Utility Gundog Society Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire Branch
Novice Dog/Novice Handler
Veteran and Intermediate Tests
Held at Pope’s Oak Farm on 15th July 2012
As we have come to expect (and respect), Paul Jennings and his competent band of helpers put on another good show. Having added the previously cancelled Novice Dog/Novice Handler onto the list of entries along with Intermediate and Veteran, Paul still had to cope with this Year’s adverse weather conditions which restricted the usage of the ground available. Thanks to the generosity and understanding of the land-owner, Mrs Sheila Chessell, we were still able to compete when a lot of other events have had to be cancelled. No one will believe us when we say we were basking in hot sunshine – it did remind us of the old days !
Greeted as usual on arrival by mouth wateringly tempting breakfast burgers I am surprised anyone felt like doing any work but the dogs were all keen to get going so we fell into line. 4 judges, 4 tests. 46 competitors. 56 listed in the running order so sadly some didn’t make it this time. The organisation flowed as planned and we were all finished around two thirty. Unusually there were no run-offs and we were all long gone home before it started raining again.
Test 1. A 2 dog walk up. Each dog had to retrieve two dummies which were thrown in succession. They were required to find the first, closer, dummy first and then went back for the second dummy thrown a greater distance away. Held in a field of long grass it was surprising how good the scenting conditions were. The ND/NH had the same Test but the distances were shorter. Ably judged by John Barnes who takes time to explain, advise and encourage each competitor. A few failures, either from running in or from retrieving the second dummy first. Although the good scent helped, the dogs did have to hunt around to pinpoint both dummies once they were in the area, but overall the marks showed high achievement.
Test 2. In essence a fairly straightforward test for the Intermediate’s and Veteran’s. Straight ahead down a grassy area to a blind without gunshot in front of the hedge at the end. There was a murky pond on the left hand side and many dogs tended to draw into the left – and out of sight – before they reached the area of the dummy. Scary for the Handlers but the judge (Matt Breach) had assessed the conditions of the day, taken it into account and judged everyone on an equal basis. The ND/NH’s had a mark in the same place followed by a blind in the same place.
Test 3. I expect David Breach enjoyed judging this one. There were a few variables for disaster! For the Intermediates and Veterans, a mark was thrown in the water on the right but the dog had to go up the track on the left past the water and just into a field to retrieve a blind. First, the dog had to refrain from entering the water for the mark. Secondly, the dog had to go on back past the water all the way and when it got to the right area there was little or no scent to help find the blind. Only 4 x 20’s given here and 7 failures. The ND/NH’s faired rather better. They had a mark in the water and then a mark on the track which the handler had to pick first before sending the dog into the water for the retrieve.
Test 4. Another double. A mark was thrown. Over a fence to retrieve and on the way back, a gunshot for a blind in the rough grass on the right hand side. Jumping the fence didn’t cause too many problems but there was little or no scent and the dummy thrower was a little erratic on occasion. The blind wasn’t impossible provided the Handler had marked the fall. I believe I am right in saying that the ND/NH’s just had a mark over the fence.
I think I am safe in saying that everyone enjoyed their day out, including the judges, who were all seen to be enjoying the excellent food provided by Mary and Pam. Sheila Chessell kindly came down to present the awards as usual. I am beginning to suspect that she enjoys her tea and home made cake ! Being such a generous land owner, her diary is full of such occasions and by now she knows most of us by face if not by name and she comes in good time to have a chat and catch up with the news.
Big ‘thank you’ to Sheila, to Paul and his team, to all the willing volunteer helpers for giving us a ‘’day out with our dogs’’ to enjoy.
RESULTS:
Novice Dog Novice Handler:
1st Blanchards Blackcap - Lauren Wright
2nd Braceway Kite - Helen Thornton
3rd Woodlandway Quest - Janet Marshall
4th Loveridge Wigeon - Gerry Price
CoMs to Rolvenden Gilliflower of Copsehollow - Pru Perkins & Ghostwood Wren - Tim Pain
Intermediate:
1st Woodlandway Quail - Beth Rayner
2nd Largymore Maccallan - Sue Jackson
3rd Gunnerheath Amethyst - Brian Chesser
4th Shadybugs Desert Knight - Karen Higginson
Veteran:
1st Ophelia Clemy Of Opataz - Tracy Kavanagh
2nd Tommy Walsh - Dawn Powell
Congratulations to all in the awards.
Report by Rosemary Saddler
Greeted as usual on arrival by mouth wateringly tempting breakfast burgers I am surprised anyone felt like doing any work but the dogs were all keen to get going so we fell into line. 4 judges, 4 tests. 46 competitors. 56 listed in the running order so sadly some didn’t make it this time. The organisation flowed as planned and we were all finished around two thirty. Unusually there were no run-offs and we were all long gone home before it started raining again.
Test 1. A 2 dog walk up. Each dog had to retrieve two dummies which were thrown in succession. They were required to find the first, closer, dummy first and then went back for the second dummy thrown a greater distance away. Held in a field of long grass it was surprising how good the scenting conditions were. The ND/NH had the same Test but the distances were shorter. Ably judged by John Barnes who takes time to explain, advise and encourage each competitor. A few failures, either from running in or from retrieving the second dummy first. Although the good scent helped, the dogs did have to hunt around to pinpoint both dummies once they were in the area, but overall the marks showed high achievement.
Test 2. In essence a fairly straightforward test for the Intermediate’s and Veteran’s. Straight ahead down a grassy area to a blind without gunshot in front of the hedge at the end. There was a murky pond on the left hand side and many dogs tended to draw into the left – and out of sight – before they reached the area of the dummy. Scary for the Handlers but the judge (Matt Breach) had assessed the conditions of the day, taken it into account and judged everyone on an equal basis. The ND/NH’s had a mark in the same place followed by a blind in the same place.
Test 3. I expect David Breach enjoyed judging this one. There were a few variables for disaster! For the Intermediates and Veterans, a mark was thrown in the water on the right but the dog had to go up the track on the left past the water and just into a field to retrieve a blind. First, the dog had to refrain from entering the water for the mark. Secondly, the dog had to go on back past the water all the way and when it got to the right area there was little or no scent to help find the blind. Only 4 x 20’s given here and 7 failures. The ND/NH’s faired rather better. They had a mark in the water and then a mark on the track which the handler had to pick first before sending the dog into the water for the retrieve.
Test 4. Another double. A mark was thrown. Over a fence to retrieve and on the way back, a gunshot for a blind in the rough grass on the right hand side. Jumping the fence didn’t cause too many problems but there was little or no scent and the dummy thrower was a little erratic on occasion. The blind wasn’t impossible provided the Handler had marked the fall. I believe I am right in saying that the ND/NH’s just had a mark over the fence.
I think I am safe in saying that everyone enjoyed their day out, including the judges, who were all seen to be enjoying the excellent food provided by Mary and Pam. Sheila Chessell kindly came down to present the awards as usual. I am beginning to suspect that she enjoys her tea and home made cake ! Being such a generous land owner, her diary is full of such occasions and by now she knows most of us by face if not by name and she comes in good time to have a chat and catch up with the news.
Big ‘thank you’ to Sheila, to Paul and his team, to all the willing volunteer helpers for giving us a ‘’day out with our dogs’’ to enjoy.
RESULTS:
Novice Dog Novice Handler:
1st Blanchards Blackcap - Lauren Wright
2nd Braceway Kite - Helen Thornton
3rd Woodlandway Quest - Janet Marshall
4th Loveridge Wigeon - Gerry Price
CoMs to Rolvenden Gilliflower of Copsehollow - Pru Perkins & Ghostwood Wren - Tim Pain
Intermediate:
1st Woodlandway Quail - Beth Rayner
2nd Largymore Maccallan - Sue Jackson
3rd Gunnerheath Amethyst - Brian Chesser
4th Shadybugs Desert Knight - Karen Higginson
Veteran:
1st Ophelia Clemy Of Opataz - Tracy Kavanagh
2nd Tommy Walsh - Dawn Powell
Congratulations to all in the awards.
Report by Rosemary Saddler