The Auberies, Sudbury
Results:
1st Winner of Spaines Hall Cup - GARRETHALL OUKA - Liz Ingram
2nd Winner of Brettonsfield Trophy - SURPRISE IS GOLDEN - Andy Ince
3rd Winner of Hassenbrook Cup - BELLSPADDLE INTREPID - Sharon Dingle
4th BIRDSGREEN SLIPSTREAM - Sara Gadd
CoM BROCKAGHS FORBA - Jim Collins
Best Essex Entry Winner of the Flightline Trophy - GARRETHAL OUKA - Liz Ingram
Open Area Qualifier – 28th May 2017 at the Auberies
By Kind Permission of Mr. N Burke
What a lovely morning, and the weather man promises that the day is going to stay sunny. Traffic is light on the A12 so I arrived at The Auberies in good time. Driving down the track to where the day’s meeting place had been set up, the open aspect and beauty of this parkland setting was breathtaking. Interestingly Auberies is the home of the Andrews Oak. I actually had not heard of this particular tree before, but was quickly informed that this mighty Oak features in one of Thomas Gainsborough’s most famous works which is exhibited in the National Gallery. A little research later I find that Mr. Robert Andrews and his wife Frances, who also feature in the painting sitting under the Oak owned The Auberies around 1720.
Today is the Open Essex Area Qualifier, and promises to be a very competitive competition. The Stewards for the day, Tom Lowe and John Cameron have set 6 tests utilising the open aspects, lakes and surrounding woodland. The Judges Roy Tomlinson and Graham Stanley were asked to judge three tests each. Tests 2, 4 and 6 to be judged by Graham Stanley 1, 3 and 5 by Roy Tomlinson.
Test 1. This consisted of a marked retrieve to shot in water, which became a memory. The dogs were then turned 180 degrees and sent for a blind some 60 or so meters up a slope and beyond a line of trees. The dogs then completed the test by retrieving the memory.
Test 2. The first retrieve was a seen to shot, the dummy being thrown into an area in front of woodland. The second was a blind located in a ditch to the right of the area where the first dummy was located. As an extra distraction a second shot was fired whist the dogs were returning with the first dummy.
Test 3. This test consisted of a single retrieve to shot across a lake. Upon exiting the water the dogs required handling onto the dummy which was located behind a tree on the downside of a small slope.
Test 4. A single marked retrieve to shot. The challenge in this test was provided by the undulating landscape.
Lunch was taken upon completion of test 4. After the break the top 12 dogs were taken through to the afternoon.
Test 5. This test consisted of a double blind with shot. Two shots were fired in the direction of the woods. One blind was thrown into the small ditch some 40 metres away, the second blind was behind a single tree to the right of the first retrieve.
Test 6. The final test consisted of a short walk-up along the edge of one of the lakes. A shot was fired ahead as a distraction to test the dog’s steadiness. A second shot followed shortly after to the left across the water with a dummy thrown on the bank. The dogs then swam across the corner of the lake before exiting to hunt for the retrieve.
Following the completion of the tests there was a run-off for 1st and 4th places.
The day is almost over, big drink for the dogs, tea and cakes for the handlers and of course the draw of the raffle. The time had come to announce the winners and the thanks for the day.
Firstly, we must thank Masters Dog Food for kindly sponsoring this event, and Sporting Saint for supplying gundog equipment as additional prizes. The Judges Roy Tomlinson and Graham Stanley. Tom Lowe and John Cameron for setting these challenging tests which utilised the parkland. All the helpers (they know who they are) and last but not least Nigel Burke for inviting us to run this day at his beautiful location.
Valerie Stanton