PICTURES: Caithness farmer scoops a place in the Scottish team after a dramatic final run at the sheep dog trials
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Local sheep dog handler Michael Shearer has won a place in the Scottish team after coming eighth overall in the National Sheep Dog Trials held in Caithness.
Mr Shearer, of Lythmore, who was also the chief steward at the competition, is one of 15 handlers who have qualified to represent their country at the international trials at Rhydyfelin, Wales, next month.
Heralded the trials of the century, the national competition held in Caithness was a great success with hundreds of spectators flocking to see the final stages of the prestigious event in the sunshine on Saturday afternoon.
Held at number 7, Holding, Forss, by kind permission of the Shearer family, Lythmore Farm, it was the first time in 29 years that Caithness had played host to the National Sheep Dog Trials.
Organisers said it was a fantastic three days with an impressive buzz around the panoramic setting as the 150 competitors and their dogs descended on the venue prepared by the 23 strong local voluntary committee. The committee was headed up by chairman Martin Mackay, Durness, with Fiona Grant, Forss, as secretary.
Mr Shearer's final run which earned him a place in the Scottish national team proved very exciting and had all the spectators engrossed as the drama unfolded out on the course. One of the gimmers decided to head-butt Mr Shearer's dog Tib knocking her to the ground just as they were about to enter the pen – fortunately to her credit the dog did not retaliate but picked herself up and carried on to pen the five sheep. Had she reacted to being bullied by the ewe she would have been disqualified.
Commenting on the event, Scottish national president Jim Ogston said he was very impressed with the hospitality received in Caithness and the quite magnificent setting as well as all the work that went in to stage the three-day event. "It was fantastic," he said.
Mr Shearer also competed with another of his faithful dogs, Rab, while a number of other local competitors also took part in the event. Each day the trials got off to a start at 7.30am with a fair mix of weather being experience, including overcast cloud, a little annoying drizzle at times and glorious sunshine.
The overall trials champion with 207 points was Stuart McCrindle, of Beoch Farm, Stranraer, with his dog Zac, while Duncan Roberston, Dumfries, and Moss were the runners-up on a score of 196.
The brace class, consisting of two dogs guiding 10 sheep was run during the singles competition lunch breaks. The winner was George Gardener, of Lanark, with Gum and Meg, who was presented with the Helensburgh Trophy by Joyce Shearer, Lythmore. Runner-up was Elinore Nilsson, Alyth, with Frej and Kid. Elinore, who came fourth overall, also won the Miss McFarlane Trophy for the highest placed competitor who has never been in the Scottish team before.
Neil Gillon, Barr, Ayrshire, with Boss, won the J W M Naughton Cup for the highest placed Scottish bred dog or bitch owned and handled by a farmer.
The full team of 15 qualifiers that will represent Scotland in Wales on September 10, are: Stuart McCrindle, Stranraer, with Zac, 207 points; Duncan Robertson, Dumfries, with Moss, 196; David Kinloch, Glasgow, with Zak, 194; Elinore Nilsson, Alyth, Kidd, 183; Sean Morgan, Berwick, Kim, 183; Neil Gillon, Barr, Boss, 181; Andrew Hughson, Shetland, Ola, 181; Michael Shearer, Lythmore, Tib, 180; Mark Arres, Selkirk, Doug, 179; Alan Wilkie, Angus, Mot, 173; Jock Welsh, Ayrshire, Sonny, 171; Andrew Carnegie, Perthshire, Rook, 167; Brendon Smith, Shetland, Lass, 166; George Gardner, Lanarkshire, Meg, 164; Freddy Fulford, Fort William, Nelly, 163.
Related article: Prestigious Scottish National Sheep Dog Trials return to Caithness
