After the show on Saturday we met up with Jackie, who had brought Diva and Mirk up the A1 to Scotch Corner, and while Mick took the show team home to relax, Jackie and Liz enjoyed a wonderful sunny evening's drive up to Scotland, overnighting near the ideal dog- walking open spaces of the Strathclyde National Park.

The next morning the team made their way through Glasgow and up to the very beautiful village of Langbank near Greenock on the banks of the Clyde.  A few enquiries in the village paper shop helped us on our way upwards to John Baxter's farm in the hills, venue for the annual Shepherds' Meet and a day for the working Beardies to show their talents.

Mirk and Diva were there to represent the other side of the coin, being working Beardies on merit rather than ancestry, and bless them, they did not let us down, mingling happily and tackling the challenges of new terrain and new very lively sheep with the enthusiasm we have come to expect of these two in any situation!

Mirk completes his outrun, bringing the flock back well under control

Mirk enjoying the challenge of the natural hazards as he works to drive the sheep along the paddock boundary

Mirk went on first, and gathered the flock quite smoothly, going on to some slightly over-enthusiastic but on the whole fairly successful flanking and driving manoevres.  His long stride and huge stamina enabled him to compensate for some lack of finesse by putting in extra bursts of effort and he was clearly enjoying himself!

Jackie kept Diva well within her comfort zone, as she has neither the speed nor the experience of her younger brother Mirk, and she was able to display the calm obedience for which she is known at home, settling the sheep and moving them around in a fluent and relaxed manner.  Both dogs were on the receiving end of some much-appreciated complimentary remarks, and we were very proud of them!

 Diva takes an away flank happily and with confidence

 Diva moving out into the open field with Jackie and the trainer

 One of the best things of the day was the chance to talk dogs (and especially sheepdogs and Beardies) with people who were as enthusiastic as we were, and we found the day passed very quickly.

More photos of the event can be found on Jackie's website www.spanglefish.com/BeardedColliesforShepherding - but below, our special favourite, of Mirk, looking magnificent in his "ancestral role" !