OPEN TEST RESULTS 2016
The United Retriever Club (North Midland Area) held an Open Working Test for Any Variety Retriever on Sunday 8th May 2016 at Welbeck, Nottinghamshire by kind permission of Mr W Parente and the Estate. Our guests included Margaret Rowson, the dog handler on the estate, and URC Chair Iris Wright.26 dogs were entered. Prizes were generously sponsored by Alpha – the food of Champions.
The weather was very warm and sunny as it seemed summer had truly arrived.
The three lady judges were Sue Lowe, Julie Campbell, and Elaine Whittaker. The ground included rolling pasture, woodland and two large lakes. The retrieves were planned to reflect working dogs on the shoots on the estate.
In the morning good use of made of the water. Julie judged two retrieves on the woodland fringed lower lake, one near the shore to the right and the other a long swim diagonally to the far left. Meanwhile Elaine judge a mark and a blind, sending from a dry valley uphill and over a post and rail fence into light woodland. A mature oak woodland, floored with bluebells was the setting for a pick-up assessed by Sue Lowe. All three tests proved discriminating with a wide range of scores and a sprinkling of failures. After lakeside lunch picnics just 12 dogs were called in for three more tests. Sue Lowe judged a walk-up in the grassland with a forward mark and a back blind for each dog. Under Julie the dogs were sent for a long mark across a recently drilled arable field. At the upper lake Elaine sent the dogs for a long mark, involvi8ng an outrun along the bank and an entry to the water at a distance. The scors were close and some dogs in the run-off faced a further long swim for a blind across the broad waters of the upper lake.
To celebrate the North Midland Area’s Golden Jubilee a decorated cake was displayed at the concluding tea, and special Rosettes were presented with the awards, trophies and Alpha dog food.
1st Frank Wright’s LR B Levenghyl Dancing Teasel (BCC area)
2nd S&AM Crookes’ GR B Millgreen Opal of Moscargrange (H=Steve Crookes)
3rd Russell Hodgen’s LR B F.T.Ch.Partridge Flush of Russjancoe
4th Janette Sayer’s LR D Laurinco Red Flame of Hollowgate (Lincs)
Certificates of Merit: John Cardno’s LR B Busskets Lawn Astrid
Nessa Thompson’s GR D Arkholme Skylark of Haventrent (Also Water Cup)
