A most interesting result, because the dog that won the COM is the mother of the winner and grandmother of the fourth.

The Team

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Novice dog/Novice handler - Mick Elsey with Elder Athos

Novice dog - Doug Preston with Kayteens Cockle

Open dog - Liz Ingram with Gillygaben Tara

The Essex Area was delighted to send a team to the Southern Interclub Match at Knowle Farm, Bowerchalke, near Salisbury.  It was a beautiful venue, set in steep hillsides, quite a novelty for the dogs from Essex.  It remained sunny all day with a moderate wind.  There were six separate team tests, including a water test and a walk up.  Each test had retrieves of varying difficulty, making best use of the hillside terrain.  On some tests the team had to choose which dog would make which retrieve.  This was when team work came to the fore, knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each dog and then picking the best dog for each retrieve.  All the team's dogs completed their retrirves successfully, with Liz and Mick's dogs doing very well.  At the finish of the match, the team drew for fourth place, coming fifth after a run off.

Liz Ingram with Gillygaben Tara won the Open Dog 1st prize

24 dogs took part in the tests at Lyons Hall by kind permission of Mr C Tritton. The weather was fine with a strong wind blowing and rain occasionally threatening.  The ground allowed many and varied tests to be set.  Before lunch there were four tests with marks, unseens and water retrieves, heelwork and a hunt up in the trees.  After lunch all dogs went forward to a walk up in sugar beet. 

The tests were sponsored by Masters Dog Food and judged by Caroline Heasman and Angie Musk.