We are indebted to Mr Tim Lamyman for allowing us to use this fabulous ground which includes a number of lovely lakes. We also thank Chandlers of Horncastle for so generously sponsoring the event.
It rained heavily whilst the twenty two handlers arrived, but the weather steadily improved through the morning and eventually the sun shone. A steady breeze provided good scenting conditions for the three tests that made good use of the water.
Test 1 A shot was fired and a dummy came out from the trees to land in the lake. A blind down a track along the side of the lake had to be picked before the dogs went for the one in the water.
Test 2 There was a shot and a dummy thrown into the grass just beyond the end of the lake. Before collecting this, the dogs had a fifty yard swim across the second lake to pick a blind on the far bank. Once this was retrieved, the dogs had an eighty yard run along the bank before disappearing from view for the last few yards to collect the mark.
Test 3 The peg was in a grass field and the test was a hundred yard double mark. The first dummy, which was collected first, was thrown into the field. The second mark was thrown round the corner of a third lake, giving the dogs the choice of running around the corner of the lake or swimming across the end.
After these three interesting and challenging tests, our judges, Martin Eveleigh, Katie Capps and Bel Grundy, took eleven dogs through to a six dog walk up in a steep sided valley with woods on one side. Sue Lowe, our Chief Steward, kept handlers on their toes as the retrieves were a mixture of marks and blinds, some in front of and some behind the line. Each dog had two retrieves whilst in line.
Thanks to our judges, our Chief Steward and all our helpers for a brilliant day.
Results:
1st Flypatch Lima LR D Mrs A Blake*
2nd Brackreef High Flyer LR B Jessica Burrows
3rd Nordenlights Hathor G Rt Claire Rasell
4th Bridlington Tilley LR B Andrew Curtis
*awarded the Ortolan Shield