The heavy cover and criss-crossing lines of bushes and trees at Mavis Enderby, by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Avery, certainly tested the 21 dogs. Our judges were Charlotte Jeffrey, Brian Barker and John Iacono and Sue Lowe was the Chief Steward. Our thanks to them, our willing helpers and our sponsors, Mole Valley Country Store for a brilliant day’s competition.
There were three tests before lunch:
Test 1 was a double mark in a small field of long grass and clumps of reeds made beautiful by a host of golden buttercups and plenty of tall cow parsley. The first mark was thrown about 50 yards across the meadow to the left and the second was thrown beyond the gap in a line of bushes. Both marks were heralded with a shot and the first mark was picked first.
Test 2 was a picking up exercise. Three dummies were put out in heavy cover and one shot was fired. The dogs had to pick two of the dummies.
Test 3 was a marked retrieve with a shot, but a blind in heavy cover, with just a small window to allow the handler to see the dog, had to be picked first.
Thirteen dogs went through to the afternoon tests.
Test 4 was a two dog walk up along a grassy track. The first retrieve for both dogs was to the right, the other side of a dry reedy area and into grass dotted with young trees. After a thirty yard walk up, the second retrieves were thrown to the right of the track. All marks were heralded with a shot.
Test 5 was a very long mark into cover, followed by a blind in the same place.
Finally, there was a run off for fourth place. A mark, with shot, was thrown to the right into water 100yds across a drilled field. A distraction was thrown onto the field to the left. Only the dummy in the water was picked.
Results
1st FTCh Saxaphone Brown Ale of Lincwolds LDR D handled by Richard King*
2nd Higgscroft Avenger LDR D handled by Dan Higgs**
3rd Squareclose Rachael of Owmbywold LDR B handled by Mike Birchall***
4th Kelmagra Ace of Owmbywold LDR D handled by Mike Birchall
CoM Pigeonman Alize LDR B handled by Gary Wilson
CoM Abbottshall Pioneer of Higgscroft GRet D handled by Dan Higgs
CoM Feather in my Cap at Higgscroft FCR D handled by Dan Higgs
*awarded The Lincolnshire Area Shield for the Winner, The Glebespray Tankard for the highest placed Lincs Area Member and a voucher kindly donated by Crawfords for the Best Retrieve
** awarded the Ansoncha Shield for the runner up
*** awarded the Riaghyll Black Shadow Shield for the youngest dog in the awards