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

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.     

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.

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

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:-

Winners and Judges

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