The excellent ground at Mavis Enderby, by kind permission of Mr and Mrs R Avery, gave plenty of scope to the test setters and enjoyment to the competitors. We thank our judges, John Mee, Dave Probert and Guy Radford and our Chief Steward, Sue Lowe. We also thank Mr and Mrs M Strawson for sponsoring the event.
There were three tests in the morning:
Test 1 was a picking up exercise. The dogs had to run through rough grass to a relatively small area where there were 3 dummies, two of which had to be picked.
Test 2 was a 2 dog walk up in rough grass. After a very long walk up, two shots were fired, one behind and then one in front. A dummy was thown in front. The first dog on the right had to pick a dummy behind the line to the side near trees. The second dog picked the mark. After another walk up the exercise was repeated with the dogs picking the other retrieve.
Test 3 was a mark and blind. The blind which was picked first was in heavy cover in a little copse. The mark, saluted by shot, was thrown into a clear area in a small plantation This was made more difficult by the dog going out of sight to reach the mark, having to cross an area that dipped and had a little water in.
The judges took 12 dogs through to the afternoon.
Test 4 was a long mark on water. After this was picked, there was a long blind on the corner of another large stretch of water.
Test 5 required the dog to hunt on its own. A dummy was thrown with shot at the top of the hill into trees and one judge stood in the area watching the dog and advised the handler where the dog was by radio to the other judge.
A run off was required to decide on second and third places. A long blind across the crop into a plantation proved decisive.
Results:
1st Kelmagra Ace of Owmbywold handled by Mike Birchall*
2nd Pigeonman Alize handled by Gary Wilson**
3rd Waterfall Willow handled by Nessa Thompson
4th Arkholme Skylark handled by Nessa Thompson
*awarded the Lincolnshire Area Shield for the winner
**awarded the and the Riaghyll Black Shadow Shield for the youngest dog in the awards and the Ansoncha Shield for Runner-up