Open Cold Game Working Test at Tumby Woodside on Sunday 21 September 2014

Our judges David Haycock, Phil Smithies, Philippa Williams and Stephanie Smith certainly gave the handlers something to think about at this Open Cold Game Working Test in the sugar beet at Tumby by kind permission of the Laird Family. In the first round, there were marks anywhere in front and a few blinds behind thrown in. It was certainly an exciting time with sometimes one mark, sometimes two birds thrown, even sometimes two dogs working at the same time. After the crossing marks and blinds in the second round, competitors gratefully accepted the lunch break. The judges took ten dogs through to the afternoon session and gave them a completely different scenario. These dogs had to go along the line for a fairly close blind and return to the same place for a second bird. Five dogs survived for a drive on a bank. Each picked a bird after the line had been taken about thirty yards away.

Thanks to our judges, our chief steward, Casper Jonsen, and our sponsors Will Hales and Sue Lowe.

Results:

1^st Nevillebriar Golden Plover LR D Andy Slingsby*

2^nd FTCh Saxaphone Brown Ale of Lincswolds LR D Richard King**

3^rd Copperbirch Ross LR D Lee Hayman

4^th Jurala Queen of Corsemalzie LR B Carol Probert

COM Leecaz Lapwing of Lincswolds LR D Richard King

*awarded the Ferndown Shield

** awarded the Lintran Challenge Trophy for the best retrieve of the day other than the winner

Midas Amari of Saddlemoss LR D Martin Eveleigh was awarded the Springflight Trophy for the best looking yellow Labrador at the open cold game test.