RESULTS:
1st Place for the Essex Area Autumn Cup Northglen Susan -LRB Owner: Stewart North Handler: Jemma Handley
2nd Place Garrethall Thorin -LRD Ian Nichols
3rd Place Anningtonebay Evening Star of Lonningend -LRB Laura Carleton
4th Place Wiremoor Edgar -LRD Jacqui Crew
Certificate of Merit Brindlebay Ulla -LRB Kim Prentice
Copperwheat Astra -LRB Ken Byron
Northglen Montyhurst -LRD Janna Zours
Elder Athos Trophy for the Highest Placed Essex Area Novice Handler
Kerry Ellis with Galark Daisy of Rowenarcher -LRB
We were welcomed back to this fabulous ground by very kind invitation of Kevin Doughty (Highseas Gundogs) and are extremely grateful to Kevin for once again allowing us to return.
We are also very grateful to Skinners for their ongoing support supplying vouchers for the winners.
Stewards for the day were Cath Elsey & Mari Jackson and four tests were set on what yet again for the Essex Area was a dry day, if a bit chilly, which was a relief after a couple of hours very heavy rain the day before,
Our judges were Glynis Hillier, Keith Foster, Arthur Cook and at the eleventh hour Jackie Smith.
Test one was judged by Keith and comprised a double mark with the first dummy falling over the track to the right and the second dummy to the left into a clear flat grass area, which the competitor couldn’t see as the dogs had to run through long grass to make the area, the majority of dogs succeeded with many getting full marks.
Test two was a mark in a clearing in the woods with an unseen thrown in the same place once the mark was collected; this was judged by Arthur, a few failures but most dogs achieved this exercise.
Test three was a two dog walk up in the willows, with Glynis. There was then a shot fired and dummy thrown forward of the pen on a diagonal, this was collected by the first dog and the second dog then had to go straight up the track to an area of long dead grass for a blind retrieve where there were several dummies around the tree to put temptation for swapping. The mark seemed to cause the most problem with little scent and dogs running over it.
The final test was judged by Jackie and was a double mark down a track alongside the lake, one short and one much deeper, there was also a distraction thrown onto the lake beside where the judge and competitor were standing, a big temptation but most dogs showed control and didn’t return to the gallery wet!
While the delicious tea & cakes were being enjoyed there was a run-off for first place then the raffle was drawn, followed by the awards which were presented by our lovely committee member Barbara.
Huge thank you to our great non committee helpers on the day, Gordon & David, Frank and Andy all throwing for us plus dog stewards Kim, Aaron & Mick, and also Rob for doing the lunches; and not forgetting our fantastic committee, we have a great committee and all work as a team.
A good day to end our test season.