It was good to have training in sugar beet at Tumby Woodside, by kind permission of the Laird Family. About thirty handlers took advantage of the opportunity to prepare for cold game competitions and we thank out trainers (Sue Lowe, Gill King and Katie Capps), our afternoon judges (Sue Lowe, Gill Stewart and Doreen Spencer) and everyone who helped make this such an enjoyable and useful day.
In the afternoon, there were 3 tests:
Novice 1 had a single mark, Novice 2 dogs had two retrieves, the dogs working on the same side and the Open dogs’ 2 crossing retrieves were over a longer distance.
This was a short walk up off the lead towards the "guns" followed by a mini drive of 5 or 6 pigeons. Handlers and dogs then returned to the start where each Open and Novice 2 dog was asked to retrieve 2 birds. Novice 1 dogs were asked to pick 1 pigeon and whilst one was retrieving the other was on the lead. 10 marks were available for heel-work, steadiness, presentation and general impression and 10 marks were awarded for the retrieves.
Finally, there was a 2 dog walk up. Novice 1 dogs had one bird out at a time, but there were 2 birds thrown for Novice 2 (straight retrieves) and, for Open dogs, there was a blind behind and a mark in front (the blind collected first).
(Photograph taken by Fiona Grant)
Results:
Novice 1
1st Michael Hirst with Bruno
2nd Emma Benfield with Tinker
3rd Jean Cochrane with Bailey
Novice 2
1st Alison Cook with Amber
2nd Sinead MacMillan with Isla
3rd Charlie Albone with Sonny
Open
1st Pete Wadsworth with Sam
2nd Sinead Macmillan with Leo
3rd Susan Corden with Evie