We were welcomed back to the stunning Auberies Estate by very kind permission of the Burke family, who allowed us access to their beautiful grounds to be able to set four tests including making use of the lakes.
Our judges for the day were Sara Gadd, Jim Collins, Paul Wheeler and Steve Coxell and we are very grateful to them all for giving up their Sunday to judge for us. Our thanks again to our sponsors Skinners who gave vouchers for the first three competitors in each group, and finally a huge thank you to all our helpers, particularly the non committee helpers, Gordon & David (our ace father & son throwers) Arthur, Frank and Lee and our lovely ladies, Liz, Sue, Julie and Lizzie and not forgetting Rob who supplied a superb lunch.
After a week of mixed weather, yet again we were lucky to have a dry slightly cloudy and not too hot day.
Frederick and David were today’s stewards, with four tests set. Test one on the lake was a mark into the water followed with a blind on the bank, test two a single mark over a ditch onto open grassland, test three was in the sugar beet with a mark followed by a blind thrown into the similar area while the dog was returning and the fourth test was a single long mark onto the lake with a distraction thrown onto the water when the dog was returning with the retrieve. The retrieves were all adjusted for the Special Puppy class.
There were mixed fortunes over the three classes and over all the tests. Several competitors fell by the wayside but overall the tests, so there was no particular Achilles heel, although that said the Special Puppies fared the best!
It was also nice to see more Golden Retrievers running with a total of seven competing today.
The day ended with three two dog run offs, one for each class!
Our hosts kindly came to present the awards at the end of the day after the customary tea and cake which preceded the raffle while the certificates were all written up.
A good day, and despite missing the men’s Wimbledon Tennis Final, everyone would have been home in time to watch the Euro football final!
Novice:
1st Ravencote Daisy of Ardmuir LRB Jennie Hankey winning the Challenge Cup
2nd Garrethall Thorin LRD Ian Nichols winning the Crosspath Cup
3rd Meerumoon Cosmos LRD Doug Laflin
4th Teywillow Busy Bee LRB Geoff Allen
CoM Norse Raven LRD Alice Trett (owned by Jo Rollinson)
Special Puppy:
1st Millgreen Rocket GRD Jacqui Crew winning the Oysterbed Trophy
2nd Pinfeathers Galahad LRD Callum Raywood winning the Fobbingacre Trophy
3rd Caulaincourt Ffion LRB Ben Southam (owned by Julian Williams) winning the Cortian Trophy
4th Carrigvale's Paddy LRD Robert Collins
CoM Wiremoor Edgar LRD Jacqui Crew
Veteran:
1st Brockaghs Fianait LRB Mike lawrence winning the Hassenbrook Trophy
2nd Tashwarne Jasmin LRB Kim Prentice
3rd Causing Mayhem of Gainswillow LRB Alastair Tod
4th Lannakers Quest of Tofts LRD Glynis Hillier
Rising Star Cup for the highest placed Novice Handler with Novice Dog Alice Trett with Norse Raven
Kelhatch Trophy for Best Essex Novice Entry Jennie Hankey with Ravencote Daisy of Ardmuir
Elmbrook Cup for Best Opposite sex to Novice Winner Ian Nichols with Garrethall Thorin
Mandy Trophy for the Highest placed Novice Golden Retriever David Sworder with Wadesmill Ashlett