We thank our host, Mr T Lamyman, for allowing us to hold our tests on this wonderful ground and Mr and Mrs M Strawson for sponsoring the event. We were lucky with the weather and our judges, Samantha Whyte, Jim Christon, Martin Eveleigh and Casper Jonsen, aided and abetted by chief steward Keith Parker, enjoyed watching the 24 dogs over the interesting tests.
Most marks were with shot and the Intermediate dogs had longer retrieves.
Test 1 was a mark and a blind. The mark was down the hillside and was picked before the blind hidden near a tree to the left.
Test 2 was a picking up exercise. Three dummies were placed through the gap between two trees about 50 m up the hillside. Two dummies had to be retrieved.
Test 3 was a mark about 100m up a hill and on a track, followed by a blind in the same place.
Test 4 was a two dog walk up. A mark was thrown out to the right onto rough ground and a second mark landed in old sweetcorn. The first dog picked the first dummy thrown and the second dog retrieved the second mark. The dogs changed sides and the exercise was repeated.
After lunch all the dogs who had succeeded in each test went on to two further tests:
Test 5 was a mark in the water followed by a blind along the bank for the novice dogs and a blind on the far bank for the intermediate dogs.
Test 6 A mark was thrown in front onto rough ground, but a blind that was hidden in long grass on the edge of the lake to the left was picked first by intermediate dogs. Novice dogs picked the mark first and distances were shorter for these less experienced dogs.
A run off was required to decide 2nd and 3rd places for the intermediate competition. A long blind in a hollow along the valley solved the problem.
Results
Intermediate
1st Nordenlights Hathor GRt B handled by Claire Rasell*
2nd Kenquince Sneak in the Night LDR D handled by Helen Smith
3rd Laurinco Just Ace LDR D handled by Steph McBride
4th Levendale Elm LDR D handled by Mr A Brook
*awarded the Ortolan Shield
Novice Dog/Novice Handler
1st Vilendal Mercedes LDR B handled by Alison Cook*
2nd Westerkames Ravel LDR B handled by Tom Birchall
3rd Tarnedge Jaina LDR B handled by Mrs C Carvis
4th Quincampbell Bailey LDR B handled by Barry Wilkinson
CoM Mystical May Blossom LDR B handled by Sarah Skelton
CoM Port Royal Peppa LDR B handled by Richard East
CoM Cuckavalda Nin LDR D handled by Martin Abbott
*awarded the Lincolnshire Area Shield