Suffolk Gundog Club Novice Field Trial 14th December

Suffolk Gundog Club
Novice AV Retriever Field Trial 14th December 2010

The above event was held at Park Farm Estates, Wormgay, Norfolk by kind permission of Mr. I Symington & Mr. R Beckerleg.
Judges for the event Mrs. R Wise,Mr. P Palmer, Mr.S North & Mr. T Lowe.
Chief Steward for the day was Angela Musk.

Running Card Link.



After the usual introductions, the field trial started with a duck drive. All 14 Retrievers were asked to sit the drive where a number of ducks and pheasants were shot. Retrievers 1,2 5,6,9,10,13 were placed on the right hand side under Judges Robin Wise & Stewart North and numbers 3,4 7,8,11,12, 14 were on the left with Judges Phillip Palmer and Tom Lowe.

During the drive number 3 was sent for a wounded bird at quite some distance and successfully picked. Retrievers 4, 8, 11, 12 & 14 were eliminated during the first round under Judges on the left hand side for various reasons.

On the right hand side No.1 Mrs. L Mitchell Dog was sent for a wounded duck and failed to pick, the same bird was picked by No.2 Mrs. G Butcher at the fall.
Miss. S Coby No.5 retriever completed 2 successful retrieves in the first round.
Mr. RW Addingham No.8 was eye wiped on his second retrieve by Mr. G Allen No.9 who went on to successfully complete his 2nd retrieve. Mrs. F Joint No.13 also completed first round retrieves.

Numbers 2,3,5,6,7,9,10 & 13 all cleared the first round picking mostly duck and the odd pheasant from a field of sugar beet.

During the second round retrievers 3,6,7&10 came under Robin Wise & Stewart North Mrs. V Easy No.3 & Mr. V Bleming No.6 completed the 2nd round retrieves with ducks from first drive.

Mr. C Airey No.7 & Mrs. G Thompson No.10 were called into line for a 2nd Drive.

No.7 was sent during the drive to pick a wounded hen bird, and picked a wounded cock bird and picked a wounded hen bird, which was deemed to have been picked from the area of the fall. The dog was credited with a find. Number 10 was then sent to the same area and picked the hen bird.

Retrievers 2,5,9 & 13 came under the watchful eyes of Phil Palmer & Tom Lowe.

Mrs. G Butcher No.2 was dropped on her 2nd round retrieve. After giving No's 5 & 9 the opportunity to pick a bird the left hand Judges offered the retrieve to the right hand Judges.

Judges on the right decided to take the opportunity and tried Mr. V Bleming No.6 which failed to get to the area, which gave No.7 the opportunity and picked the bird!.

No.13 completed her 2nd round retrieve with the judges backing up the dog. No.7 completed his 2nd third round retrieve being backed up by number 10.

At this stage of the field trial after 2 drives the judges only had 3 retrievers remaining No's 7, 10 & 13. No.7 having completed 5 retrieves and No's 10 & 13 only having completed 3 retrieves.

The host decided to walk up some sugar beet and the judges decided to have all 3 remaining retrievers in line, No.7 was brought into line to test heelwork and steadiness. Mrs. G Thompson No.10 was sent for a cock pheasant shot behind the line, which she failed to pick and was eliminated as first dog failure. No.13 was also tried on the same bird, which both the dog and judges could not find. No.7 was not sent having already had 5 retrieves.

We continued walking up with No's 13 & 7, when 2 birds were shot! No.13 picked her bird and No.7 was sent for the 2nd bird and picked.

It was at this stage the judges decided that number 7 had done enough, having completed 6 Retrieves. No.13 had only completed 4 retrieves. Judges decided they needed 1 more bird for No.13 to complete the trial.

A wounded to cock pheasant was then shot, number 13 was sent, the dog never gave up on a very strong runner, which lifted several times! the bird was eventually picked and returned it to the handler, there was some discussion as weather it deserved some credit! for picking a strong runner? Heelwork in the 3rd round and standard of previous retrieves had not been sufficiently good enough to put it a head of number 7, who had been finding game with minimal handling which other retrievers could not pick and delivering it succesfully to hand without any problems.

First was awarded to Number 7 Mr. C Airey with Labrador Bitch Mint so Lucky of Morebar.

Third was awarded to Number 13 Mrs. F Joint with Muddymile Hawfinch.

Best Retrieve was awarded to Number 7 as above.

Steve Polley Chairman of Suffolk Gundog Club gave thanks to the Host, Guns, Judges and Helpers and club secretary Angela Musk, The Judges were presented with a very nice gift from the host.

Winner Chris Airey gave an emotional speech after winning his first novice field trial and gave thanks to the host,judges & helpers and those who had helped him train his retriever.

The day concluded with the Suffolk Gundog Club hosting a meal for the guns and judges.

(NOTE: The writer is not always in a position to see every retrieve and this report was written up from memory, which may not be totally accurate).