The United Retriever Club (North Midland Area) held a Cold Game Test on 5th August at Strines Moor,Yorkshire by kind permission of Mr & Mrs Hunt. The judges were Philip Smithies, Garry Ellison and Phil Robinson. The ground consisted of moorland with rough grasses and rushes, bordering nearby grouse moors. The weather was very warm with only a light breeze. The tests were based on natural shooting situations with retrieves on pigeons.
There were 28 entered in the Intermediate/Novice section, with three breeds of Retriever competing.
In the morning the two Philips judged a walk-up with four dogs in line, each dog in turn getting a forward mark, being steady and patient while the other dogs retrieved, and eventually being sent for a second mark. The walk-up continued in the afternoon, the dogs going under the other judge for the second round. This time the retrieves were a long cross retrieve, and a blind placed diagonally behind.. Garry’s tests were static with two dogs sat side by side as in picking up. In the morning each dog had a mark to start with, and later a blind. In the afternoon each dog had two blind retrieves at much longer distance.
There were a good number of high scores especially by several of the Novice dogs.
The awards and prizes of Alpha dog food greatly appreciated by the competitors, with three breeds sharing the honours.
Intermediate/Novice Awards:
1st Anita Beal’s GRD Mars Ares at Roaanlodge
2nd and Best Novice Tankard : Anne Blakes’s LRD Bromleywood Romeo
3rd Christina Robinson’s LRB Highwalk Joy
4th Daryl Boldy’s LRG Garrenwell Colorado
CoM : Lucinda Southern with Paul Birkbeck’s LRD Stephens Brother at Warrenbank
Photos show Judges and Award winners.