Dumfries and Kirkcudbright Nursery Sheep Dog Trials held its firsts nursery trial at Crossdykes Farm, Lockerbie on Saturday, October 26 by kind permission of the Common family.
Nine dogs ran in total, judged by Cameron Dickson from Yarrow.
The course was on a slight rise. There were no fetch gates and it was a right hand drive which fell away to the handler. The four South Country Cheviot ewes tested the young dogs at the pen but were good to handle round the course.
The winner was Dean Aitken from Peebles running Tweeddale Grace. Grace ran out to the right-hand side but was a little tight on her outrun, dropping five points out of 20 for the outrun. Grace lifted the sheep nicely and fetched them on a good line down to Dean and safely round the handler’s post. Dean and Grace had the sheep moving on a nice pace and went straight through the first drive gates with a good turn and a nice line on the cross drive for a good line and safely through the second drive gates. They scored 25 out of 30 for the drive.
The pair handled the sheep nice and calmly which set them up for a great pen and they went straight in with the full 10 points awarded.
The last element was the shed where Dean and Grace worked together well to split the sheep with Grace taking control nicely. They finished on a good score of 85 points out of 100 and first place.
The breeding for Tweeddale Grace is – sire: A Walker’s Tweeddale Roy and dam: D Aitken’s Tweeddale Nell.
Second place went to Duncan Robertson from Langholm running Lad.
Lad also ran out to the right-hand side taking a good line and lifted the sheep nice and smoothly and at this point they were ahead of Dean and Grace.
Duncan and Lad also fetched the sheep on a good line down round the handler and with a good pace up the first leg of the drive with a good line to go safely through the gates with nice turn and with a good line on the cross drive, securing the second drive dates. They also scored 25 out of 30 for the drive so put them ahead at this stage, however, they were not so lucky at the pen and this was the difference between first and second place as they finished on 84, just one point behind the winners.
The breeding for Lad is – sire: D K Evans’ Spot and dam: D J Lawrence’s Meg.
Results: 1 Dean Aitken, Peebles (Tweeddale Grace) 85; 2 Duncan Robertson, Langholm (Lad) 84; 3 Fraser Shennan, Ayrshire (Jim) 81; 4 Tom Blacklock, Sanquhar (Gill) 77; 5 Duncan Robertson, Langholm (Taff) 67; 6 Allan Common, Lockerbie (Highcliff Buzz) 66.
The pro novice winner was Tom Blacklock running Chip. Chip ran out to the right-hand side nicely and lifted the sheep in a nice controlled manner.
Chip fetched the sheep down the fetch on a good line scoring 18 out of 20. Chip turned the sheep nicely round the handler’s post with a good line up the first leg of the drive and safely through the gates and continued with a good line on the cross drive but just slipped the sheep past the top side of the gates which cost them to lose eight points on the drive.
Tom and Chip finished with a nice clean pen but had some difficulty in shedding but finished with a good score of 81 out of 100 and first place.
The breeding for Chip is – sire: A McCulloch’s Sam and dam R Henderson’s Jude.
Second place went to Murray McTier running Skye. Skye ran out on the left-hand side taking a good line with full points awarded for her outrun and lift and was leading at this point.
Skye fetched the sheep down on a good line and round the handler’s posts with a good first leg but the sheep just missed the gates. Murray and Skye got the sheep back on line but again missed the second gates which cost them first place. Murray and Skye had a little difficulty at the pen and shed but finished on a total score of 71 out of 100. The breeding for Skye is – sire: M McTier’s Bob and dam: D A Streeter’s Dewi Katie.
Results: 1 Tom Blacklock, Sanquhar (Chip) 81; 2 Murray McTier, Moniaive (Skye) 71; 3 Tom Blacklock, Sanquhar (Mist) 69.
The next trial is on Sunday, November 10 at Ulzieside, Sanquhar with an 11am start. There will also be a novice class for beginners. Further information from Fiona McMillan 07743 977313.