What a fabulous day with which to start the season! The sun shone for all it was worth and everyone enjoyed their picnic lunches sitting out in the sunshine.
But what of the main purpose of the day? 48 dogs came to take advantage of the varied terrain of Twigmoor Woods. Sue Lowe trained the puppies with the help of Theresa Jonsen; Andy Slingsby the Novice 1 Group; Casper Jonsen Novice 2, assisted by Robbie Slingsby; Martin Eveleigh the Open dogs, assisted by Will Hales and Julie Campbell.
After starting the suntan at lunchtime, there were four tests and the trainers put on their judge's hats.
Test 1 was a mark in a wood for the puppies and a longer one for novice 1. Novice 2 had a mark, followed by a blind in the same place. The open dogs did the same but over a greater distance.
Test 2: The puppies had a single mark in the trees and Novice 1 had a similar mark and a blind put in the same place as the dog returned to the handler. The more experienced dogs had a mark and a blind in the woodland. Novice 1 dogs picked the mark first and the open group retrieved the blind first.
Test 3 was a short mark through rough grass onto a grassy bank for puppies and novice 1. Novice 2 and Open had a double mark. Novice 2 picked the second dummy first and the open dogs collected the first thrown dummy first.
Test 4 The puppies had a mark on the grass in front of trees. Novice 1 had a single mark in long grass. Both the Novice 1 and Open dogs had a picking up exercise. Each had to pick two of four blinds left in between the trees.
Competition was fierce and there was a run off in every class.
Results
Puppy
1st Jess Burrows with Ginty
2nd Carole Tinker with Woody
3rd Emma Benfield with Isla
Novice 1
1st Liz Woods with May
2nd Caroline Pont with Ossie
3rd Mabel Clarke with Berty
Novice 2
1st Steph McBride with Riva
2nd N Thompson with Edith
3rd Clive Gibbons with Molly
Open
1st Gary Wilson with Bow
2nd John Day with Ember
3rd D Couper with Monty