FIRST PLACE - SOUTHERN AREA
On Sunday, 30 June Border Counties & Cotswold hosted the Inter Area Finals on the beautiful grounds of Shepherds Fold Farm at Snowshill near Broadway by kind permission of Terry and Maureen Booth.
The day was dry with enough cloud cover to make ideal conditions for running dogs. There were teams from all 9 Areas competing. Competitors, judges, helpers and spectators were provided with tea, coffee and bacon rolls on arrival by our caterer, Paul Ford, his sister Mary, her husband Dickie, together with helpers Julie and Ali.
There were 6 tests and the judges were Jayne Coley, Phil Bruton, Helen Goodwin, Lisa Harris, Reuben Mort and Nigel Probert. We were grateful that these 6 very experienced judges gave up their day to judge for us.
We were extremely lucky to have a great team of helpers, Lawrence on car park duty, Steve, Marcus, Sue, Katie, Dave, Annie, Alex, Bill, Steve, Nicky, Zoey, Pete, Betsy, Sue, Karen, Luke, Dave, Kay, Lauren, Mark, Jon, and Debbie as throwers, placers and guns on these tests who did a fabulous job. This enabled each team to have a committee member as a steward to guide them around the tests and as a result the tests were completed by 12.30pm.
We were then treated to a super lunch cooked by Paul Ford and his team of helpers followed by a delicious selection of homemade cakes – thank you Julie, Michelle and Lauren.
The scores having been added up there was a run-off for the 4thplaced team between Hants and SW and BC&C which our host, Terry Booth, came to watch and he then presented the awards.
1st place and winners of the Anglia Cup, Southern Area with 322 pts
2nd place and winners of the Bernard Hall Memorial Trophy Bucks Area with 280 pts
3rd place Midland Area with 276 pts
4th place following a run-off Hants & SW Area with 273 pts
Highest placed dog was Elmertown Blazer of Sussexsharphandled by Reuben Corbett 113 pts and winner of the Atherbram Cup
Runner-up bitch was Caitlin Primrose handled by Rob Smallman 106 pts and winner of the Shooting Times Trophy.
Highest placed handler running in the Area Finals for the first time and winner of the H W Froud Trophy Reuben Corbett.
Highest placed team member of the Host Area and winner of the Castleton Trophy Steve Prosser.
The committee of BC&C presented Mr and Mrs Booth with a tree and a bouquet of flowers as a token of their appreciation.
George Hodgson Field Sports Photography took photographs of the day and these were available via committee member Alice Hocking and BC&C’s social media page.
The event was very generously sponsored by BASC, Skinner’s Pet Foods, Muntjac Trading, Twice Brewed Twines, Sporting Saint and Acme whistles who donated a silver sleeved whistle. This was raffled, raised £254 and was won by helper and BC&C member Dave Miller.
SECOND PLACE - BUCKS AREA
THIRD PLACE - MIDLANDS AREA
FOURTH PLACE - HANTS AND SW AREA
INDIVIDUAL WINNER AND BEST NEWCOMER - REUBEN CORBETT
INDIVIDUAL SECOND PLACE - ROB SMALLMAN
HIGHEST PLACED TEAM MEMBER OF HOST AREA - STEVE PROSSER
TEAMS IN THE AWARDS AND THE JUDGES