Charity Informal Working Tests at Raithby on Sunday 12 March 2017

The weather forecast had been dreadful, but the reality was okay. The rain held off for most of the day and judges, helpers, 50 handlers, their dogs and their supporters had a great time raising almost £1264 for Marie Curie Care and Support through Terminal Illness. They enjoyed five tests, a delicious pork roast, an auction and an hilarious ‘heads and tails’ competition.

Thank you to everyone who contributed in any way to achieve this fantastic amount.

We also thank Mr R Hall-Jones, Martin Reeve and the Mavis Enderby Shoot for allowing us to use this varied ground with plenty of areas for interesting tests, all within a good dummy throw of the barns. Thanks go, too, to Crawfords Shooting Supplies of Scunthorpe and Thomas Bell Country Store of Brigg for sponsoring the prizes for the winners.

Our judges for the day were Steve and Anne Crookes, Will Hales, Doreen Spencer and Gilly Bell and Sue Lowe was Chief Steward.

Test 1 was a mark retrieve with shot over water. The dummy landed on a grassy area between trees. As the dog was swimming back another dummy was thrown out to the same place for the second retrieve. The Open dogs’ test was similar, but the dogs were sent from further away from the water.

Test 2 was a two dog walk up. All retrieves were saluted with shot. The first retrieve for each dog was a long mark on the side they were on and the second was a cross retrieve. The Open dogs had greater distances to cover.

Test 3 was a marked retrieve with shot straight in front. This was followed by the judge asking the handler to send the dog back to where the retrieve had been, stop the dog in the area of a white post and push it left for a blind just in the wood. There was no shot for second retrieve. The Open dogs’ retrieves were further away.

Test 4 was a double mark on a hillside over muddy reeds. The novice dogs picked the second thrown dummy first and the open dogs retrieved the first dummy first.

Test 5 was a picking up exercise. The novice dogs were sent at an angle into bracken. There was a shot for the first retrieve and then the dogs had to go back for a second retrieve without a shot. The Open dogs were sent straight out in front into a different area. They had to cross a small dyke to pick two dummies in rough grass. The first retrieve was saluted with a shot.

There was a run off in both novice and open sections. The dogs had to be sent across a wide track into a wood to pick a blind. The novice test was 50 m along the track and the open dogs retrieve was 75m along the track.

Results:

Open

1^st Castlemans Gobi of Carronpoint LDR D handled by Annette Clarke*

2^nd Salemasky Ebor of Brackenfarg LDR D handled by Margaret Pearce

3^rd Arkglass Taylor LDR D handled by Andy Slingsby

CoM Kendeci Severn LDR D handled by Chris Johnson

*awarded the Gibson Shield (presented by Mr and Mrs C P Gibson

Novice

1^st Thorntonfern Fantasy LDR D handled by Marc Salt*

2^nd Wellbray Wisdom LDR B handled by Debbie Yates

3^rd Kenquince Sneak Right In LDR D handled by Helen Smith

CoM Tildaross Byron LDR D handled by Chris Johnson

*awarded the ‘Remembering Jim Cochrane’ Shield (presented by Mrs J Cochrane)

Junior

1^st Summer Slingsby, running Cheweky Feta (LDR B)

Judges’ Special Awards

Thorntonfern Fantasy (Marc Salt) – the dog the judge would most like to take home because it did what it was told to do!

Dr M Lord – for bravely running her husband’s dog whilst he threw dummies.

Donnascimento Peres (Casper Jonsen) – best ABL (anything but Labrador)

Jean Cochrane – most talkative handler who dared to wear a West Ham hat.

Julie Campbell – successfully training both her dogs to walk so daintily round muddy puddles.