Our Novice Test was held at Miserden Park 8th June 2014 by kind invitation of Major T Wills and by permission of Mr M Weedon. The judges were Mrs H Cripps, Mr H Parker and Mr C Selwood.
| Position | Name | Dog Breed/Sex | Dog Name |
|---|
| 1st |
Mr A Phillips |
Golden Retriever / D |
Karnoosty Tee Off |
| 2nd |
Mrs C Earnshaw |
Labrador / B |
Black Tragopan |
| 3rd |
Miss M Cox |
Labrador / B |
Kenxiam Indian Sunset |
| 4th |
Miss C Iles |
Golden Retriever / B |
Karnoosty Hole In One |
| COM |
Mr A Moody |
Labrador / D |
Ladyshot Saturn |
| COM |
Ms M Quincey |
Golden Retriever / B |
Wadesmill Apple |
| COM |
Mrs J McHugh |
Labrador / D |
Bittenham Persimmon |
We enjoyed wonderful weather for our Novice Working Test at the beautiful Miserden Estate. Clear blue skies and warm sunshine meant that shade provided because tests had been set mostly in the woodland was great for the dogs. We had 30 entrants and after 5 withdrawals, ran 25 on the day, one of which was not for competition.
The first three tests were:- a fairly long mark diagonally uphill in woodland, followed by a blind in the same place, and saluted by two shots, judged by Howard Parker, while Helen Cripps had a hunting exercise in a reed bed, and Colin Selwood tested the dogs on a mark at the end of a causeway between a pond and another reed bed, followed by a blind further back on the pathway in the woodland.
There was no break for lunch and we went straight through to Test 4, a long blind uphill in woodland saluted by a shot to draw the dogs which was judged by Colin Selwood. The final test was a 4 dog walk up in the open parkland judged by Helen Cripps and Howard Parker.
A run off for 1st and 2nd, and another for 3rd and 4th was necessary. A long mark with the dummy falling over a slight brow in the land sorted out the dogs giving us a full set of awards including three Certificates of Merit.
Stewards Ayleen Jones, Debbie Polly, and Shelly Armstrong, dummy throwers Ian Wilson, Lucy Mixture (with help from Alison Wilson), and Mervyn Philpott, and an extra helper Liz Widdows, worked hard all day and made the day very successful. As ever, I was grateful for the support of my husband Dick, who was a great help in the run up to the event as well as on the day.
Our thanks go to Major Wills and ‘Keeper Martin Weedon for allowing us to use the land and also to John Mixture, Shepherd on the estate for ensuring that the sheep were well out of the way on the day. We are also very grateful to Skinners dog foods for supporting the event.