Gardners Farm , Springfield
Results:
1st Winner of Spaines Hall Cup – Highroost Hollywood LRB - Rodger Ketley
2nd Winner of Brettonsfield Trophy – Birdbrook Wisp LRB - Sue Searle
3rd Winner of Hassenbrook Cup – Brockaghs Forba LRD - Jim Collins
4th Garrethall Rebecca LRB – Liz Ingram
COM Overthwarts Berwick LRD- Andrew Wright
COM Garrethall Quorrel LRB – Caroline Heasman
Best Essex Entry Winner of the Flightline Trophy - Highroost Hollywood LRB - Rodger Ketley
Test report. John Cameron 4th June
Our open qualifier test was held at Gardners Farm, Springfield on the outskirts of Chelmsford by the kind permission of Robert and John Bucknell. The weather which was to have an impact on the tests, was sunny, still, and very warm. There were four challenging tests set by the Stewards of the day Keith Foster and myself. Our judges for the day were Phil Askew and Mike Rollinson. Sponsors for the test were Masters Dog Foods
Special thanks and recognition go to our dummy throwers and stewards Sue, Barbara, Dave, Andy, Graham and Mick who toiled all day under a hot sun. We also extend our thanks to all the committee members who helped on the day.
Test one which was judged by Mike Rollinson consisted of a mark over a small jump accompanied by two gunshots, this was followed by a blind with-out shot, to an area of cover to the right and short of the first mark. The test proved challenging as the window of vision was narrow and if the dogs were drawn either left or right on either retrieve they were then out of site of the handlers. The long grass and lack of scent added to the challenge. Mike commented that the dogs who did not mark the first retrieve well subsequently had problems being handled onto the dummy. The majority of dogs found the second blind retrieve the simpler of two.
The second test judged by Phil Askew was a two dog walk up with each dog in turn having two marks to gunshot, which in turn became memories as the first dummy thrown was the first to be retrieved. Again, the lack of scent and the long grass proved a challenge with a number of the dogs not marking well enough to complete the retrieves.
On completion of the first two tests lunch was taken with all enjoying a chance to get some shade and a rest.
The third test, judged by Phil, was a double mark to shot. The first dummy was thrown shorter and to the right of a clear path downhill into an area of cover, the second dummy was thrown longer and uphill to the left of the path. The dogs were asked to retrieve the first dummy thrown, first. Both retrieves proved challenging to the dogs many of whom were pulled downhill the consequences of which the dogs were then out of sight. Again, the conditions on the day added to the challenge and this proved a frustrating test for both dogs and handlers.
The fourth test was a double blind, with only the first retrieve to shot. The first dummy was placed in some reeds on the bank of a small stream which the dogs had to swim to retrieve, this was achieved successfully by most dogs although the second blind proved more difficult. The dogs were sent to the right of the stream over a bank and into an area out of sight of the handler. If the dog did not come out of this area on the right line it could be pulled left back to the area of the first dummy or right into a hedge row and completely out of sight of the handler. The dogs completing the second retrieve successfully were those who either took a strong line from cast off or those whose line was re-enforced with an additional back command before or just after the banked area.
Due to the challenges of the day run offs to determine the final places were not required. After the presentation of the awards Phil Askew said a few words on behalf of the judges.
We would again like to thank Masters Dog Foods for sponsoring our test, and supplying a bag of dog food for the first three places. A final thanks to our Judges who hopefully enjoyed the challenges of the day.