Holkham. Team event , well done to our team finishing 4th are a run off.
Doug Laflin (captain) with Meerumoon Thunder
Mike Lawrence with Brockaghs Fianait
Rodger Ketley with Ft Ch Highroost Hollywood
reserve was Sue Palmer, but was not needed.
Norfolk Gundog Club held their Open Team Working Test to which we were invited to enter a team over the weekend of the 20th and 21st of July at the Holkham Country Fair.
Judged by Phil Askew and Keith Bedford this year there were 12 teams, with 3 team members, invited to compete. Our team was made up of captain Doug Laflin with Meerumoon Thunder, Rodger Ketley with Ft Ch Highroost Hollwood and Mike Lawrence with Broockaghs Fianait. The Judges made full use of the land to set tests that were fair but of a good open standard, in the main consisting of a mix of marks, memories and blinds in various combinations with 3 exercises completed on the Saturday and a further 2 on the Sunday. There then followed a run off to determine the individual places. The event culminated in a run off for 5 of the 12 teams made up of a series of nominated blind retrieves across the lake for each team member. We saw some outstanding dog work over the weekend and enjoyed the warm weather although there was a storm on Saturday afternoon with thunder lightning and torrential rain, the team running at the time carried on in a truly professional manner!
We must thank Norfolk Gundog Club for inviting us to run in the test – Phil Askew and Keith Bedford for giving up their time to judge and all the helpers who did a fabulous job over the two days – throwing dummies and completing all those tasks that went into making it such a successful weekend and without whom these events could not run.
The whole event concluded with the presentation of awards as below
1st – Norfolk Gundog Club
Sharon Dingle – Bellspaddle Jock: Kate Bollen - Bellspaddle Dexter at Wephamdown: Wendy Glue – FtCh. Tanyrhallt Blue Bloods.
2nd – Midland Counties Lab. Ret. Club.
Stephen Newitt FtCh. Olivestone Tutti Fruity: Andy Parkin – Greenbriar Ruble of Beaconoak:
Peter Goddard – Carltonstar Quinn of Chitterman.
3rd – Utility Gundog Club H.B.B.
Jacqui Crew – Hanans Kertis: Jim Collins – Brockaghs Forba: Lee Hayman - Copperbirch Ross
4th – United Retriever Club Essex.
Doug Laflin – Meerumoon Thunder: Mike Lawrence – Brockaghs Fianait:
Rodger Ketley FtCh Highroost Hollywood.
Top Dog – Top Lady - Judges Choice - Kate Bollen - Bellspaddle Dexter at Wephamdown.
Top Gentleman – Tony Parnell – Mordonmanor Bree of Blackharn.
Youngest Dog in the awards - Peter Goddard – Carltonstar Quinn of Chitterman.
Youngest Handler – Billie-Jo Wagstaff.
