URC Mendip Group Funday and Picnic Sunday 4th August 2019.
To celebrate the end of our Summer Training Sessions we held our annual picnic with some fun tests for the dogs and handlers at Wookey Hole, by kind invitation of the Lunnon Family.
The Mendip Group is well supported and through great cooperation and teamwork the morning was both relaxed and enjoyable for the 26 people who were able to join us.
There were three test setters, judging at different levels and the handlers could move through the groups and try as many tests as they felt their dog could attempt. The emphasis was on joining in and having a go while enjoying your dog in the company of friends.
We ate our delicious picnic as we awarded cups, trophies, certificates, rosettes and Skinners Field and Trial Dog Food (with thanks to Beth Payne) to the Prize winners.
We thanked our trainers, Paul Smith, Glenn Lambert, Christine Collins and super sub. Andrew Maisey, who generously give us their time. The Mendip Group is very lucky to have the support of such enthusiastic and encouraging gundog trainers. Thanks also went to our fantastic dummy throwers; Michelle, Ian and Martin who threw many during the summer months.
The Group sincerely appreciates the kindness of Charles Fuller, the Lunnon family, Ashleigh Hann, Phillip Phelps and the Brocklehurst family who as local landowners allow us to return to their lovely grounds each year.
Puppy (Christine’s Group)
1 The handler had to walk his dog to heel for five paces, sit him up and leave him in a sit while walking on for another 5 paces. The handler then recalled the dog to heel facing the dummy thrower in front of him. A single marked retrieve was thrown beyond the thrower. It was not about the distance but the accuracy of the execution. The dog had to mark the dummy not the thrower as the dummy was thrown beyond.
2 Walking to heel to a turning point whereupon the handler left the dog in a sit facing the starting point. The handler returned on their own to the start. The dog was recalled to the handler and at about the halfway point a dummy was thrown as a distraction. If the dog ignored the distraction he was allowed to be sent for the retrieve after the recall.
3 This test was a little more complicated and involved a second dog functioning as a distraction. From the starting point dog and handler walked to heel for about 10 paces. A stationary dog was placed about halfway. After passing the stooge dog, the tested dog was put in a sit and the handler walked on for a few paces, once again recalling his dog to heel. At this point two dummies were thrown, one to the left one to the right. This was also a little test for the stationary dog who had to remain steady. The working dog had to retrieve the last dummy thrown first, followed by the first dummy thrown so we had a seen and a memory retrieve.
Novice (Paul’s Group)
1 Each dog was given a long, seen retrieve followed by a blind in the same area.
2 Two dummies were thrown right and left at a distance, the handler was required to nominate which dummy they would send the dog to retrieve first and then send the dog back for the other one.
Top (Glenn’s Group)
1 In a steep field over undulating ground the dog was sent to retrieve a marked dummy over 120m at the top of a hill near a hedge and then sent back for a blind in same place.
2 A blind was placed through a gateway. The handler sent the dog down the field and through the gateway to retrieve the dummy.
All dogs ran well, often achieving more difficult tests than their handlers/trainers expected.
Awards
| Group | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|
| PUPPY |
Ann Bracegirle with Lincoln |
David Hammond with Ivy |
|
| NOVICE |
Carol Higgins with Remy |
Luke Lambert with Eva |
Mark Parsons with Ruby |
| TOP |
Beth Payne with Kia |
David Hammond with Ivy |
Fiona Passmore with Sirus |
Progress Shield to David Hammond Best Retrieve on The Day to Carol Higgins
Alison was thanked for organising our calendar and received a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Thankyou also to Jill, Mandy, Tash and Richard for helping on the day and to Skinners for their generous support of the Urc.
The Mendip Group continues to train during the winter and welcomes all URC members to join us, whenever they can.