AFTER taking their first nursery title in September Stephen Thexton and Nap took their second victory on a hillside course at Moss Head, New Hutton, on Saturday in Windermere Society’s second nursery event.

Provided they were handled carefully, the Mule gimmer hoggs at New Hutton were manageable over the outfield, but varied at the pen, where some packets never settled and others were stubborn. However, in general, they behaved better over the morning as by the afternoon they had learned the way off the field and were breaking in that direction. William Mason, of Gaisgill, judged the entry of 30 dogs.

Stephen Thexton made an early start, travelling firstly to Borrowdale to compete in the North Westmorland trial, before going to Windermere where he ran late morning at number nine. To gather, he put Nap out to the right, the steeper of the two options. Going well, the smooth-coated dog lost nothing from his outrun. If gathered from the right, the sheep tended to break left-handed down the hill and Nap’s hoggs were no exception. Two marks were deducted from his lift because of this, three points went from the fetch for being off-line to start and for a slightly wide turn at his master’s feet.

Driving to the right, Nap handled his Mules well. Keeping good lines, he caught both obstacles and dropped only four points throughout for slight deviations. At the pen, his sheep were rather stubborn, however, with no breaks he finished clean. On 71 of 80 marks Nap took a clear seven-point lead.

Two-and-a-half-years-old, Nap was bred by Athol Clark of Middleton, out of Lucky, a daughter of Bob Bradley’s Cap. His sire is Athol’s Nip, a son of Allan Heaton’s Flash. Stephen bought him last December and has trained him over the spring and summer months. Competing in his first nursery trial he took the title at Penruddock, the North Westmorland Society’s first trial of the season. Since he has been the runner three times, twice at North Westmorland and once at Windermere. On Saturday, however, being the clear leader he took his second nursery title.

David Harrison and Ben, who were competing for only the second time, were the runners up with a late trial. Ben is a homebred dog sired by Alan Leak’s Tom. With guidance from Peter Ellis, the host of the trial, David has fulfilled one of his ambitions and has trained his Border Collie, which Peter describes as being “a nice sort of dog”.

RESULTS.

WINDERMERE, New Hutton, Nursery (30 ran): 1 S. Thexton (Sedbergh) Nap, 71 of 80; 2 D. Harrison (Selside) Ben, 64, OLF; 3 Michael Longton (Quernmore) Monty, 64; 4 R. Dean (Chipping) Max, 62; 5, T. Birkett (Carnforth) Mosie, 61; 6 P. Noble (Quernmore) Spot, 60.

HOLME, Todmorden, Nursery (51): 1 J. Cropper (Deerplay) Glen, 83 of 90; 2 T. Lawrenson (Brindle) Floss, 70; 3 R. Fielden (Todmorden) Jim, 68; 4 T. Smith (Colden) Ben, 66; 5 R. Handy (Settle) Jock, 62; 6 H. Mee (Bretherton) Tess, 61.

PARKS FARM, Howden, (43) Nur sery: 1 P. Exelby (Nun Appleton) Queen, 86 of 90; 2 J. Cropper (Deerplay) Shep, 83; 3 J. Bell (Howden) Jess, 80, OLF; 4 R. Handy (Settle) Jock, 80; 5 T. Lawrenson (Brindle) Floss, 78, OLF; 6 I. Ibbotson (Oakworth) Zac, 78.

Novice: 1 E. Hill (Oxenhope) Tweedhope Holly, 84 of 90; 2 A. Kyme (Lumb) Spot, 80; 3 S. Wilkinson (Thurgoland) Bella, 72.

BAMFORD, Shatton, (43) Nursery: 1 J. Lighfoot (Llandelga) Dot, 71 of 90; 2 R. Handy (Settle) Jock, 68; 3 R. Hutchinson (Chatsworth) Sally, 65; 4 W. Allen (Sheen) Rusty, 62. Novice: 1 D. Hudson (Leek) Floss, 67 of 90; 2 P. Fretwell (Birds Edge) Fen, 57, OLF; 3 T. Smith (Colden) Tommy, 57.

NORTH WESTMORLAND, Borrowdale, (26) Nursery: 1 T. Huddleston (Caton) Brook, 71 of 80; 2 A. Clark (Middleton) Dot, 70; 3 A. Clark Jet, 67; 4 P. Noble (Quernmore) Spot, 66. Novice: 1, R. Swainson (Cliburn) Laddie, 71 of 80; 2, J. Relph (Borrowdale) Fly, 62; 3, R. Swainson Gael, 61.

DACRE, Nursery (41): 1 G. Redpath (Dacre) Rose, 76 of 90; 2 J. Palmer (Twiston) Cap, 72; 3 T. Jackson (Faceby) Ben, 71; 4 R. Handy (Settle) Jock, 70; 5 M. Collin (Skeeby) Goe, 68; 6 R. Handy Bet, 65.

DIARY - November 15. FYLDE, Nursery, Rooten Brook, Quernmore, Lancaster, Lancashire, 9am start, enter on field before 2pm. LEE END Nursery, Lee End Farm, Quernmore, Lancaster, Lancashire, 9.30am start, enter on field. NORTH WESTMORLAND Nursery & Novice, Lonscale, Cumbria, enter on field for 3 dogs before 12 noon, 2 dogs before 1pm and 1 dog before 2pm. NORTHERN Nursery, change of date, Villa Farm, Great Musgrave, approx 3 miles from Kirkby Stephen, on B6259 Kirkby Stephen/Warcop road, Cumbria, 10am start, enter on field before 2pm.

November 16 . NORTHERN, Nursery at Valley Farm, Spital, Bowes – POSTPONED until November 23.

Elaine Hill