Novice Dog/Novice Handler Working Test at Mavis Enderby on Saturday 29 March 2014

The sun shone, there was a gentle breeze and our dogs ran happily over this superb ground, by kind permission of Mr R Avery.

Twenty one novice handlers entered and thoroughly enjoyed the three excellent tests, judged by Sue Lowe, Andrew Baker and Martin Eveleigh.  We thank our judges and helpers for making it such a brilliant day. 

Test 1 was in a plantation of young trees on a shallow incline.  A shot was fired and a mark thrown to the left in the saplings.  The second retrieve was a blind.  Although it was about 50 yards up the avenue between trees immediately in front of the handler, this proved to be quite awkward with the dogs pulling to the left. 

Test 2 was a double mark.  The first dummy was thrown into trees to the left and the second into the rape field to the right.  The latter mark was retrieved first. 

Test 3 There was a mark into the lake and a shot was fired to indicate the position of a blind along the side of the lake to the left.  The mark was collected first and only a few dogs were enticed into a second swim rather than running along the bank. 

Our judges took seven dogs through to a two dog walk up on gently sloping grassland.  There was a 70 yard straight mark for each dog. 

Results: 

1st           Kilnpotlees Harris Hawk                                LR B       John Cardno*              

2nd          Henwinshire Harbor Lass                              LR B       Robert Robinson

3rd          Lyalvale Meg                                                   LR B       Ray Newell

4th          Laurinco Red Flame of Hollowgate             LR D       Janette Sayer

CoM      Pechasi Hazel Star                                          LR B       Philip Bell

CoM      Thorneyview Harold of Brunbois                LR D       Jean Cochrane

CoM      Tanyrhallt Gamalt                                          LR B       Stephanie McBride

*awarded the Lincolnshire Area Shield for Novice Dog/ Novice Handler