Russlayne Bracken “Poppy” Labrador Retriever Wins the UGBA Novice Working Test. Owner & handler Stewart North
United Gundog Breeders Association Novice Working Test Sunday 28th March 2010, Leighton Estate, Shropshire by kind invitation of Mr. & Mrs. M. W. Corrie ~ Judges Mr. K Brady, Mr. D Kirkby, Mr. W Tombs, Mr. L Jackson,
Chief Steward Mr. M Bradbury
Having attended a dinner party the night before and also having to remember British Summer time had arrived !, my friends, would have placed bets on me arriving late for this event! .....they would have lost, as I managed to arrive just 5 minutes early.
I entered two gundogs Labrador Retriever Russlayne Bracken call name “Poppy” and Golden Retriever Penmeadhouse Tamar call name “Tamar”.( Owned by Mrs. G Clarke).
After the usual introductions the dogs were split into 4 groups and I was asked to start on the water Test 4, which was the one I was dreading as Tamar had been struggling on water training.
Test 4 under Judge Wendy Tombs involved a single mark with shot over a fence into water. Much to my surprise both Poppy & Tamar completed this task very well. Poppy completed the retrieve on one command and entered the water directly without any problem. Tamar did not entry the water directly, she went around the pond for an easier entry, but completed the retrieve without any problem.
Test 3 under Judge Kevin Brady involved the retrieving of 2 blinds without shot in woodland, which simulated a typical picking up exercise, the blinds were placed in cover on the far bank of a deep gully with a small stream, both Poppy & Tamar completed this task very well, Tamar required a few more commands.
Test 2 under Judge David Kirkby involved a blind retrieve with a mark distraction to gunshot; the mark was short and clearly visible to the gundogs. Poppy completed this exercise on 2 commands and made it look very easy. Unfortunately the same could not be said for Tamar, she could remove her focus on the distraction and lost confidence on the blind, I eventually called her up, after several attempts to keep her away from the distraction.
Test 1 under Judge Leigh Jackson was a single long mark in cover with shot into wind on a steep bank. Tamar was first to go this time, and overshot the mark at pace, stopped first time on the whistle at top of bank, after a slight recall, she caught the retrieve on the wind. Poppy went out well, slightly touch the retrieve on the outrun but did not believe her nose; she turned without the aid of the whistle and winded the retrieved as she moved into the area.
The judges then got together with their books and called dogs 2 & 9 for a runoff, both gundogs completed a long mark in similar cover and location to Test 1 but from a different angle, both dogs completed the retrieves very well, number 9 was slightly more difficult, but the difference was very minor.
The awards were presented by the chief steward, who thank the host, judges and helpers and then announced the awards.
I was highly delighted to receive first place with Russlayne Bracken “Poppy”, Stewart North, I was then was asked to respond and gave thanks to the host, judges & helpers and commented that the competitors had been friendly and the tests had been challenging for the gundogs involved.
Results
UGBA Novice Working Test Awards
1st Stewart North Russlayne Bracken Lab B 210308
2nd Fiona Smith Canje Nic Nac 210807
3rd Mrs. P Dixon Boddelwyddan Knight 120708
Other gundogs were in the awards, but I do not have the details available at the time of this report.
