The United Retriever Club Hants & South West Area recently held a Novice Working Test at Hawkers Hill Farm by kind permission of Chris and Clem Martin and Mr Phil Lever writes Wendy Bardsley. There were 42 entries and the judges were Dave England, Frank Wright, Jennie Dimmock and Micheal Brown. The tests were set at a good novice standard and the new location allowed 4 challenging tests. All tests were a double pick with two retrieves. Test 1 involved a marked water retrieve which gave the dogs a good swim across the water out onto the land to retrieve the dummy and back into the water to deliver to hand. The glare of the sun and the geese on the water proved a challenge for some of the dogs. The second retrieve was thrown by the edge of the water. Test 2 involved a walked up with a marked retrieve at the top of hill followed by a shot behind with a retrieve at the bottom of the hill. Test 3 offered a double blind with the dogs picking the right first then the left dummy. Test 4 was a double marked retrieve with several barriers in between. The competitors were able to choose which dummy to retrieve first. As the ground was slightly uneven it was a challenge for the dogs to run cleanly up the hill. Competitors and dogs were put through their paces as the day progressed. Dave England who judged Test 4 indicated his double retrieve test gave the dogs a challenge and observed many dogs locking onto the first retrieve. At the end of the day he offered useful advice to the competitors and suggested in training to get the dog to pick the second dummy first and occasionally pick the other one by hand.
Left to right: Robert Small and Sarah Winter in the run off for third and fourth position. A two dog run off was necessary to decide third and fourth place. URC Chairman for the Hants & South West Nick Coates stated the run off needed to stretch the dogs so the judges were able to see the difference between the two. With a distraction thrown into the water the competitor handled their dog over the causeway to retrieve a blind.
Awards:
1st - Cynhinfa Napoleon (LRD) – Claire Salter
2nd – Randall Black Night (LRD) – Chris Doig
3rd – Henergy Moonstruck (LRD) – Robert Small
4th – Roughbeat Serafina of Philchris (GRB) – Sarah Winter
Awards:
1st - Cynhinfa Napoleon (LRD) – Claire Salter
2nd – Randall Black Night (LRD) – Chris Doig
3rd – Henergy Moonstruck (LRD) – Robert Small
4th – Roughbeat Serafina of Philchris (GRB) – Sarah Winter
Left to right: Jennie Dimmock, Dave England, Claire Salter, Michael Brown, Frank Wright, Sarah Winter, Robert Small, Chris Doig (at the front) The day brought together an exceptionally talented collection of novice dogs and handlers who clearly all enjoyed the challenge of a URC Novice Test day. Special thanks to the URC test organiser, Sarah Winter, the host, judges, helpers and competitors for making the day a success. As always Skinners provided much appreciated sponsorship.
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