Renwick is top dog at national trials

Three North sheep farmers swept the boards at the Scottish National sheepdog trial held at Tulliemet, Balinluig, Perthshire.

Scott Renwick of Inverbroom Farm, Ullapool and his young bitch Roci took an early lead on the first day with the seventh run of 150 scheduled to take place over the three-day event.

Renwick said: "Roci is a working hill dog, this is the first trial she's ever won.

"This is only the second time I've been in the Scottish team, the first was last year with Queen, Roci's mother."

To earn her place, Roci ran out over a 400-yard course, gathered five Blackface gimmers to Renwick and drove them through a series of gates before shedding off two of three unmarked sheep in the packet, regrouped and penned all five, then shed off one of two marked sheep, all within 15 minutes.

Lochcarron crofter and former member of Highland Council Ewen Mackinnon, of Coulags, not only took second place in the individual class with his bitch Nan, but also won the brace class in which Nan teamed up with kennel mate Gyp to gather ten sheep, split them into two groups of five and take charge of one packet each.

He was surprised by the duo's success, saying: "Nan had a great relationship with my dog Glen, who died this year, and I didn't feel she had settled with Gyp, who is only three."

Making up the triumvirate was Caithness stockfarmer, Michael Shearer, of Bridge of Westfield, with his homebred Bob, a son of his double Scottish National champion Tib, who won the title in 2000 and 2003.

The three will join 13 dogs and their handlers to represent Scotland in the home nation International in Co Antrim, Northern Ireland, in September.

lThe National Sheepdog Trial results at Tulliemet, Perthshire were: Singles Class, 150 dogs entered: 1 S Renwick's Roci, Inverbroom, 188 /220; 2 EC MacKinnon's Nan, Lochcarron, 185; 3 MC Shearer's Bob, Westfield, 184. Brace Class eight dogs entered: 1 EC MacKinnon's Nan and Gyp, Lochcarron, 231 /280; 2 J Menzies' Baledmund Hope and Baledmund Cher, Tulliemet, 202.