The United Retriever Club (North Midland Area) held Retriever Working Tests Tests on 4th June 2017 at Welbeck, Nottinghamshire by kind permission of Mr W Parente and the Estate. Several competitors joined us from neighbouring URC areas. The judges were Elaine Welburn. Sue Corden, Alan Richardson and Philip Robinson.
The 26 dogs entered for the Novice Test faced tests simulating work on the Welbeck shoot. The morning started with two marked retrieves falling to shot. Sue Corden judged a mark from the lake, with each dog having to wait its turn alongside the preceding dog to test for steadiness. Meanwhile Philip Robinson judged a mark in a swathe of grass and cover bordering a wood. Sue then judged a mark on undulating grassland, while Philip judged a blind, representing by a rabbit shot by a gun along a track running parallel to a fence. In the afternoon, when four judges were available two more tests took place. Philip and Elaine judged a mark in the lake, with the dog sent some distance from the bank. One judge was near the lake watching entry to the water. Meanwhile Alan and Sue judged a walk-up took place in the dry valley of Nightingale Drive. With three dogs in line, retrieves alternated between a mark and a blind. The first dog was sent for a mark thrown high up on the steep slope to the right. The next dog was sent forward to the left where a dummy represented a rabbit lying in light cover close to a fence along the edge of a wood. trophies and other awards,
With three dogs tying at the top a run-off for the top prizes produced a clear result. The awards, including prizes sponsored by Alpha, were presented by Margaret Rowson, representing the Welbeck estate.
Novice Awards
1. Flashmount Cracket LR D Sally Plant
2. Woodcockhill Hirola LR B Geoff Dobb
3. Vilendal Mercedes LR B Alison Cook
4. Garrenwell Colorado LR B Daryl Boldy
CoM: Stokes of George at Ashwynd LR D Danielle Turton