It was the first novice test of the season at the lovely ground of Thorganby Hall by kind permission of James and Emma Milligan-Manby. Our Chief Steward was Sue Lowe and the judges were Phil Smithies, Andy Slingsby, Tom Sagar and Mike Birchall. We thank them all along with Skinners for their continued sponsorship.
The weather was kind so it was easy to complete four tests in the morning:
Test 1 was a mark thrown into an area of trees, followed by a blind in same place
Test 2 was a double mark. The handler decided which retrieve was picked first.
Test 3 was a picking up exercise with two dummies out in an area at the end of a grass track. A shot was fired for the first retrieve. The dogs had to deal with the distraction of a pond on the right and a track bearing right just before the area where the dummies were. One or two dogs pulled to the pond, a couple of other dogs tried to go around the track bearing right. Handlers had to keep their dogs in the area where the dummies were.
Test 4 was a mark thrown uphill landing just on the brow, followed by a blind down a long ride and behind a fallen tree. The blind was in an open area behind the tree.
Twenty-one dogs of the thirty-seven starters completed all four tests and the judges decided to cut to sixteen at lunchtime. These dogs went on to two more tests.
Test 5 was a four dog walk up in rough grass. The dogs had a long mark thrown by the thrower on their side followed by long mark crossing.
Test 6 saw two dogs sat in line up the hill. A shot was fired in the wood in front where a blind retrieve had been placed on a bank. To retrieve the dummy, the dogs first had to cross over a drop into a stream with flowing water. Then a shot was fired for a long mark retrieve down the valley. The first dog picked the blind and the second dog crossed the first dog to pick the mark. The dogs then swapped over and the test was repeated.
Seven dogs completed these tests and the judges decided the awards.
1st Gibbolt Manaslu handled by Mr I Glover, winning the Rasenfield Shield and the Remembering Jim Cochrane Shield for the highest placed Lincs Area member
2nd Tarnedge Condore handled by Mrs C Carvis
3rd Pinfeathers Excalibur handled by Mr C Raywood
COMs were awarded to
Tullyah Hugo handled by Mr A Brook
Kensteen Syrtis handled by Mr M Jackson
Questeleet Malsans Diamond handled by Mr M Smith
Glenfia Skipper handled by Mrs L Carr