my previous best was 193.”
Stuart made his Scottish debut in 2008 and this will be his ninth cap.
His best previous performance was a third place finish in the 2009 trials in Dumfries.
His other main work dog, Kate, just missed the cut for a place in the national team.
Stuart was impressed with the trials and said: “The course is well laid-out and there’s been a really good atmosphere at the event.”
Second in the singles competition was Duncan Robertson, from Langholm, on 196 and third was David Kinloch, from Glasgow, with 194.
Michael Shearer, who hosted the competition, finished in eighth spot with Tib, while two of the Shetland contingent also qualified for the 15-strong team – Andrew Hughson with Ola, and Brendan Smith with Lass.
Countback was required to decide the final place, with Invernessshire’s Freddie Fulford, with Gipping Valley Nelly, pipping Mr Shearer’s second dog Heilan Rab after they tied on 163.
George Gardner and his dogs Gum and Meg, from Lanarkshire, won the brace competition, with Elinore Nilsson, from Perthshire, runner-up.
About 100 competitors from Shetland to the Borders ran 150 dogs over the three-day competition.
The other members of the Scottish team include Alan Wilkie, from Angus, and Andrew Carnegie, from Perthshire.