Cameron Dickson’s Tom stars with Texels and Romneys at Yetholm trial
NEIL McVicar’s Baledmund Pete won at Luss with a narrow edge over a similar run from Ian Lockhart’s Bill.
The Mule ewes were responsive and ran well on a good, big, flat field, but turning round the handler, they might take advantage of an opportunity to break for the exhaust pen. The drive gate was hard to judge and handlers tended to let the sheep go well through before asking dogs to turn them.
Pete (IM Brownlie’s Boredale Gus, J Menzies’ Baledmund Jess) ran out and lifted nicely, had a good fetch with just slight wavers. The drive went well, after Neil made sure the sheep were fully through the first gate before they went on, and a good pen followed. Pete worked well to make his shed and earned first place.
Bill (J Irvine’s Bob, D McAuley’s Nan) too, worked well outbye, with a slight bend on the fetch and a good turn round Ian’s feet. The drive started well with just minor wavers, but the turn out of the cross drive gate was wide. The pen was good, but Bill had to work to get his shed and finished second, a single point behind Pete.
Texel and Romney gimmers were difficult to pen, and flighty on the big, flat course at Yetholm. The cross drive gate was hard to judge and proved to be a hit or a miss, even for the best of them.
Cameron Dickson’s Tom (DK Evans’ Ace, U Stromer’s Caefelin Gwen) ran out and lifted well and had just minor wavers on the fetch. His turn through the drive away gate was wide, but for him the cross drive gate was a miss. A clean pen and shed completed the run in first place with a comfortable lead over the field.
Texel cross ewes could be tricky to lift and cheeky on the flat course at Colmonell that rose to a right hand corner, but they improved and behaved well later in the day. A clean lift proved decisive in setting them up for a good fetch.
Sandy McCulloch’s Sam (A Lehtio’s Coel, BJ Bowen’s Pat) ran out and lifted cleanly and had a good fetch with just a little side to side movement. A good drive and a clean pen followed. The sheep moved before Sandy made the shed, but once it was made, the run took first place with second only a point behind.
Neil Gillon’s Boss (S Perellio’s Murgia Jim, R Hutchinson’s Denwyn Moya) also had a clean outrun and lift. There were wiggles on the fetch and drive, but a clean pen and shed balanced out that and put the run into second place.
LEADINGAWARDS:
Colmonell (Judge: B White, Carsphairn). Open – 56 ran – 1, A McCulloch’s Sam, Dalmellington, 93; 2, N Gillon’s Boss, Dailly, 92; 3, L Christie’s Knock, Crieff, 90 outbye; 4, L Gast’s Scalpsie Ace, Scalpsie, 90; 5, N Gillon’s Glen, Dailly, 89; 6, A McCulloch’s Risp, Dalmellington, 88.
Luss (Judge: C Joelsson, Sandbank). Open – 49 ran – 1, N McVicar’s Baledmund Pete, Benmore, 92; 2, I Lockhart’s Bill, Dalrymple, 91; 3, A McCulloch’s Sam, Dalmellington, 87; 4, P Martin’s Ivy, Glenlyon, 85 outbye; 5, AD Carnegie’s Suus, Comrie, 85; 6, R Howatson’s Jed, Fairlie, 82;
Yetholm (Judge: S Wallace, Prendwick). Open – 34 ran – 1, C Dickson’s Tom, Coldingham, 82; 2, B Jordan’s Judge, Whitfield, 79; 3, D Wallace’s Jock, Blyth Bridge, 78; 4, M Davidson’s Angus, Lilburn, 87; 5, B Jordan’s Bozo, Whitfield, 77; 6, J Robinson’s Tweed, Coldingham, 76.