We were welcomed back to Siam Hall by kind invitation from the Taylor family for our Open Sugar Beet Working Test. It is a lovely location and the stewards had plenty of sugar beet to be able to set the tests. The day turned out extremely hot in the end, so the reservoir was perfect to dip the dogs in to cool down, I think there was some temptation from the handlers to follow suit!
Thank you to our sponsors Skinners dogs foods for their continued support for the club.
Our judges were Phil Askew (everyone was delighted to see him out again) and Doug Laflin and we are very grateful to them for giving up their Sunday to judge for us. Thank you to our non committee helpers; father & son super throwers Gordon & David along with Frank and Nick and as we all know these events would not happen without people coming along to help.
The day started differently to our usual sugar beet test format, and we did static first not last! Phil was judging a double memory with mark thrown in front and then one to the right which was harder to mark with the sun glaring off the beet leaves and it was good beet with very few seedy bits to help! Doug was in another field and had a two dog walk-up with a mark in front and a mark memory to the far left which meant the dogs had to go out of the beet across a grassy track and into the stubble. Test three was also with Doug and was a long single blind retrieve into the beet.
After lunch was a four dog walk-up and those that have done our tests when Keith sets them will know there is always an element of careful planning and marking with the spray can! The end guns turned to shoot behind for a blind retrieve and then the middle gun shot and threw a mark behind the line, the dogs then worked across the line for their retrieves with a mark for one dog and memory for the other and this was repeated when the line moved on.
The sun was out and the temperature really warmed up for the afternoon, not great conditions for anyone but especially our judges and throwers.
The standard of dogs was very good and the scores were all very close, after a run-off for third place we finished the day with the customary tea and cake then drew the raffle.
RESULTS:
1st Place for the Cresthaven Cup Ravencote Dasy of Ardmuir -LRB Jennie Hankey
2nd for the Pathfinder Cup Southgreen Vincent - LRD Christine Thurlbourn
3rd for the Crosspath Cup Brockaghs Ilan -LRD Steve Coxell
4th Place Garrethall Topaz -LRB Liz Ingram
CoM Bellspaddle Knight -LRD Peter Fulcher
Pinfeathers Dreadnaught -LRD Peter Fulcher
Delfleet Pied Wagtail - LRB Lee Harmer
Southgreen Brookbelle - LRB Ginny Wallis-Miller
Royanne Cup for the Best Essex Entry went to the winner Jennie Hankey
The Oysterbed Cup for Judge's Choice went to Southgreen Vincent owned/handled by Christine Thurlbourn