Dukeries (Notts) Gundog Club Novice/Vetran AV Retriever Working Test
This event was held by kind permission of Mrs. ME Stanford at West View Farm Besthorpe, Judges on day were Ms G Stewart, Mrs J Allsop, Mr F Newton and the Chief Steward was Mr. GR Jones.
23 Gundogs Listed on the running card including 2 vetrans, there were 2 non runners. I intended running Ballagan Handa (Tilly) but she came into season. Running card can be found at http://workinggundogs.co.uk under Dukeries club events.
As always when I visit a Dukeries Gundog Event, I expect a high standard of test and this event did not disappoint, although at lunchtime when only 3 gundogs had completed the tests, the organisers could be forgiven for being a little nervous that 21 had failed to meet the test standard !
I was one of the unfortunate 19, having failed on my first retrieve of the day, not exactly the best start, but the day did at least get better for me....
After the usual introductions, the competitors were split into 3 groups.
I was handling a Golden Retriever Number 13 Penmead House Tamar "Tamar" for Mrs. G Clarke and was asked to start on Test 2, we were asked to pick a short blind with shot in a maze crop after seeing a marked distraction with shot at an acute angle through the maze and over a deep 8' ditch. The mark was to be picked after the blind.
If your dog pulled to the mark you could not see your gundog after it entered the maze, which caused several handlers problems, only one gundog in my group succeeded. Tamar pulled towards the mark several times and after recalling eventually lost confidence so, I withdrew the dog resulting in no points 0/20.
Test 3 was a long double mark walk up with 2 gundogs in white grass, the gundog on the right was required to pick the first mark on the right, the other gundog had to honor that retrieve and then pick the 2nd mark on the left, which was out of the cover and over a 8' deep ditch. Tamar started to run the ditch line and went over on the 3rd command and picked the required retrieve, then both gundogs then change places for a repeat of the marks, Tamar picked her mark on the right very efficiently with an overall score of 16/20. At least 10 other gundogs failed this test, most failing to negotiate the ditch or ran in !
Test 1 was a double mark over a deep ditch the first mark landing the far side of a maze crop at an acute angle from the second mark which could be retrieved over a bridge on the corner of the maze crop. Tamar made an excellent retrieve on both marks, just needing one stop whistle on the second mark. Score 19/20. A number of gundogs failed this test, having pulled towards the second mark whilst in the maze?
After 3 tests, the judges stopped for lunch, and the chief steward decided to make a cut. All those gundogs with 2 failures were dropped leaving just 9 gundogs from the 22 running on the card.
The 9 remaining gundogs were split into 3 groups of 3, for the 3 remaining tests.
Test 6 required a short marked to be picked after a marked water distraction; Tamar scored 10/10 on the mark and 7/10 on the water having to be encouraged to enter the water.
Test 5 was a long single mark at the edge of a field with high trees in the background, Tamar scored 19/20.
Test 4 was a long blind down a track next to cover, Tamar overshot the mark having winded the dummy bag, but did recall on the whistle and picked on return. Score 19/20
Overall finished the day on a high, and the training issues are at least consistent, more work required on distractions and higher confidence still required on water.
I enjoyed the day, the winner would certainly be a worthy Open Gundog.
Results
1st Place Emmanygan Razor LAB/DOG 020408 AJ02089303 Sire Tascomonk of Mansgreen Dam Emmanygan Gypsy Owned & handled by Mr G Laughton
2nd Jodies Star LAB/BITCH 160508 AJ02634103 Sire Maplebrash Magic Dam Brodys Star Owned & handled by Mr P Holmes
3rd Natalia Eve LAB/BITCH 280607 AH02872208 Sire Drakeshead Indiana Dam Leawyn Latoria Owned & handled by Mr. J Burton
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