For our Veteran and Intermediate tests this year, we returned after quite an absence, to Waterley Bottom by kind permission of Ken Brown and his son Tim. They were most welcoming, and ensured cattle were moved and gates were unlocked for us. We had a very sunny day so space in the shade was at a premium.
Our judges were Den Smith and Adrian Phillips.
We had 4 tests; Den judged Test 1 which was set at the edge of the wood. A two part retrieve, with a blind straight up the bank ahead, with a second longer blind, left handed through the trees. The second blind did prove tricky for some dogs who didn't maintain a straight line through the trees. The Veterans had the same test but over a shorter distance.
Adrian judged Test 2 which was a 2-dog walk up with each dog crossing to pick the marked retrieve before swapping over to repeat the retrieves. The veterans had the same exercise but with shorter distances.
Den judged Test 3 which was a long mark with a couple of elements that made it more challenging. The dogs had to cross a sloping field to the retrieve thrown into cover of fairly long grass. Several dogs dropped down the field with the slope of the bank, from where it was then more difficult for the handlers to get the dogs back up the bank. Good marking dogs did well. The Veterans had the same retrieve but over a shorter distance.
Adrian judged Test 4 which was a long mark with a blind several metres further back on the hedgerow. A few dogs struggled to move off the scent area of the mark and go far enough back for the blind. The Veteran test was modified to have the same long mark but with the blind in a similar area.
A run off was needed in both classes before the final result could be confirmed, with the Intermediate having to run off twice as the first exercise couldn't separeate them!
The results were as follows:-
Veteran Results
| Position | Name | Dog Breed/Sex | Dog Name |
|---|
| 1st |
Mrs M Jarrod |
GR D |
Lilleburne Ripple Reed |
| 2nd |
Mrs J Dimmock |
Lab D |
Willowyck Gable at Lyanmoreshot |
| 3rd |
Miss C Thomas |
GR D |
Kenine Can't Go Back |
| 4th |
Mrs S Goode |
Lab B |
Poolmore RHO |
Intermediate Results
| Position | Name | Dog Breed/Sex | Dog Name |
|---|
| 1st |
Ms A Willans |
Lab D |
Millershook Chance |
| 2nd |
Mr G Lambert |
Lab D |
Hawksgarth Colorado of Wickmoor |
| 3rd |
Mr K Spratling |
Lab B |
Tiledown Lottie |
| 4th |
Miss M Cox |
Lab D |
Manormynd Vision of Wickmoor |
The Test was organised by Jill Gardner and Debbie Polley, with Aileen Jones doing the catering. We very much appreciated the effort of the stewards, Ali and Sassy, with dummy throwers, carriers and gun firers, Matt, Dave, Andy, Linda and Sid. Matt, Dave and Andy were superbly consistent throwers which was much appreciated by the judges and competitors.
After a lovely day, the biggest challenge turned out to be dismantling the gazebo, with 6 people trying to work out how to get it back in the box!
