Our team this year who had all qualified at the Open Qualifier test back in April were Aaron Wright, Jim Collins and Arthur Cook.
Jim was team captain having run in the Area Finals previously. This was the first time running for both Aaron and Arthur.
Our team were a respectable 5th place at the end of the day.
Report by Aaron Wright
On the 2nd July Aaron Wright, Jim Collins and Arthur Cook represented the URC Essex in the final at Isenhurst by very kind permission of Gilly and Clive Nickols.
What a fantastic day this was. We were greeted by a great number of helpers and the committee. Extremely efficient and well organised. Nothing was missed out and the day ran extremely smoothly.
The tests were very well set up with clear bunkers for each handler. The tests comprised of a range of terrains, water, bracken, and woodland.
The tests were judged fairly and consistently by Colin Pelham, Louie Robertson, Helena Sully, Graham Stanley and James Bailey. On each test each handler had to retrieve from a different area and handle through several natural obstacles. The tests were on a range of terrain to include woodland, bracken, water and over obstacles. They were challenging but achievable.
The event was sponsored by Skinners; Sporting Saint; Chris Potter Country Sports, Sussex Guns, J Hudson & Co for Acme Whistles, F A Anderson Gunsmiths & Country Clothing; Arden Grange; Eukanuba; Burns Natural Food & Benyfit Natural Raw. They issued all handlers with goodie bags which was very generous.
The team managed to achieve all the tests and just missed out on the awards.
The team would like to thanks the URC Southern Area for a great day, well organised and very slick.
Well done to URC Northern for winning the event.