Spring had arrived and we basked in warm sunshine for much of the day as we enjoyed an excellent training day on this superb ground of rolling grassland and kale. We thank Phil Odling, the Dexford Shoot, L and C Farming and John Robinson for allowing us to work our dogs on this area that is notoriously difficult for the pickers up on the shoot.
But perhaps the highlight of the day was when we were able to present a cheque to two of the Specialist Occupational Therapists from the Assisted Discharge Stroke Service for Lincolnshire. As a result of the amazing generosity of those who supported our Charity Working Tests at Raithby on Sunday 13 March, the cheque was for an incredible £1440. The nurses were delighted that they will now be able to buy much needed equipment to help and support their patients recovering from strokes
. 
The rest of the morning was spent training in four groups. Sue Lowe trained the Puppies, Julie Campbell Novice 1, Casper Jonsen Novice 2 and Ray Newell trained the open dogs. We very much appreciate them giving up their time to provide excellent advice and training scenarios.
After lunch, we had our informal match, judged by Sue Lowe, Casper Jonsen, Ray Newell and Gilly Bell.
Test 1 was a double mark. The first thrown was just before a dyke for Novice 1, over the dyke for Novice 2 and further into the next field for Open. The second mark was thrown at appropriate distances into the kale. The puppies had two shorter marks, picking the first dummy before the second was thrown.
Test 2 was a mark into a dip followed by a blind in the same place for Novice 1, a mark in the dip and a blind by the hedge some 50yds to the right for Novice 2 and a blind beyond the hedge picked before the mark for Open dogs. The Puppies were closer to the dip and had two marks, thrown separately.
Test 3 was a picking up exercise. Dogs had to pick one of two dummies placed in rough ground and then repeat the exercise. The more experienced the dogs, the further away were the blinds. The Puppies walked to heel, and then stopped whilst their handler tossed the dummy about 10 yds in front. The handler left the dog, returned to the start and then sent the dog for the retrieve. Finally, the handler threw the dummy in front and picked it themselves, leaving the dog at the start.
Test 4 was a two dog walk up. Novice 1 had two marks out and each dog retrieved the dummy in front of it. The dogs swopped sides and the exercise was repeated. Novice 2’s dummies were thrown further away; one into bushes and the Open dogs had a blind in the bushes, picked before the mark. The Puppies went singly, having two shorter marks with a distance walking to heel before each.
Results:
Puppy
1st Mike Birchall with Boss
2nd Martin Reeve with Ella
3rd Bob Hogg with Willow
Novice 1
1st Gill Saywell with Monty
2nd Marc Salt with Otter
3rd Nessa Thompson with Pepsi
Novice 2
1st Caroline Pont with Ozzie
2nd Mike Birchall with Sage
3rd Vicki Strawson with Teasle
Open
1st Chris Johnson with Theo
2nd Mike Birchall with Jet