Area Finals held at Windsor on 6th July 2025
Our team was Sharon Dingle, Anthony Peters and Callum Raywood
Coming a very commendable 2nd Place for the Bernard Hall Memorial Trophy.
Callum had a fantastic day and came first as an individual for the Atherbram Cup
He was also was awarded the W S Froud Trophy for the highest placed individual running for the first time in the Area Finals
Congratulations to all the Team and thank you for representing the Essex Area
Report by Anthony Peters:
The day began early at 8am at a meeting point in Windsor Great Park, security had been tightened for the French President's imminent visit so we were escorted in convoy to the Test area. We had a great welcome from Sue Berman and her Bucks committee and good shade among the trees from the growing heat.
The ground was well grazed pasture, pock marked by cattle in wetter times, but now set like concrete in the drought, uneven and awkward. A shallow valley ran through the area with a useful lake, and parkland with hill slopes, areas of scrub and trees and decaying branches on the ground. In short a beautiful and varied place to run the Tests.
There were eight teams of three dogs and 5 judges and five tests.
Three Tests were double retrieves and two just singles. Scenting was difficult in the heat with the dry ground and no wind in the valley bottom among the scrub. The blinds were mostly without shot and required accuracy from both dog and handler.
Most interesting was a mark across the pond, downhill and obscured by the trees but easy and refreshing in the heat, problems came with the following blind placed among some fallen branches close by the pond. With no wind and very little scent the dogs had to handle to perfection when already wound up from their swim.
The day was perfect, started on time and finished as planned at 1:30. and we were gathered in the York Club building for the awards and lunch when the first of the threatened thunder storms struck.
A huge thank you to Sue Berman and the Bucks Committee for managing such a complex day with such easy grace (and to Thor the God of thunder for staying his hand until we had finished).