Annie McCormack from Newtonmore

She was the first lady to run in an International as she represented Scotland in the International Driving competition in 1958 with Swan 8233, not in the Scottish team though. [In 1949, the winner of the Scottish Driving was chosen by the judges selecting the best three driving dogs from the Shepherds’ Class or the Farmers’ Class. They were then re-tested driving a special course. At the close of running in the Farmers’ Class, twenty sheep are driven in a straight line for 400 yards with no obstacles. Scored out of 5 points, time was 7 minutes. By 1958, the Scottish Driving was chosen from either of the classes]. In 1958, the International Driving Championship used 50 sheep probably in much the same way as it is carried out today.

The first lady to run in Scottish Nationals, Annie lived at Kingussie. In 1948 and 1949, she ran two dogs in the Farmers’ Class - Meg II 4984 (bred by T. Davidson, by Jim out of Jed) and Rye 4479 (homebred by J. M. Wilson’s Cap out of Tess). In 1950, Annie ran Meg II and a bitch called Mist 4979 (by Lamont’s Drift, out of Hendry’s Betty). In 1954, 1955 and 1956, she ran Phil 7164 (by J. M. Wilson’s Glen 3940, out of L. Coltherd's Queen 6143) and Swan 8233 (homebred by W. R. Little’s Roy 4497, out of Fan 4981). By 1958, Annie was living at Newtonmore, and ran Swan in the national until 1960. In 1962 and 1963, she ran Swan’s daughter, Ness 14697 (by W. R. Little’s Cap). Annie was an expert on Arab horses and kept pug dogs in the house.