INTERMEDIATE & VETERAN TESTS 2016
The United Retriever Club (North Midland Area) held a Cold Game Test on 7th August at Strines Moor, Yorkshire by kind permission of Mr & Mrs Hunt. The judges were Steve Crookes, Anne Crookes and Paul Birkbeck, all with long exp0erience of shooting and picking-up, as well as being successful competing in field trials. The tests were based on natural shooting situations with retrieves on pigeons. The weather cloudy and cool initially with a strong breeze, warming up later in the day.
The Veteran Test ran alongside the Intermediate / Novice Cold Game test. The Veteran test is limited to dogs 8 years old or older and this year there were five entries. all Labradors.
The tests involved a walk-up with four dogs in line. The moorland was covered with big clumps of rushes making difficult cover for the seen retrieve in front, and for a blind down the line. On more open sheep pasture and heathery slopes there were longer retrieves. Over the day the dogs were well tested on three marked retrieves and three blinds.
The awards were presented by Vice-President Elaine Welburn, with prizes of Alpha dog food greatly appreciated by the competitors.
1st Amana Minshall’s LRD Burlinton Bert of Belvedere (10 years old)
2nd Andrew Baker’s LRD Swaine Dentanum of Saffronlyn (9)
3rd Ray Reed’ LRD Saxaphone Rooney (9)
4th Billie-Jo Wagstaff with LRD Swaine Spire (9).