Well behaved Blackfaced gimmers running on a flat course that fell downhill, gave dogs every chance to show themselves to advantage at Carnwath, and Ian Brownlie’s Lia made the most of the opportunity.

Lia (RJ Hutchinson’s Sweep, IM Brownlie’s Mo) ran out and lifted cleanly, had a good fetch with just a minor waver before the fetch gate, a pattern she repeated at both drive gates, finishing the winning run with clean work at hand and a comfortable lead over the field.

The Blackface gimmers at Kilfinnan ran well on the course for Ardlamont trial, but were difficult to pen. The ground was generally flat, but rose slightly at the back where the sheep were released.

Jock Welsh’s Tanhill Sam (A Baines’ Tanhill Rick and Tanhill Meg) ran out cleanly and lifted his sheep flawlessly.

His fetch and drive went well, with only minor wavers. He penned the packet after stopping two small breaks and finished the winning run with a clean shed and another comfortable lead over the field.

The Cheviot cross Shetland ewes at Tingwall handled well on a rough grass field, topped for the trial and sloping down slightly. On a cold, dry day, the ewes were flighty under pressure, proving a challenge to pen, but a high standard prevailed.

Brendon Smith’s Chip (P Byrne’s Jim, A Gallagher’s Tess) overshot her sheep slightly, but achieved a clean lift and fetch. She had a slight waver on the drive and finished the winning open run with a perfect pen and shed

Chip also lifted the championship with a run, untouched outbye and on the course until the last single, where a struggle cost her a little before she successfully completed her second winning run of the day.

Jerry Ramsay’s Nan (P Byrne’s Moss and Di) had a clean outrun and lift; and although the fetch was a little offline, when she penned successfully, after a break, she won the limit class.

The cross gimmers at Largs were light to handle on a downhill course that rose sharply towards the handler. They were touchy on the downhill, first leg of the drive and the cross drive was well nigh impossible to judge accurately.

The sheep settled if given space, but tended to fight at the pen unless kepped without pressure and could be penned, but not without putting up a good show of resistance.

Neil Gillon stopped Shweep (N Gillon’s Bhoy, S McCrindle’s Peg) slightly short on his outrun to lift on the heavy side because the sheep were pulling to the release pen, but he lifted on line and kept the sheep on a straight line on the fetch, with just a minor waver before the fetch gate.

He turned them neatly round Neil, although the turn through the first drive gate was a little wide.

With the sheep quickly realigned, Shweep took them across on a well judged straight line and put them through the gate with just a minor adjustment.

There was a fight at the pen, but Shweep held the sheep well and let nothing break. At the shed, with one sheep off, the second was not going to happen so Neil regrouped the packet and Shweep made a good shed and won the trial with a comfortable lead.

The Mule gimmers at Campbeltown were lively on the rising course but relatively good to pen.

Peter Martin gave Jill (R Dalziel’s Joe, N McVicar’s Nikki) a whistle out, as the start of her outrun looked tight, but she responded well, reached her sheep and lifted cleanly.

Her fetch and drive were good with only minor wavers, and although the Mules proved obstinate and stamped the ground, Jill took no nonsense and walked them into the pen and a good shed completed the winning run

At Skipness, Stuart Davidson’s Gillieglen Queen (SL Davidson’s Rob, A Gillies’ Peg) gave a masterclass in handling a particularly difficult packet of lively Mule gimmers on a course that held its own difficulties, with a familiar field beyond the cross drive gate making it hard to turn the sheep neatly on their return to the close work.

LEADING awards

Carnwath (Judge:A Stewart, Lockerbie). Open – 58 ran – 1, IM Brownlie’s Lia, Deuchrie, 97; 2, AR Mundell’s Taff, Moffat, 92; 3, A McCulloch’s Sam, Dalmellington, 91; 4, SL Davidson’s Gillieglen Queen, Sandbank, 90 outbye; 5, AR Mundell’s Rob, Moffat, 90; 6, GC Gardner’s Meg, Lesmahagow, 89 outbye.

Skipness (Judge: J Ogston, Killin). Open – 50 ran – 1, SL Davidson’s Gillieglen Queen, Sandbank, 96; 2, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 93 outbye; 3, P Martin’s Jill, Glenlyon, 93; 4, SL Davidson’s Maid, Sandbank, 92; 5, A Cameron’s Jess, Callander, 91 outbye; 6, A Olsson’s Craig 91. Confined – 1, K Grieve’s Jade, Skipness, 72.

Tingwall, Shetland (Judge: MC Hughson, Scalloway). Open – 25 ran – 1, B Smith’s Chip, Dunrossness, 96 /100; 2, D Murray’s Sweep, North Roe, 94; 3, J Ramsay’s Drift, Ollaberry, 92; 4, J Ramsay’s Fly, Ollaberry, 86; 5, S Fraser’s Jan, Cullswick, 85 outbye; 6, J Ramsay’s Meg, Ollaberry, 85. Championship – 5 ran – 1, B Smith’s Chip, Dunrossness, 106/110; 2, D Murray’s Sweep, North Roe, 99; 3, J Ramsay’s Fly, Ollaberry, 98. Limit – 15 ran – 1, J Ramsay’s Nan, Ollaberry, 52 /60; 2, AWP Hughson’s Nortrow Lol, Girlsta, 49; 3, J Ramsay’s Bud, Ollaberry, 48.

Ardlamont (Judge: R MacDiarmid, Cairndow). Open – 48 ran – 1, JR Welsh’s Tanhill Sam, 94; 2, A Wilkie’s Spot, Glenmoy, 89; 3, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 88; 4, SL Davidson’s Maid, Sandbank, 87; 5, C Toner’s Tammi, Drimsynie, 85; 6, I Lockhart’s Bill, Carsphairn, 84 outbye. Local – 1, D MacRae’s Rab, Ardlamont; 2,D Nicholson’s Fly, Tighnabruaich; 3, DK Crawford’s Dot, Millhouse.

Largs (Judge:H Mitchell, Lochearnhead). Open – 48 ran – 1, N Gillon’s Shweep, Dailly, 91; 2, C Cropper’s Derwen Gus, Drimsynie, 87; 3, C Toner’s Tammi, Drimsynie, 86; 4, A McCulloch’s Fern, Dalmellington, 84; 5, SL Davidson’s Lee, Sandbank, 83; 6, C Caygill’s Seth, Whinnyliggate, 80. Confined – 1, L Gast’s Scalpsie Fae, Scalpsie, 75 outbye; 2, J Henderson’s Vic, Fairlie, 75; 3, R Howatson’s Cliff, Fairlie, 74; 4, L Gast’s Ben, Scalpsie, 69; 5, J Howatson, Jasper, West Kilbride, 53.

Campbeltown, Kintyre (Judge: D Robertson, Langholm). Open – 55 ran – 1, P Martin’s Jill, Glenlyon, 91; 2, SL Davidson’s Maid, Sandbank, 87 outbye; 3, S McCrindle’s Kate, Palnackie, 87; 4, AD Carnegie’s Linburn Rook, Comrie, 86; 5, AD Carnegie’s Jess, Comrie, 85; 6, P Martin’s Daisy, Glenlyon, 84. Confined – 1, A Ronald’s Robbie, Laggan, 55 outbye; 2, K Grieve’s Dan, Skipness, 55.

English team – 1, RJ Hutchinson’s Jock; 2, D Wood’s Polly; 3, N Vyas’ Mist; 4, T Huddleston’s Udale Ola; 5, J Dumbleton’s Sid; 6, E Hawkins’ Treflys Rob. Brace – 1, RJ Hutchinson’s Denwyn Moya and Jock; reserve, J Cropper’s Gil and Dan.

National trials head to Bute

The Scottish National Sheep Dog Championships organised by the International Sheep Dog Society in Scotland will be held on the Isle of Bute next weekend – August 21 to 24.

The championship opens with the brace (two dogs) championship on the Wednesday afternoon, starting at 2.00pm.

The singles championship starts on the Thursday morning at 8.00am and runs each day until Saturday afternoon, when 150 competitors compete for one of 15 places in the Scottish team to represent Scotland at the World Trial scheduled to take place in 2020, at Castle Howard, in England.

The singles will be judged by Boyd Mundell and Tommy McPhee and the brace by Euan Mackinnon and Iain McConnell.

The trial will be held on ground donated by Mount Stuart Trust, Isle of Bute Estates, at Kingarth, on one of the most picturesque parts of the island.