URC Bucks Attracting over 50 entries for Novice Handler & Special Puppy Tests

UNITED RETRIEVER CLUB (BUCKS AREA)

Special Puppy and Novice Handler / Novice Dog Working Tests

12^th August 2012

If anyone was in any doubt that our sport was failing to attract new members, then they need to experience the hard work and enthusiasm of this club, who attracted more than 50 entries of which 2/3rds were Novice Handlers with Novice Dogs.

The qualification for this event is any handler or dog not having won

a) A Field Trial award including commended.

b) A 1st, 2nd, 3rd or reserve in an open working test.

c) A 1st in any previous novice working test or any test above novice level

d) A 1st in a combined puppy/novice test where separate awards for puppies were not given.

e) A 1st in a Novice Dog/Novice Handler Working Test or 1st in a puppy w/test

The event was held at Shardeloes near Amersham by kind permission of Mr E Bazzard and the Judges for the day were Mrs B Kuen, Mrs P Mattock & Mr Mattock, the directions were very clear, having travelled down from the Yorkshire Dales the previous day, I was a little tied so my margin for driving delays was a little tight!

On arrival the car park was full and the organisers were busy administering programs and arm bands to a lot of new people who had never entered a working test before, whilst the Judges and Stewards were surveying the ground in preparation of the tests.

I had a number of students running on the day, the youngest was 12 year old Byron Van Uden with Labrador Retriever Sady of Witchford (Lilly), who has taken a keen interest in working a dog.

I have always held the view that setting up a working test for novice handlers and special puppy is by far the most difficult of all the working tests classifications, the age range in the special puppy was 12 months, which can produce a massive difference in abilities and the level of experience in handling skills is very varied from no experience to well-schooled handlers, the age range of handlers was probably over 50 years! Not many sports can boost that age range of participation.

It was also encouraging to see a number of different gundog’s breeds in attendance; I have never seen so many flat coats at an event, I wish them all well, the breed needs dedicated working owners to survive, also present were a number of Golden Retrievers and one Chesapeake Bay Retriever and array of colour from the Labrador Retrievers Black, Chocolate and Yellow! (Yellow varies from the almost White to Red Fox).

The competitors were divided into 3 groups for 3 tests in the morning and 3 tests in the afternoon, there were no eliminations, if you failed a test you could precede to the next one.

Test 1, under Judge Mr P Mattock was a mark retrieve at some approx. 70m distance in long grass to shot, after picking the dummy a further dummy was thrown out on a similar line at a slightly shorter distance, when the dog was returning to the handler.

Test 2 under Judge Mrs B Kuen was mark retrieve with shot in water at some distance of approx. 50m followed by a blind at approx. 30m on the same line hidden on the edge of the brook line.

Test 3 under Judge Mrs P Mattock was a double blind to shot over a deep ditch, t

he difficulty here was not the distance of approx. 35m the gun was positioned on the left over the ditch nearly out of sight and the dummies were 40m away for the gun on the right!

Test 3 was by far the most difficult challenged for both handlers and dogs, which reflected in

the scores with 8 failures! At least half of these failures were in the first group of the day. It always difficult when you need to start with a blind and it was quite obvious a number of dogs had been trained to run to shot and need to concentrate more on diversion work?

It no easy task for the stewards who keep things flowing, especially with novice handlers not knowing the rules, but the majority coped very well with the stress, spectators we

re giv

en good vantage points and adequate shade could be found for waiting competitors.

A further 3 tests awaited those eager competitors, who had been analysing their weakness or failings over lunch, it gave me a chance to socialise some puppies out on the lead for the first time, who were more interested in the scraps and offerings of lunch!

Test 4 under Judge Mr P Mattock was a short walk up for a mark retrieve in water, which involved an approx. 25m swim to shot.

Test 5 under Mrs B Kuen was a walk up in

pairs out in long grass for a long mark approx. 80m, with the ground falling away from the handler.

Test 6 under Mrs P Mattock handlers were required to sit the dog, whilst the handler picked up a dummy themselves at a distance of 5m, w

hilst the handler was returning a mark retrieve

to shot was thrown out to prove the dogs steadiness and memory marking ability.

The day was concluded with a very well supported raffle, awards, teas and cakes, the winners gave their thanks to the land owners, judges and helpers.

Mr P Mattock on behalf of the Judges remarked “that he had enjoyed seei

ng gundogs from the other side” he thanked organisers, helpers and competitors for an enjoyable day and reminded competitors to read the rule Book!

Awards

Special Puppy

1^st Mike Waldren with Gameflight Lady Loire (Lab Bi tch 13/08/10)

2^nd Jacqui Crew with Millgreen Quartz (G.Ret Dog 24/7/11)

3^rd Andy Wiles with Hatchfield Loki (Lab Dog 24/4/11)

4^th Diana Stevens with Bedgebrook Shamrock at Wylanbriar (Lab Bitch 3/3/11)

COM Heather Walton with Cantabrica Indian Queen (Lab Bitch 19/4/11)

Novice Dog / Novice Handler

1^st Sarah Winter with Trewater Cherwell (G.Ret Dog 16/5/08)

2^nd Abbie Crawley with Almshoebury Persuasion of Riverlily (Lab Bitch 02/07/07)

3rd Lisa Murrell with Loveridge Sarah (Lab Bitch 07/08)

4^th Sarah Meakes with Milfordheath Luther (Lab Dog 16/05/10)

COM Bob Allon with Cleodale Axel (FCRet Dog 16/04/09)

For more Pictures, Running Card & Scores visit our facebook account at Working Gundogs