Wow! The sun was shining brightly to herald our first event of 2025. We thank the Margrave Family for allowing us to train at Atterby and Kev the Keeper for his support. We also thank Barley Feeds Ltd for sponsoring prizes for first and second in each group in the afternoon match.
This is always a popular day as we are able to do water training in the beautiful clear waters of the reservoir.
The twenty-seven dogs were divided into three groups in the morning, trained by Casper Jonsen, Martin Abbott and Gilly Bell. The trainers also judged the three informal tests in the afternoon.
Test 1 was a water retrieve and another mark or blind, the difficulty depending on the group.
Test 2 was a double mark for Novice 2. The dogs ran down a fairly steep bank, over a ditch into one field for the first thrown mark and over a second ditch into another field for the second thrown dummy. Novice 1 dogs had a mark in the first field followed by a blind in the same place as the mark. The puppies walked to heel along the bank, the handler threw the dummy and then walked back to the start, leaving the dog. The dog was recalled and sent for the retrieve.
Test 3 was a two dog walk up for novice 1 and novice 2. Each Novice 1 dog had a mark and a blind in the field and novice 2 dogs had a mark in the field and a blind through a hedge. The puppies had a simple walk up and retrieve.
Results
Puppy
1st Emma Finch and Ronnie
2nd Claire Carvis and Mae
3rd Amy Needham and Bobby
4th Tina Bateman and Sidney
Novice 1
1st Stuart Cox and Mabel
2nd Christine Southern and Clemmie
3rd Mary Craig and Winnie
4th Sue Hales-Lowe and Squire
Novice 2
1st Helen Smith and Griff
2nd Sue Chapman and Jak
3rd Sonia Smith and Rosie
4th Laura Wilson and Stanley