Novice and Open Working Tests at Orchardleigh Estate 2015
Our first tests of this our 40th anniversary year was held at Orchardleigh, near Frome, by kind permissionof Mr CharlesFuller & his keeper Neil Perrett. The day was dry and sunny but with a chilly wind. Our judges were Nick Coates (who helped to set the tests) and Margaret Allen. We were pleased that Charles Fuller was able to spend much of the day with us.
Four straightforward tests were planned in a fairly compact area of parkland with parking and admin close by. The tests comprised a double mark to shot in woodland; a simulated drive in another wood with suitable shots, beaters calls and a distraction thrown to one side outside the wood; a mark to shot through a strip of wooded cover and out onto grassland, and a blind, again to shot, the dogs being walked to heel for a distance before being sent down into a ditch & up a scrub covered bank to the dummy. These tests were used for both novice dogs in the morning and, with certain modifications to make them more challenging, for the open dogs in the afternoon.
In between the novice and open tests, lunch prepared by Jennie Dimmock and served by Dick Dimmock (carefully supervised by Alison Wilson!) was taken by judges and helpers. Novice Awards were presented by Charles Fuller, the open entrants signed in, and the raffle was drawn.
Because we had a good entry of over 20 dogs for each discipline, we were pleased to be able to start the day 15mins early due to careful planning and competitors arriving in good time! The novices were divided into two groups one being taken by each judge to attack two consecutive tests before swopping en-mass to complete the other two.
The double mark with shots required a good marking dog which concentrated on the falls rather than looking at its handler. For some dogs judging the distance of the first dummy and/or the direction of the second proved difficult. However many dogs managed a good score. The drive did not cause many problems for the dogs, most completing the retrieves efficiently. The mark through the strip of wooded cover required a confident dog, with good marking ability and able to take a good line. The grass area in which the dummy fell sloped to the left to a wood from which direction the strong wind was blowing, so that those dogs which dropped down the slope had great difficulty in locating the dummy. However a good portion of the entry did an excellent job. The organisers concerns that the blind might cause dogs to run the ditch rather than climb the bank, proved unfounded, with most getting up the bank, albeit some going by a circuitous route! Once in the area the dummy was easily found.
Running in the afternoon, the open dogs faced the modified tests and in the main found similar difficulties. The double mark had the angle between the marks reduced, the second mark being more difficult to observe making marking to the shot more important. Once again the drive was completed well by most dogs. The mark through the wooded cover, now with a shout instead of the shot saw dogs have similar problems to the novices, The blind up the bank, with the walk to heel significantly further from the ditch & with the shot occurring during the walk saw a number of dogs have difficulty in marking the shot and taking a good line to the dummy which was now on the far edge of a grassed area and about a foot into light cover. However, as always, some dogs did a smart job on the retrieve.
The day ended in sunshine with tea and cakes and the open awards being presented by Charles Fuller.
It should be said that a successful day like this requires a band of dedicated helpers to whom the club’s grateful thanks is given.
Organiser:- Bea Harford
Stewards:- Ange Knight, Aileen Jones, Natasha Smith
Dummy throwers:- Mike Anderson, Paul Candy, Roger Ford, John Reed, Ian Wilson
Catering:- Jennie & Dick Dimmock, Alison Wilson
Dick Dimmock
Novice Dog Awards
| Position | Name | Dog Breed/Sex | Dog Name |
|---|
| 1st |
Miss M Cox |
Lab B |
Kenxiam Indian Sunset of Wickmoor |
| 2nd |
Ms M Quincey |
GR B |
Wadesmill Apple |
| 3rd |
Mrs I Whitford |
Lab B |
Eustna Clover of Bellaroyal |
| 4th |
Mrs J Gardner |
GR B |
Holway Flint of Foxcote |
| COM |
Mrs S Goode |
Lab B |
Poolmore Rho |
Open Dog Awards
| Position | Name | Dog Breed/Sex | Dog Name |
|---|
| 1st |
Mr G Cox |
GR B |
FTCH Holway Martina of Wydcombe |
| 2nd |
Mr J Mayhew |
Lab D |
Kestralway Flint |
| 3rd |
Mr S Hagain |
Lab B |
Skeviot Emerald |
| 4th |
Mr D England |
Lab B |
Lubbecite Queen of Hearts of Abney |
| COM |
Mr S Pullin |
GR B |
Frizelwood Emony |