Prestigious Scottish National Sheep Dog Trials return to Caithness
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A team of local organisers have been busy making final preparations to stage the Scottish National Sheep Dog Trials in the county.
It is the first time in 29 years that the national trials have been held in Caithness – they were last staged at Scrabster Farm in 1992.
This time the three-day competition is due to take place at number 7 Holding, Forss, by courtesy of the Shearer Family, Lythmore Farm, starting on Thursday (August 19).
Local organising secretary Fiona Grant said: "We started planning the event in December 2019. However, with Covid all our plans were put on hold. When it became clear in May that with suitable Covid mitigations we would be able to host the national, everyone has worked together with the aim of hosting a successful trial in August.
"Our committee are dedicated to making this an enjoyable event for both trialists and spectators. I would also extend a thanks to a number of local companies and organisations who have helped either through donations or in kind support to assist with our plans."
The organisers were given help by the Highland Council’s Environmental Health staff who guided them through the Covid regulations to ensure the latest Government guidance was followed.
Mrs Grant added: "Spectators need to be prepared for whatever Caithness weather brings, we hope sunscreen will be what is needed but they should also bring along water proofs just in case we get rain as the whole event will be outdoors."
Local councillor Willie Mackay, who is also a member of the local organising committee, said: "Having had the privilege of working with the Caithness farming fraternity for over five generations there is one thing that makes me proud and that is whether it be selling home bred quality farm stock in the sale ring or competing in the show rings locally or across the North of Scotland and beyond, the Caithness farmers and crofters will rank high in any field of competition that comes their way.
"Caithness is a stock rearing county and likewise when it come to show the rest of the world what we have got here and how we go about it the three-day Scottish National Sheep Dog Trials being held on our door step will do just that.
"The work that has gone in to staging this agricultural orientated event has been immense with a dedicated local committee pulling out all the stops exploring every organising avenue with one thing in mind that this will be a Scottish National Sheep Dog Trials to remember."
Judging of the singles class will be in the hands of Ian Brownlie, West Lothian, and David Wallace, Blythe Bridge, while the doubles/brace class, will be judged by Boyd Mundell, Dumfries, and Tommy McPhee, Wick.
Local commentators throughout the event are Mary Mackay, Durness, Kirsteen Thorburn, Barrock, and Frances Grant, Forss, while Sheila Cormack, Dunnet, will act as timekeeper.
Caithness will be well represented out on the competition field by chief sheep steward Michael Shearer Lythmore who first competed in the Scottish National some 32 years ago in 1989 at Dumfries. Also competing are Mure Grant, Forss, Will Cormack, Wester, Tommy McPhee, Wick, Tina Coghill Robertson, Barrock, Jasmine Grant, Dunbeath, Martyn Cook, Dorrery, and Dennis Simpson, Thurso.
Competing from Sutherland are Jock Sutherland and Kelsey Keith, both from Durness, and Ian Sutherland, Strathnaver.
Sutherland was well represented at the nationals in Lockerbie back in 1985 when Kinlochbervie crofter John P Mackenzie became the only person in the Highlands to win the supreme championship with his dog Don.
During lunchtime on Thursday and Friday there will be a brace (doubles) competition where two dogs are worked together by their handler guiding the sheep across the course set out.
A minimum of 750 sheep are required for the three days of the event with cross ewes on day one, Cheviots on the Friday and gimmers on the final day.
Rules for competitors will see five sheep released at the bottom of the field of which two will be unmarked and three marked with collars. At a distance of approximately 400 yards they will be picked up by the collie dog and guided around the course successfully negotiating the gates, a two sheep shed penning up and a single shed all over the allocated 15 minutes.
The maximum score available per judge is 110 points – outrun 20, lift 10, fetch 20, drive 30, two sheep shed 10, penning 10, single shed 10.
