Hope Valley Show Interbreed Team Working Test August 26th 2013
This year August Bank Holiday lived up to its name with warm, sunny weather bathing the scenic setting of the Hope Valley Show in the Peak District. A big crowd enjoyed the panoply of events including the Inter-Breed Team Working Test organized by the United Retriever Club. Eight teams took part, with 2 Novice dogs and 2 Open dogs in each team, and much interest focused on the different styles of work of Chesapeakes, Irish Water spaniels, Golden Retrievers, Flatcoats, Curly-coated Retrievers, and three colour varieties of Labradors.
The Judges were Caroline and Chris Hewison, who are vets practicing in Yorkshire. As the scores were immediately relayed to the crowd informative explanations were made by commentator Janet Allsop.”. Each team came into the arena as a foursome, to tackle a variety retrieves on ground with rough grass and rushes, clumps of fir trees and a fence to jump. In the first round there was a walk up with a mark and a blind for each dog. Running first the Chesapeakes set a good score, which was not passed until the Yellow Labs ran much later. The second round comprised a mark rolling down a slope for the Novices and a blind over a fence for the Open dogs. The Black Lab team excelled at this test. The third test was a mock drive. Marks thrown as diversions were picked by the ‘beaters’, whereas the teams had to send over the fence for blind retrieves, including a bonus for two “runners”. The Flatcoats and the Goldens made up ground at this stage.
All the teams enjoyed the variety of work in front of an appreciative and supportive crowd of spectators. It was consistency of performance that proved the difference between the teams.
The event was sponsored by “Alpha – The Food of Champions and the awards were presented by Roger and Pauline Dickson, Roger being Show President for 2013.
1st Yellow Labradors 296
2nd Flatcoated Retrievers 290
3rd Black Labradors 278
4th Golden Retrievers 276
5th Chesapeakes 258
6th Chocolate Labradors 224
7th Irish Water Spaniels 207
8th Curly-coated Retrievers 170
Winning Team of Yellow Labradors
Arthur Hewer : Delfleet Blue
Sharon Eadson : Riseland Honeydew Thistle
Geoff Dobb: Swaine Silicea of Woodcock Hill
Keith Eastwood: Mosshill Bramble (Top Open dog)
(Top Novice dog) Garry Ellison with Ollersett Sparkling Nymph (Flatcoat)