North Midlands Area 2008/9

Working Test Results 2009

Prizes sponsored by ALPHA Dog Foods - the food of Champions


Open at Shirebrook Country Park

10 May

 

Judges - Philip Smithies, Robert Daws and Duncan Matthews with award winners.

Click on image to enlarge

The Open Test was held at Shirebrook Country Park, by kind permission of Nottinghamshire County Council and Forest Enterprise. 26 dogs competed, 16 Labradors and 10 Golden Retrievers. The day was warm and sunny, with only a little breeze to help the dogs.  Shirebrook Park is a reclaimed colliery spoil heap, landscaped with young forestry plantations on the hills and ponds in the valleys. 

In the morning there were three double retrieves. Robert judged a double mark over a jump. Duncan sent the dogs for a long blind in rushy grass, followed by a remembered mark on a reed fringed pond. Meanwhile Philip judged a long blind up a grassy slope, with a mark in conifers forming a distraction to be picked later.

After lunch Duncan judged a long mark on the far side of a reedy lake. Philip and Robert judged a walk-up, each dog getting two long cross retrieves, as well as being tested for heeling. Thus the dogs were well tested on a variety of retrieves over jumps, water and different types of cover.

At the conclusion the cups and trophies were presented by the Forest Ranger, Steve Lawson.

1st Creazanbre Gypsy LR D P G & J C Bills, handler Peter Bills
2nd Moscargrange Blade GR D S & A M Crookes, handler Steve Crookes
3rd Brackenbank Fennel LR B Brian Holmes
4th Burnthill Pathfinder GR D Colin Tasker
COM Hatchfield Breeze of Maswen LR D

Mick Newsam

COM Staftly Topi of Woodcockhill LR B Geoff Dobb
COM Almondine of Russjancoe LR B Russell Hodgen

Veteran and Intermediate/Novice at Carlton Towers


31 May


 

Judges and Veteran award winners

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Judges - Brian Holmes, David Sidwell and Cherry Wood

The ground was used by kind permission of Carlton Towers Estate and the co-operation of Head Keeper Mark Fitzer.  As usual prizes were sponsored by Alpha, Food of Champions.

There were 10 entries for the Veteran Test, which took place first.  A supply of pigeons meant the dogs could be tested on cold game.  Dave Sidwell judged a walk up in long grass, each dog getting two marked retrieves. Brian Holmes judged in parkland, with mature trees as landmarks for a marked retrieve, followed by a long blind.  Cherry Wood judged in shady deciduous woodland, with the dogs fetching a mark, followed by a blind.

Veteran Results
1st Pebbletoft Chorus GR B Phil Wagland
2nd Millrythe Sydney GR D Dave Perry
3rd Hob Hey Hercules LR D Trefor Richards
4th Pebbletoft Rock GR D Phil Wagland

Novice/Intermediate

31 May

 

Judges and Intermediate award winners

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The day continued warm and sunny for the Intermediate/Novice Cold Game Test, with 24 entries.  A breeze aided scenting conditions.  In the morning there were three marked retrieves.  Daivid Sidwell judged a walk-up in long grass, Brian Holmes tested the dogs on a long mark in parkland and Cherry Wood adjudicated on a mark in deciduous woodland.  After lunch there were three more retrieves.  Cherry judged at the water for a marked retrieve, done well by most dogs.  Meanwhile Brian assessed the dogs on a long blind across set-aside, where not all dogs could be handled the distance.  Dave Sidwell's test was another blind involving an outrun along the headland of a sugar beet field to find in the grass next to a tall hedge.  A run-off was required to split the top two dogs.

1st Partridge Flush of Russjancoe LR B Russell Hodgen
2nd My Bashful Lady LR B Terry Dobson (winner of Novice Tankard)
3rd Lowforge Aurora LR B A Whelan, handler Jane Whelan
4th Almondine of Russjancoe LR B Russell Hodgen
COM Burlington Bert of Belvedere LR D Amanda Minshall
COM Garronpoint Till LR B Richard Hinks
COM Riseland Honey Dew LR B Mr & Mrs Eadson, handler Sharon Eadson

Puppy at Bevercotes

5 July


 

Judges and Puppy award winners

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Puppy and Novice tests were held at Bevercotes, Nottinghamshire by kind permission of Mr N Bllom and R & J Clough.   They were judged by Gill Stewart, Paul Birkbeck, Malcolm Peacock and Anna Wagland.

In hot July weather, the tests were sited partly in shady woodland adjacent to the River Maun.  There were 9 puppies and 36 Novices entered, including Labradors, Flatcoats, Golden Retrievers and one Chesapeake.  The puppies were tested on simpler retrieves than the novices. 

Paul Birkbeck judged a marked retrieve which landed in the river downstream of the handler.  Malcolm Peacock judged another mark, diagonally across the river.  Meanwhile Anna Wagland started with a heeling and send back exercise for the puppies, then the Novices had a short walk at heel, followed by a marked retrieve in long grass.  In the shady woodland, Gill Stewart judged two retrieves, firstly a mark glimpsed through the treees and secondly, a blind.

A sharp downpour concluded the morning, as everyone dashed to shelter for their lunch.  After five retrieves the puppy test was concluded before lunch.

1st Froebelhouse Rihanna LR B Jim Christon
2nd Brunbois Tarka LR D Jim Cochrane
3rd Hulton Black Jet LR D Simon Tucker
4th Glencal Larch (best young puppy) LR D Kitson & Barrett, handler Sharon Kitson
COM Haymaker Ale GR D David Perry

Novice at Bevercotes


 

5 July


 

Judges and Novice award winners

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The Novice Tests continued in the afternoon. Paul and Malcolm judged a walk-up in long grass, testing heeling and marking.  Meanwhile Anna and Gill tested handling, as the dogs were sent down a ride to enter water and cross the river out of sight of the handler, before picking a blind on the far bank. 

After seven retrieves for the Novices, the judges agreed on the following result.     

1st Burlington Bert of Belvedere LR D Amanda Minshall
2nd Golden Bry    LR D Cyril Turner (Novice Handler Shield)
3rd Springflight Brie of Lowsommer LR D Sue Lowe
4th

Delfleet Magnum

LR D Robert Daws
COM Oakwood Park of Pathrite LR B Pat White
COM Bryn Bonnie Bertha LR B Cyril Turner, handler Bryony Bleackley


 


 

 


Hope Valley Show Gundog Event

31st August

 

 

The winning team

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Once again the Hope Valley Show in Derbyshire, was the scene for a Gundog Working Test organised by the United Retriever Club (North Midland Area). The Agricultural Show takes place on August Bank Holiday Monday in the Peak District. The Inter-Breed Team Test is a demonstration of retriever work between different breeds, with 2 novice dogs and 2 open dogs in each team. A very close competiton attracted a good crowd throughout the day, the spectators appreciating the chance to see the different styles of work of the various breeds. The judges were Allan and Pam Illingworth from Charlesworth. The commentary by Anne Crookes and Janet Allsop provided information about the handlers and their dogs and relayed the scores for the interest of the crowd. The event was sponsored by 'Alpha - The Food of Champions'.

Each team came into the arena as a foursome, facing a variety of marked and blind retrieves, with harder retrieves for the open dogs. After four tests, including a walk-up, the teams faced a final drive with a pick-up. After this the Golden Retriever team won by the narrow margin of 2 marks. The Chocolate Labradors and Yellow Labradors ran off for 2nd and 3rd.

The Golden Retirever team consisted of Anne and Steve Crookes, David Perry and Alan Richardson. Alan's dog Charordcot Bishops Cosmo was the top open dog and the Novice Tankard was awarded to Polly Gibbs' Chocolate Labrador Sadie Spangles.

1st Golden Retrievers
2nd Chocolate Labradors
3rd Yellow Labradors
4th Black Flatcoated Retrievers
5th Chesapeake Bay Retrievers
6th Liver Flatcoated Retrievers
7th Black Labradors



 

Top Open: Alan Richardson's Golden Retriever Charordcot Bishops Cosmo

Top Novice: Polly Gibbs' Chocolate Labrador Sadie Spangles

Winning Golden Retriever Team:

Anne Crookes: Moscargrange Brisk

Steve Crookes: Moscargrange Blade

David Perry: Haymaker Ale

Alan Richardson: Charordcot Bishops Cosmo


Open Cold Game at Edwinstowe

13 September

 

Winners and Judges

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The Open Cold Game Test was held at Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire, by kind permission of Mr R Bielby and with the assistance of Mr A Kinta. The judges were Mr Ron Gent and Mr David Haycock. The event was kindly sponsored by Alpha.

The weather was cloudy and mild, a refreshing breeze making it ideal for dog work. There were 28 runners. Run on field trial lines, the test involved walking up sugar beet, on undulating land. In the first round dogs were given marked retrieves of pigeons, with the guns forward of the line. Initially most dogs marked well, though some tended to over-run and needed handling.  Occasinal eyewipes simulated trial situations and one bird on the rough margin of the field, led to four dogs failing.  One retrieve was given in the second round.

After lunch, the judges called in 14 dogs, which were given longer cross retrieves. To conclude, the four top dogs were called in for a mock drive and then given a long retrieve from the beet, through a hedge and out onto stubble.  This produced the following result:-

1st Kenmilquin Clary Night LR D Ray Agent
2nd Cawdenbrook Fern LR B John Kent (Lincs Area)
3rd Hatchfield Breeze of Maswen LR B Mick Newsam
4th Partridge Flush of Russjancoe LR B Russell Hodgen

Training Class Puppy and Beginners at Aston


20 September


 

Winners and Judges

Click on image to enlarge

The Test was held at Farfield Farm, Aston, Derbyshire by kind invitation of Mr Stuart Elliott. The Judges were Malcolm Peacock and Doreen Thompson.

The test took place in pleasant September weather with scenic views across the Hope Valley in the heart of the Peak District. The tests were set by Steve and Anne Crookes with marked and blind retrieves on undulating parkland and an obedience exercise through a gate. 22 dogs and handlers enjoyed this conclusion to the training season. Prizes were generously sponsored by Alpha.

 

1st Norton GR D Dave Perry
2nd Evie GR B Barbara Rumsey
3rd Bryony GR B Scott Windle
4th Willow GR B Scott Windle

Training Class Novice at Aston

20 September

 
1st Winter LR B Brian Holmes
2nd Cassie LR B Adrian Bashforth
3rd Duffy LR B Janet Allsop
4th Tip LR B Roger Dickson

Training Class Open at Aston

20 September

 
1st Tilly GR B Duncan Matthews
2nd Piper GR D Alan Richardson
3rd Barley GR B Phil Wagland
4th Brig GR D Alan Richardson

 
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