At least it was a fine day for our Charity Working Test, even if the wind was icy cold. Nevertheless, our judges (Gilly Bell, Julie Campbell, Martin Eveleigh, Will Hales and John Iacono) and their stalwart band of helpers braved the chill factor and tested the 50 dogs over five tests. What a lovely way to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
We thank Mr R Hall-Jones and the Mavis Enderby Shoot for allowing us to run our dogs over this interesting ground. We are also grateful to our sponsors for the day: Chandlers of Horncastle, Crawford Shooting Supplies of Scunthorpe and Thomas Bell Country Store of Brigg.
Our Chief Steward, Sue Lowe, along with Martin Eveleigh and Julie Campbell had set some excellent tests:
Test 1 was on the edge of the reservoir. A shot was fired and a mark was thrown into cover. The handler and dog turned and another shot was fired towards a blind on the reservoir bank. Novice dogs picked the mark first and open dogs, the blind. For each test, the Junior Handlers did the same test as the novice dogs.
Test 2 was a two dog walk up. The novice group had a mark in front and a blind to the side on the left in the dried out lakebed. The first dog took the mark and the second dog the blind. The dogs changed sides and the test was repeated. The open dogs had to cover greater distances and the retrieves were crossing as the first dog picked the blind.
Test 3 was a picking up exercise in a wood. The dogs had to pick two of three dummies. Open dogs had to cross a greater distance of long grass before entering the wood than the novices.
Test 4 involved dogs going over rough ground, over a dyke and up a hill for a mark, followed by a blind in the same place. Again, the open dog’s mark was further away.
Test 4 was a double mark with one dummy landing in a dyke. Novice dogs picked the second dummy thrown first and the open dogs retrieved the first mark first.
Once the tests had been completed, competitors, their families and friends, the judges and helpers all enjoyed a lovely hog roast and sumptuous puddings. We were also entertained with ‘dummies in the bin’ (trying to throw three dummies, a rope and a tennis ball into a dustbin twenty yards away) – won by Daryl Boarder – and ‘heads and tails’ – won by John Iacono who managed to predict whether the coin would land heads or tails more often than anyone else. There was also a huge raffle and finally two paintings, an enormous box of fruit and a truly amazing hamper of fabulous beauty products were auctioned.
We thank everyone who helped; donated raffle prizes and auction lots; bought tickets; made bids in the auction and ran their dogs. Thanks to this wonderful support, we raised £1215.00 for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Results:
Open
1st Laurinco Red Flame of Hollowgate L D handled by Janette Sayer*
2nd F T Ch Saxaphone Brown Ale of Lincswolds L D handled by Richard King
3rd Flypatch Lima L D handled by Ann Blake
CoM Delfleet Star Shine L D handled by Doreen Spencer
*awarded the Gibson Shield
Novice
1st Arkglas Taylor L D handled by Andy Slingsby*
2nd Greenbriar Wyre at Annsfarm L D handled by George Longden
3rd Dobson Prince of Thieves L D handled by T Dobson
CoM Saxaphone Wren of Lincswolds L D handled by Richard King
CoM Kassilass Diamond L B handled by Leigh Wilcox
*awarded the ‘Remembering Jim Cochrane’ Shield
Junior
1st Mabel Clarke handling Teeshot Lionel Logue L D
2nd Michael Magee handling Saffronlyn Skylark L B
Each judge awarded a special prize for his/her test. These went to Charlie Albone, Adam Beesley, T Dobson, Bill Emms and D Locking.