The Open qualifier was held at Stowell Park on 18th May by kind invitation of Lord Vestey and Mr E Graves MBE.
| Position | Name | Dog Breed/Sex | Dog Name |
|---|
| 1st |
Mrs R J Coley |
Labrador / D |
FTCH Waterford Ganton |
| 2nd |
Mr C Damon |
Labrador / D |
Heathergaye Herald |
| 3rd |
Mr S Hagain |
Labrador / B |
Skeviot Emerald |
| 4th |
Mr M Brown |
Labrador / D |
FTCH Longcopse Bertie |
| COM |
Mrs K Green |
Labrador / B |
Slipside Ebony |
| COM |
Ms K Cousins |
Labrador / D |
Levenghyl Malusi |
The Border Counties and Cotswold Area of the United Retriever Club held their Open Test and Area Team Qualifier on Sunday 18th May 2014 at Stowell Park, Gloucestershire by kind invitation of Lord Vestey and the head keeper Mr. Eddy Graves OBE. The event was sponsored by Skinners and the judges for the day were Tess Lawrence, Kate Smith and Frank Wright. In all 29 dogs were competing on a clear and hot day with just a slight breeze that assisted scenting.
The first test was a hunting exercise where the dogs had to pick 2 out of 4 dummies placed on the side of a bank with most of the dogs completing the test successfully.
The second test was a seen into long grass and then a blind on a bank. For the blind the dogs had to run past where the seen had fallen. This test caused the most problems of the day with some dogs either not marking or not able to make it past where the seen had fallen and onto the blind on the bank, there were a number of failures at this test.
The third test was a diagonal swim across the lake to retrieve a blind from a rough area a short distance away from the lake; most dogs achieved this retrieve but the diagonal swim proved difficult with most dogs crossing the lake via the shortest route.
Two tests were held after a short break. The first was a blind with a distraction a short distance from where the dogs were being sent from. To get the blind the dogs were sent through an area of ”dead ground " and were partially out of sight of handlers before appearing at the base of the bank where the retrieve was located. Most dogs completed this satisfactorily before going on to retrieve the short mark which had fallen over the brow of the bank.
The last test was a two dog walk up with two marked retrieves with each dog retrieving the dummies in turn. The first mark was down a bank through rough grass and in vegetation at the side of the lake and the second was a long mark in rushes. A number of dogs failed with these retrieves.
Our thanks go to Lord Vestey and Eddy Graves for allowing us to use the ground, the judges, stewards, dummy throwers and the catering staff for their kind help on a very hot day.
Stewards: Alison Wilson, Wendy Brown, Bea Harford
Dummy Throwers: Ian Wilson, Tim Lever, John Rouse, Deana Cornforth
Catering: Astrid Lever, Dick Dimmock
Mrs R J Coley was awarded the Tokeida Trophy for winning the Open and the Amorosa Cup for Best Labrador.
Mr R Ashdown with Mistybrook Tegan was awarded the Amber Shield for Best Golden Retriever.
Mr B Webb with Pennyswick Viscount was awarded the Barry James Cup for Best Flat Coat Retriever.