The winning Midland team
Area Finals 2017
Is it really nine years since we hosted the Area Finals? Yes it was our turn again this year on Sunday 9 July and we were fortunate to find wonderful hosts in Mr and Mrs J James who kindly allowed us to use this superb ground in Well, not far from Alford. Our thanks go to them and to Mrs James for presenting the prizes at the end of the day. We also thank our sponsors: VetSpec for Dogs (who provided bags of dog food for the winners and ‘goody bags’ for all of the competitors), Mr and Mrs K Parker who gave every competitor, judge and helper an engraved medal as a memento of the day) and Mr P Odling (who provided the lovely barbeque for everyone at the end of the day) and, of course, our Main Body Officers for their help and support.
The Lincs team in second place
Our Chief Steward was Martin Eveleigh who kept everything running smoothly and our excellent judges were Richard Beckerleg, Paul Smithies, Sue Lowe, Daniel Higgs and John Day. It was lovely to welcome the teams and their supporters from the other eight Areas and we hope they enjoyed the day.
Each team completed five tests: Test 1 was a drive, followed by a picking up exercise in a different area. Each dog was required to pick two dummies. Test 2 started with a long mark thrown into cover to the right for the first dog of the team. As this dog was returning a shot was fired, a dummy thrown on the left and the second dog sent before the first dog delivered its retrieve. The third dog was sent for a mark, with shot, to the right before the second dog returned.
3rd placed team Hants and SW
Test 3 was a mark and two blinds. A shot was fired to the left for a mark thrown a long way down the grass field before the first dog was sent for a blind, running down the hill and up a ride where two fences crossed the ride. The blind was over the first fence. The second dog then followed the same path for a blind placed over the second fence. Finally, the third dog was sent for the original mark. Test 4 was a three dog walk up. A shot heralded a dummy being thrown out, but the first dog was sent for a blind towards a tree to the right before the second dog picked the mark. After walking on, a mark was thrown. The third dog was sent for a blind behind before the first dog retrieved the mark. This was repeated for the second dog to pick the blind behind and the third dog the mark.
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Individual winner Carol Probert
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Carol Probert being presented By Mrs Williams |
Test 5 was three long memory marks. All three dummies were thrown out by throwers hidden by trees or brush. Then the first dog picked the mark to the left, the second the mark in front and the third the mark to the right. Finally, each team nominated one handler to go for bonus marks. Three handlers lined up at the bottom of the hill and six dummies were put out in three places along the top of the hill. Each dog had to pick two dummies from its designated area.
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Jane Manley awarded the Shooting Times Trophy
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Richard King awarded the Castlelton Trophy |
And then it was time for the presentations and, to round off the day, a super barbeque and puddings.
1st – Midland Area, awarded the Anglia Cup
Kendeci Cherry Blossom, LRB, Mrs C Brailsford
Maderablanca Amarillo, LRD, Mr S Le Voi
Turpingreen Acuna of Corsemalzie, LRB, Mrs C Probert*
*Awarded the Atherbram Cup for highest scoring individual and the H W Froud Trophy for the highest scoring handler running in the Area Finals for the first time.
2nd - Lincolnshire
FT Ch Saxaphone Brown Ale of Lincswolds, LRD, Mr R King**
Kelmagra Ace of Owmbywold, LRD, Mr M Birchall
Pigeonman Alize, LRB, Mr G Wilson
**Awarded the Castleton Trophy for the highest scoring handler in the host Area team
3rd - Hants and South West
Lenyam Just in Time, LRD, Mrs J Manley*
Sunstar Gadwall at Peterspond, LRD, Mrs K Handley
Dingbridge Willow, LRB, Mr A Lynn
* Awarded the Shooting Times Trophy for the individual runner up
4th – Border Counties and Cotswold
The Windbreak Whisperer of Arklebear, LRB, Miss C Baker
Millerise Leo at Lyanmoreshot, LRD, Mrs J Dimmock
Hickorywood Heart of Gold, GRB, Mrs A Shearman
The host Area for the 2018 Area Finals is the Midland Area.
Gilly Bell