Novice WT Waterhatch 3rd April 2022
The Novice Working test was held at Waterhatch Farm on 3rd April 2022 by kind permission of the landowner Tristan and Edwin Bailey and the Gamekeeper, Mr W Whitehouse.
Our judges, who very generously gave up their Sunday, were Mrs Jennie Dimmock, Mrs Nicola Rudgard, Mrs Ellena Swift Nunneley and Mr Nigel Probert. They each judged one of the four tests. We were very fortunate to have a wonderful team of stewards and dummy throwers. Aileen Jones provided a delicious packed lunch for all our helpers and judges.
Test 1:
This was judged by Jennie. The handlers were facing a wooded slope. There was a blind already out to their left at about 10 o’clock. A marked retrieve was thrown down the hill towards them at 12 o’clock. To add a degree of difficulty, there was a low fence that had to be jumped by the dogs on their way out to the retrieves. The handlers could choose which order they picked the retrieves. Jennie reported that this test caused a fair amount of problems for some, but there were also some very good scores.
Test 2:
Nicola judged this test which was a double blind on an open piece of ground. The retrieves were in line with each other. The handlers were uphill, and needed to send the dogs a decent distance down towards an area of scrubby woodland. The first blind was in the open just as the ground changed from open white grass to white grass amongst scrub bushes. The second blind was further back into the scrubby area. This test caused the least amount of problems and a few made a very smart job of it.
Test3:
Nigel judged this test. In a wooded area. A mark to shot was thrown onto a track. Handlers were required to send their dogs uphill towards the mark, but stop them to pick a blind on the right hand side of the track before they reached the mark. They then sent back for the mark.
Test 4:
Ellena judged this test. This was in an area where there is a pond surrounded by woodland. The dogs were sent for an easy mark over the water, they had to jump a small fence and drop down a sharp bank to the pond but otherwise this was a straightforward mark. The second retrieve was a blind to shot, directly at a right angle to the handler. This was placed in an area of fallen logs and branches. Ellena was very fair and gave handlers plenty of time to achieve this test.
Test 5.
Dogs without a zero on their score card went on to test 5. This was a two dog walk up with a mark thrown to shot and a blind placed beside a tree. Nigel and Ellena walked with the dogs in line and Jennie and Nicola “observed” the retrieves. This test was watched with interest by the other competitors and helpers.
Run Off:
Four dogs contested a run off which was a handling exercise and the judges were able to decide the final results.
A great end to a very successful and happy day. Adrian Phillips and Andy Doyle organised the tests and the ground and they worked so hard to get everything prepared for the day. We were incredibly lucky to have sunshine.
A huge thank you, as always, to our generous sponsors, Skinners Dog Food and Barbury Shooting School, who have, again, sponsored all the rosettes for the tests we run.
Results:
1st. David Thomas with Baysthwaite Jasper of Aberglen
2nd. Camilla Heyes with Rubrumpark St Lawrence
3rd. Jayne Coley with Kilpen Nightcap of Waterford
4th. Sid Davis with Tweedshot Firecracker
COM: Cherry Smith with Breckmarsh Emeric
Lanesie Gould with Elkshead Skye of Heatherbound
Helen Stevenson with Zandawn Fire