Results:
1st Winner of Spaines Hall Cup – FtCh Brockaghs Forba LRD - Jim Collins
2nd Winner of Brettonsfield Trophy – Willowrise Star Spinner LRD - Paul Wheeler
3rd Winner of Hassenbrook Cup – Birdsgreen Thembi of Spurgate LRB - Brian Chesser
4th Hanwoodgold Breeze GRB - Lesley Crompton
CoM Bellspaddle Jock LRD - Sharon Dingle
Best Essex Entry Winner of the Flightline Trophy - FtCh Brockaghs Forba LRD - Jim Collins
Our first test for the year was the Open Qualifier and the top four dogs then qualify to represent the Essex Area in the URC Area Finals which will be held in the Lake District in June.
Chigborough is a new venue for us and with lots of fishing lakes was a beautiful setting. The weather was kind to us with a nice dry day with some warm sunny periods. We were there by very kind permission from Paul & Sam Tallowin. Our sponsors are Skinner’s dog food and we are very grateful to them for their support.
Our judges for the day were Glynis Hillier and Jim Gale and our stewards who set the four tests and kept the day running smoothly were Keith Foster and Mari Jackson.
Test one and two were with Jim and tests three and four were with Glynis, the groups split in two and both tests under each judge were completed before lunch then the two groups swapped over.
Test one was the water test, with a sneaky dummy on a rope thrown into the water making a splash to draw the dogs attention which then became a distraction before a shot fired from across the water for a blind retrieve. There were a few failures but the majority of the dogs succeeded, some needing more handling than others.
Test two was a long double blind with a choice of three dummies in a similar area one to be collected first then the dogs sent back to the similar area, the distraction on this was a loud single shot to the far right which certainly meant handling the dogs in the opposite direction, a couple of dogs struggled on this one.
Test three was a double blind with a quick succession double shot; starting with a jump over a small fence the dogs were sent along a grassy track then handled to an area to hunt in the rough, after this was retrieved the dogs were sent back for the second retrieve which was on the track but just out of sight behind the rough grasses, a few dogs failed on this test, although not for the same reasons.
Test four was a short walk-up with two marked retrieves, one left and one to the right, with the dogs swapping over so each had the opportunity for a mark and a memory, all bar one dog completed this test.
We returned to the fishery lodge while the scores were added and the customary scrummy cakes were enjoyed with a cuppa and the raffle was drawn.
There was a three dog run-off for third place and then the awards were presented by our hosts Paul & Sam and our thanks again to them for allowing us to use their lovely grounds.
Thanks must also go to our judges and not forgetting the non-committee helpers along with our committee helpers for all giving up their Sunday.
