Open test 2019
Photo above shows Award winners and Judges.
The Open Working Test was held on Sunday 5th May 2019 at Hoyles Farm, Strines, South Yorkshire by kind permission of Mr & Mrs Hunt and Mr Burley. 29 dogs were entered, 25 Labradors and 4 Golden Retrievers. Prizes were generously sponsored by Alpha – the food of Champions.The weather was cool and cloudy with a light breeze. The three judges were Steve Crookes, Anne Crookes and David Haycock. Rolling land with views over gritstone cliffs towards reservoirs in the valleys was a scenic setting. In the morning David judged a blind on the rocky gritstone escarpment, followed by a remembered mark over the top on the plateau with the fall out of sight of handlers. Meanwhile Anne judged a pick-up of two blinds where scrubby woodland had invaded rushy moorland. Steve’s test was a mark diagonally across a long narrow pond. After lunch there were two further tests. Dave judged a double mark at a good distance across moorland. Meanwhile Anne and Steve judged a walk-up with four dogs in line. Retrieves alternated with a mark falling over a heathery knoll for the left hand judge’s dogs followed by a blind across the pond for the right hand judge’s dogs in turn. A number of failures and subsequent eyewipes greatly influenced results. The awards were shared by local members and some from other regions.
1st Dan Higgs’ LR D Higgscroft Avenger (Lincs)
2nd Russell Hodgen’s LR B Roselea Zara
3rd Andy Brook’s LR B Janfran Pavlova (Northern) (also Water Trophy)
4th Russell Hodgen’sLR B Kelmagra Bess
Certificates of Merit: Phil Wagland’s GR B Funnyline Fieldquest Kelbrook
Charlotte Brailsford’s LR B Kemtive Sunshine Blossom of Casheath (Mids)