Postponing this test by one week took us from deep snow drifts to sunshine. Unfortunately, several competitors couldn’t make the new date because of Mothering Sunday or ‘Crufts’ commitments, but we still had a strong 23 dog field.
We very much appreciate Mr and Mrs J Milligan-Manby allowing us to use this fabulous ground. There is so much variety of landscape, enabling some interesting and varied tests to be set.
Our judges for the day were Sue Lowe, Paul Hasney and Mike Birchall and Gilly Bell was the Chief Steward.
There were three tests in the morning:
Test 1 was in a little glen. A shot heralded a mark thrown just over the brow of the bank. After that was retrieved, the dogs were sent about 100yds along a path through the trees to pick a blind on a patch of grass.
Test 2 was a picking up exercise. Two shots marked the position of 3 dummies in the middle of a wood 50yds from the peg. Two dummies had to be retrieved.
Test 3 was a double mark, both with shot. The first was 50 yds away along a fence and the second was thrown onto rising ground about 80 yds to the left. The dummy by the fence was picked first.
Fourteen dogs went through to two more tests after lunch.
Test 4 A shot was fired and a dummy thrown into rough grass about 100yds away. To reach it, the dogs had to go along a path through the wood and across a field. A blind was then retrieved from the same place.
Test 5 was a novel and challenging test, a two dog walk up. A shot was fired and the dogs had to watch a bolting rabbit on the right. Another shot in the wood to the left heralded a mark. The first dog turned to pick a blind just beyond the wood on the other side of the valley. Then the second dog went under the fence, over the stream and into the wood to retrieve the mark. The dogs changed places and the exercise was repeated.
A final test was needed for a run off for first place. Two dogs had to run 50yds down a hill, jump a stream and swim 30yds across a lake to retrieve a mark.
Results
1st Berrylaw Aberfeldy LDR D handled by Charlie Albone*
2nd Routengill Admiral LDR D handled by Paul Stogden
3rd Diglake de Winter LDR B handled by David Middleton
4th Daisy Wold of Newton LDR B handled by Jane Lidster
CoM Brunbois Fleur LDR B handled by Clive Gibbons
*awarded the Rasenfield Shield
