This year we were very privileged to hold our open qualifier working test at the beautiful Stowell Park near Cirencester, by kind invitation of Lord Vestey and Eddie Graves MBE, the head keeper. Sponsored by Skinners Dog Foods, the exceptional ground offered the opportunity to set a variety of interesting tests to challenge our competitors.
Jayne Coley and Normal Onens agreed to be the test judges, with the award winners beiing invited to form our URC interclub team.
Although the day was warm, there was plenty of shade for dogs and competitors to keep cool between tests. Four tests were completed before lunch, with Test 5, a walk-up, being run in the afternoon.
Jayne judged Tests 1 and 2.
Test 1 was a mark into long grass at the top of a bank as a diversion, with the dogs being asked to retrieve a long blind forward along a farm track first, before collecting the mark if the blind was successfully retrieved.
A long blind for Test 2 proved challenging. The retrieve was tucked into grassy vegetation below a stone wall at the top of a sweeping arable field. Dogs were keen either to go over the wall out of sight or to hunt short.
Norman judged Tests 3 and 4.
Test 3 was a mark going forward up a long bank. The dogs did well on keeping their lines through ground that was both very undulating and dense with vegetation, and where they could easily have been drawn from the mark.
Test 4 was a double consisting of a blind over the water and a mark alongside the water. The blind was collected first with handlers needing to push their dogs across the water and up the bank onto and long the track. The mark, parallel with the water, was along a bank. In some cases, dogs were drawn down the slope towards the water rather than maintaining a line across the bank to the mark.
After lunch, we moved to a new area of ground for a four dog walk up. Each dog was given a long mark up the right hand bank. This was very challenging for the dogs because the grass was long and the ground quite undulating. At times, handlers found it hard to see their dogs if they had been allowed to drift out of the area.
With the tests completed, a run-off was needed for 4th and CoM places.
We were pleased that the head keeper, Eddie Graves MBE, was able to join us for tea and to present the awards.
The test was organised by Jill Gardner and Debbie Polley, with Aileen Jones and Jill Justice catering. We very much appreciated the effort of the stewards, Den Smith and Nicky Wellfair, with dummy throwers and gun firers, Ali, Sassy, Russ, Fran, Dick and Matt, who were essentisal in achieving consistent tests.
From the award winners, we were able to select our team for the URC area finals.
Open Awards
| Position | Name | Dog Breed/Sex | Dog Name |
|---|
| 1st |
Mr N Jordan |
Lab B |
Hollowbrook Hosta |
| 2nd |
Miss C Baker |
Lab B |
The Windbreakwhisper of Arcklebear |
| 3rd |
Mrs L Harris |
GR D |
Gortons Black Thorn Lad of Hawksthorn |
| 4th |
Mr F Wright |
Lab B |
Levenghyl Dancing Teasel |
| CoM |
Ms K Cousins |
Lab D |
Dunjailin Rocky Rogue of Westerkames |
Guess Who?