Novice Dog Awards
| Position | Name | Dog Breed/Sex | Dog Name |
|---|
| 1st |
Mrs A Lever |
Lab D |
Kestrelway Othello |
| 2nd |
Mrs J McHugh |
Lab B |
Crowbush Saphire of Bittenam |
| 3rd |
Mrs H Chatterton |
Lab B |
Buffskin Xena |
| 4th |
Mrs M Valentine |
GR B |
Sampsford Maitland |
| COM |
Mr A Moodie |
Lab D |
Ladyshot Saturn |
Novice and Open Tests at Badminton Estate 2014
The URC BC&C Working Test season of 2014 started at a new venue of Badminton which allowed a variety of tests to be set.
The use of the land was by kind invitation of the Duke of Beaufort and by permission of Mr P Barrett and Mr S Williams.
A bright sunny Spring day was enjoyed by all with a cooling breeze for the dogs in a nice relaxed atmosphere.
The day was split between the Novice Tests in the morning and the Open Tests in the afternoon by a hearty lunch for the judges and helpers whilst the scores were being counted and awards presented.
The 28 Novice dogs had four tests as follows;
- Test 1 was judged by Mr S Richardson; the test was a long 2 seen marks to separate shot, one after the other across a valley – most dogs completed this well but a few struggled going back for the second retrieve on a single cast.
- Test 2 judged by Mr T Davies; the test was a blind to shot up a track with a slight bend. The dogs which did the best were those whose handlers trusted their dogs and left them alone to find the retrieve once they were in the area.
- Test 3 judged by Mr N Onens; the test was on the water. The dummy was thrown into the second pond to shot and the dogs had to run along the length of the first pond to get there. The dogs were sent but disappeared out of sight into the second pond to get the retrieve, so the handlers again had to trust their dogs. Some dogs struggled to get into the second pond as they heard the splash but couldn’t see the retrieve from the track, but once they went over the edge they found the dummy OK.
- Test 4 judged by Mr S Richardson and Mr N Onens; this test was a four dog walked up the valley. Each dog had a blind up on the bank in front and a mark to shot at the bottom of the valley in front, with dogs crossing each other.
There was a run-off to decide the 3rd and 4th place.
Special thanks go to the stewards; Aileen Jones, Shelly Armstrong and Mirvyn Philpott.
Also, special thanks to the dummy throwers; Phil Ireland, Tim Lever and Adrian Tarling.
The catering was prepared by Alison and Ian Wilson and gratefully received by the helpers and Judges.
After the Novice awards and a quick lunch, the Open tests were started.
The 14 Open dogs had four tests as follows;
- Test 1 was judged by; the test was a blind up a track in the woods.
- Test 2 judged by Mr S Richardson; the test was a mark to shot up a steep hill with a flat at the top falling out of sight. The dogs were then sent back up to the area for a blind after the seen was retrieved.
- Test 3 judged by Mr N Onens; the test was on the water. The dummy was thrown into the second pond to shot. The dogs then had to be turned and run through an opened gate, up the hill for a blind near to the hedge line at the top of the field. After the blind, the dummy on the water was retrieved. Some dogs struggled to get through the gate successfully; the ‘straight-line’ dogs were noticeable here.
- Test 4 judged by Mr S Richardson; this test was a walked up the valley. Each dog had a blind up on the bank in front and a long mark to shot at the bottom of the valley in front, with dogs crossing each other.
There was a run-off to decide the 2nd, 3rd and 4th place.
Special thanks go to the stewards; Mary Valentine, Bea Harford and Mirvyn Philpott.
Also, special thanks to the dummy throwers; Phil Ireland, Tim Lever, Harry Hyde, Dick Dimmock and Deana Cornforth.
Once again we were very grateful to Skinners dog foods for their kind sponsorship of the event.
Open Dog Awards
| Position | Name | Dog Breed/Sex | Dog Name |
|---|
| 1st |
Mr P Green |
Lab B |
Slipside Ebony |
| 2nd |
Mrs L Pittaway |
Lab B |
Crystlstream Black Beauty |
| 3rd |
Mrs J Dimmock |
Lab D |
Jagdens Dexter At Lyanmoreshot |
| 4th |
Mrs J Dimmock |
Lab D |
Studebaker Archie At Lyanmoreshot |
| COM |
Mrs M Fenton |
Lab B |
Roughburn Clover |