“Rothesay Special”,
Friday - Scottish National Sheepdog Trials. So most of us have watched “One man and his dog” at some time in the past. Let me tell you it’s much more exciting, and often tense, out in the field, especially when one sheep decides to absolutely defy the dog. The pictures are from different competitors but you’ll get the general idea. The various components of the competition were to run the sheep through gates, to collect them in a ring where the shepherd had to separate specific ones without the rest escaping out of the circle, and to drive the whole group into a pen and close the gate. This last was likely to be the troublesome one.
 |
| The start |
 |
| All going well |
 |
| There’s always one |
 |
| Stand-off |
 |
| Phew! |
Saturday - Bute Highland Games. Events run from 10 o’clock. The ferries are full, youngsters return from far and wide to attend. Most of the island population are watching or helping in some way with kilts de rigeur for many. There are competitions running all day and the last spectacle is that of all the competing pipe bands and Scottish dancers parading through the town.
Morning events were shinty games and junior athletics.
Pipe band and Scottish dancing competitions ran most of the day.
