Boughton Estate, Northants
26th March 2011
Judges Mr. Malcolm Thwaites & Mr. Phil Garton
Chief Steward Miss. Sarah Jaggard
URC Midlands held there first 2011 working test by kind permission of the Duke of Buccleuch and head keeper Graham Osborne.
Competitors enjoyed a walked up novice cold game test on this superb estate in white grass set aside and woodland. Although the test was scored along field trial lines each competitor was allowed to complete 3 rounds, regardless of eliminating faults, the judges gave the competitors a significant amount of time to pick cold, when they would otherwise have been asked to call their dogs up.
In the first round the competitors were asked to pick marked birds to their own gun in front or behind the line with the occasional a double mark being thrown on the left hand side, in the second round each competitor was asked to pick either a mark across the line or a blind behind the line.
Stewart North and Labrador Retriever Ballagan Handa (Tiley) was drawn number 20 on the running card, so was the last dog to run in each round, Tilley first retrieve was behind number 16 who failed to pick a pigeon thrown as a double mark, Tilley arrived in the area very efficiently and picked, she then had a mark behind the line which was picked without any problem. In the Second Round Tilly was asked to pick a bird on the right hand side of a double mark, which was particularly efficient, after waiting a considerable amount of time whilst another dog picked a blind from behind the line.
At this stage we broke for lunch and Tilley's work was looking very promising, after lunch we started walking up in the woods and again waited along time before getting into line. Tilley's first retrieve was behind another dog which had failed to pick a rabbit behind the line, although she picked the rabbit, she required much more handling to hold the area. Her next retrieve was a difficult mark in front, which she had failed to mark because of the trees and pulled towards the gun that fired, she picked the mark after some handling!
On completion of the third round the judges made a cut and allowed all the dogs which had not failed numbers 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15 18, 20 to enter a mock drive in the woods.
Numbers 3,4,6,7,8,10 were called for the first drive and asked to pick a blind on completion of the drive, each blind was situated in a different location.
Numbers 12,13,15,18 & 20 were called for the 2nd drive, during the drive number 15 ran in and was eliminated. The remaining 4 dogs picked their blinds. At this stage Tilley was still focused on the marks and gun during the drive and did not line up properly, she would have been marked down for pulling towards a gun!
Despite picking 2 birds behind other dogs, which had failed to pick, Tilley was awarded 3rd and probably lost 1st & 2nd place as a result of being a little hotter in the afternoon, certainly pulling to a gun is a training weakness, which needs to be sorted!
Overall pleased with her performance. more photo's
Congratulations to award winners and a big thank you to the host, organisers, judges and helpers who made the day very successful.
RESULTS
1st DIGLAKE THUNDER 2yr Lab dog
owned and Handled by Mr. Stephen Newitt
2nd TADMARTON DIPPER 2 1/2yr Lab dog
owned and handled by Mrs. Claire Organ
3rd BALLAGAN HANDA 2 1/2yr Lab Bitch
owned and handled by Mr. Stewart North
4th NECESSARES RAFFLE 2 1/2yr Flat Coat
owned and handled by Mr. Andy Snow
COM Newney Hall Grouse of Skeffington 1 1/2yr Lab Bitch
owned and Handled by Mr. Mike Hirst, also recieved Roy Wightman Trophy for Youngest in the Awards
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