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On the occasion of the International Sheepdog Trials coming to the North of Scotland for the first time, Mary Mackay spoke to John Pirie Mackenzie, a well known handler from the sixties until he retired around 2000. Johnny Pirie, as he was known to everyone won the Supreme in 1985, the only man in the North of Scotland ever to have done so.
John Pirie Mackenzie from Oldshoremore, Kinlochbervie, in North West Sutherland, has spent much of his life training dogs and competing at trials. Johnny was born and brought up in Kinlochbervie on the croft he still lives on, and dogs were part of family life. He began training dogs for other people and by studying successful handlers he created his own technique of commands and whistles. In 1967 he decided it was time to try his hand at trialling himself, he had spotted a good looking pup with a local crofter Donald Hugh Ross and offered to buy him. He didn’t want to sell but told Johnny that he thought the owner might still have a pup for sale. Johnny bought the remaining pup and named him Don 38964(W Anderson’s Hemp & S Alexander’s Mona) and he made his debut at the local trial in Kinlochbervie. Johnny had caught the ‘bug’ and there was no going back.
From left to right: George Munro, Dick Fortune, Sandy Campbell, Ian McDermidd, J. P. Mackenzie, unknown lady, and Ian Ross. Taken in the early 80s, Courtesy of J. P. Mackenzie.
Travelling all over the Highlands with the late Pat McGettigan, Johnny competed in the seventies with Don, and then came Ben (P Ross’s Moss & Jip)) and a bitch called Tess (JA Macleod’s Cap & W Cormack’s Maid). Johnny had many a successful run with both, but Ben was what he called a ’Saturday Trial’ dog, a little bit too nervous to compete at a National, and Tess was inclined to ‘dawdle’ a bit. Was he being a bit harsh and critical on them? Johnny replied ‘No, he’d had all types of dogs over the years and you treat a dog to what he’s capable of’. He doesn’t believe in pushing a dog too far, too soon. All Johnny’s dogs were all rounders, working on the croft and the steep hills in the surrounding area.
Johnny spotted a good young dog with Peter Ross called Mac 115030(MacCuish’s Glen and Meg), he took a real notion to him but didn’t offer to buy him as he felt that Peter would not like to refuse him. However as luck would have it Mac lined Peter’s bitch Gyp (J P Mackenzie’s Don and Peter Ross’s Meg) and Johnny got the stud pup which he called Don 122367. Looking back Johnny regrets that he didn’t make an offer for Mac, who he says had real potential, and who unfortunately was killed on the road. Johnny had a run of successes at Nursery Trials with his young dog Vic bred from Don and W Morrison’s Mona.
Johnny’s scrap book is crammed with records of wins at both local and national level with Ben, Vic, and Don. A quote taken from The Working Sheepdog News in June 1984 states “A dog which impressed me greatly at Aberystwyth was J.P. Mackenzie’s Don. I see he has had his share of success in trials in 1983, and was fourth in the Scottish National. He is a fine big black, white, and tan dog, and impressed me with his coolness and power when I saw him on Friday. He came fifth in the final after another calm and capable display. Don gets my personal award for “the dog I would most like to take home” for farm work.
J. P. Mackenzie penning at Aberystwyth with Don in 1983.
In 1985 at Lockerbie, came what every handler dreams of – winning the Supreme Prize at the International with Don. As he says himself, he was the first ever to win it this side of the Grampians, and he remains the only handler in the North of Scotland to have done so. So what made Don stand out from the rest? Johnny says he had strong ‘eye’ and he always remained cool, even under pressure.
After winning the Championship Bob Shennan from Girvan asked if he could take Don South for stud, and Johnny agreed provided he got Dan back in time for the Tomatin Trial near Inverness. Don spent six months with Bob Shennan who also competed with him with Johnny’s permission. He entered three trials in Ireland while Don was over at stud and was placed 1st. 3rd, and 4th. Johnny got Don back in June, just a few days before the Tomatin Trial. There were 95 dogs running that day and Johnny came first with Ben and second with Don, with just a point between them. He was later told by the committee that according to their records, which went back to World War II, he was the only competitor to have achieved a first and second place on the day in all the years the trail had been running. Don sired many pups and Johnny is aware of one that was sold to USA for £5K – a lot of money in those days.
Johnny continued to have success with Tim 179963, a son of Don’s by a Ben bitch Mona. Tim had inherited many of Don’s skills – Johnny says “I liked Tim, he was a good dog”, and indeed he was. Watching Johnny working any of his dogs was a pleasure, one couldn’t fail to notice the understanding and bond between them.
A straight talker, Johnny believes in speaking his mind – one handler who shall remain nameless recalls a trial in Rogart when he was just starting trialling. Things started going wrong on the course and he decided to retire. Johnny was waiting for him when he came off and said “What do you think you’re doing giving up? Your dog was working well enough and will never learn anything if you walk off. If you’re going to be giving up you might as well pack up the whole thing now.”
Though now retired he attends as many trials as he can, and still takes a big interest, studying the dogs and their breeding. He says that he would never judge the merit of a dog on one run. He likes to see a dog running and then see him again. He is delighted that the International Sheepdog Trials are coming north and is looking forward to studying the form.
J. P. Mackenzie and Don after winning the International