Winner Casablaidd Quill Hogan FCR D 030612 handled by Jacqui Crew
2nd Brockaghs Eanna Lab D 050712 handled by Susan Cooper
3rd Yexinnitta Union Lab D 180512 handled by Stewart North
4th Bridlebrook Lilly Miss Lab B 020213 handled by Ian Hamilton
COM Colhook Teak at Leospring Lab D 221012 handled by Joy Venturi Rose
A long way for me to travel, but have been eager to put Yexinitta Union aka Charlie Lab (yellow) D 180512 through his paces as his puppy days come to a close.
I also have to decide, which gundog to run at the Kennel Club Working Tests at Chatsworth this year if I am fortunate enough to get a run. My Open Retriever FTW Russlayne Bracken of Northglen Lab B 230308 is hopefully in Pup so not sure about running her? FTAW Ballagan Handa of Northglen Lab B 140408 is useless on dummies never that enthusiastic when it comes to dummies and my working cocker FTAW Toadsspannel Foxey of Northglen aka Pip B 200811 has been winning some Open Spaniel Awards so looks very promising at the moment although she is in Pup and looking a bit fat!
So I am left with Charlie who has had a first and third over the last week!
The 5 tests today started for me with a mark retrieve over a fence in long grass, I was the second dog to go, so no tracks or multiple falls had occurred, Charlie marked very well but hit the fall of the previous dummy, could not find it, and decided to run over to the thrower. Handler error should have stop him immediately, but waited to see if he would turn? but did'nt so stopped him push him right and picked. Mission accomplished!
Test 2 was a retrieve over water past a small Island on a pond close to a fence, Charlie took a nice line wrong side for wind and winded the dummy bag on the floor over the fence just a short distance away. The Judge decided to reset the test and asked the dummy thrower to keep the dummy bag off the floor. After a short while I was asked to complete the test again, this time as Charlie was sent another shot was fired from the test next door, which prompted him to stop! I then pushed him back, he went onto the island, pushed him back again and picked, although he decided to come round the pond, having discovered this was the easiest route on his previous attempt.
THIS IS SOMETHING NOTED FOR FUTURE TRAINING!
Test 3 was a long mark retrieve along a narrow track easy for the handler to mark, but the trees make it more difficult for the dog. Complete handler error, Charlie over shot and I allowed him to self correct, the distance was too far cold not see dog and lost him for a short while in the wood hunting, recall was poor! eventually got him back and picked. I think is where first place today was lost!!
Test 4 was a blind retrieve with shot, although the shot was some distance away from the fall, which caused a few problems for lots of dogs, Charlie did pull towards the gun, but stopped when asked too and got to the fall with one cast. The dummy took a little time to find, with the dog being out of sight, did not respond to recall several times? so just left him to work it out, then picked.I was a bit too quick with the dummy and dropped it..probably still annoyed with my self because of the last test.
Test 5 was a 2 dog walk up with a mark retrieve over a ditch, Charlie had to wait whilst the first dog was sent, which took ages to retrieve. It eventually picked and then we walked up a short distance for Charlies mark. After sending he hit the unsighted ditch bank fairly hard, but thankfully maintained his line and pick very well.
This was his best performance all day.
Most of the puppies running during day had come to grief on one or more of the tests, even the winner messed up on the water retrieve but overall put in the best performance on the day. The organisers did a great job, with over 50 dogs running it is no small task for everything to run very efficiently, a great day was had by all those in attendance. Many thanks to Roger & Shiela Wade for hosting the event and Judges for giving up their time when they could be running their own dogs and to the helpers who did a fantastic job.
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