We are very grateful to Mr and Mrs R Avery and the Mavis Enderby Shoot for allowing us to use this ground once again. We also thank Chandlers of Horncastle for dog food sponsorship. The farm is located in a beautiful area in the Lincolnshire Wolds and is ideal for gundog tests with hills, lakes and woodland. On the day, the weather was warm, tempered with a cool east wind. Twenty-four dogs took part and our judges were Arthur Hewer, Alex MacGregor and Mick Roberts and the Chief Steward was Sue Lowe.
Test 1 was a mark and a blind. The dogs had to cross a valley, going through thick vegetation to retrieve a mark high up on the opposite side followed by a blind in deep cover to the left. Test 2 caused problems for quite a few dogs. It was a blind (heralded by a shot) across a lake, over a small ditch and on the edge of a plantation. This was followed by a mark thrown along the left hand side of the lake about a hundred yards away. Test 3 looked very simple but caught a number of dogs out. It was a double mark, the first being thrown a little way into a wood and the second out into open ground. The left hand dummy was not too problematic, but many of the dogs pulled too far right towards the lake and required a lot of handling to pick the second dummy. As a result only two dogs scored full marks on what appeared to be an easy test for open dogs.
There was a break for lunch, after which 11 dogs were taken through to the afternoon. There was a six dog walk-up similar to a trial situation where the handlers were told to mark everything. The dogs were given a mark and a blind either in front or behind the line. The final placings were decided when four dogs had a single mark which landed out of sight on top of a hill. We thank the judges and all the helpers for making this a very interesting and enjoyable day for handlers and spectators alike.
| Position | Name | Breed/sex | Handler |
|---|
| 1st |
Partridge Flush of Russjancoe |
LR B |
Russell Hodgen* |
| 2nd |
Levenghyl Gemstone |
LR B |
Peter Bates** |
| 3rd |
Esmoro Rajah |
LR D |
Margaret Pearce |
| 4th |
FTCh Tweedshot Thistle of Levenghyl |
LR B |
Philippa Williams*** |
| COM |
Kenocto Avior |
LR D |
David Smith |
| COM |
Snowdell Spender |
LR D |
Mr S. Smith handled by Mrs Stephanie Smith |
*winner of the Lincolnshire Area Shield
**winner of the Ansoncha Shield for Runner-up and the Glebespray Tankard for highest placed Lincs Area Member
***winner of the Riaghyll Black Shadow Shield for the youngest dog in the awards