This year the event was held on The Avon Tyrrell Estate, Nr Christchurch, Dorset by kind permission of The Lord and Lady Manners to whom the Society are most grateful for their generosity, being always willing to welcome us when asked, be it for Tests, Field Trials or Training.
After a very hot week the day dawned overcast but cooler, thankfully. The cloud soon gave up a light drizzle which steadily got heavier as the day progressed inevitably, whilst cooling the dogs, causing issues with the paper work!
The woods were the setting for three tests in the morning and our three Judges, Nick Coates, Sue Weeden and Peter Leyden judged the dogs in Team situations with all dogs in line.
Test 1.
This was a mark with a memory replacement challengingly set through conifers making it tricky acknowledging the mark. Having picked this the return to the memory was straightforward.
Test 2.
This began with the ND/NH acknowledging a mark and turning and walking away from it at heel before being sent back to retrieve it.
The other three dogs were lined up in undulating woodland for a single mark each into ditches, the Novice to the left and right and the Open straight down through the centre.
Test 3.
This was a drive scenario with four marks thrown progressively closer to the team, the ND/NH to be sent first, the two Novice dogs to collect theirs leaving the furthest for the Open dog.
There followed four blind retrieves away from the area of the marks to be picked as the Judge decreed.
These tests ran to plan and there followed a short lunch break before moving across the road to meadows where three more Tests of single retrieves, again approached in Teams were set.
Test 4.
A situation with four shots saluting four unseen birds, the Team to nominate which dog was sent to which area. The cover here was long meadow grass with rushes and really tested the handlers ability to help their dog to the best area to achieve.
Test 5.
This was a walk up with marked retrieves of progressively longer distance. The meadow grass here tested both the dogs and handlers in their marking ability.
Test 6.
A water test completed the variety of tests with the Team lined up along the side of a duck pond. The ND/NH had a short mark into the water followed by a longer mark for one Novice dog in the same direction. The Open dog had the next mark across the pond and as it returned a distraction was thrown into the pond for which the second Novice was sent after the Open dog had delivered.
These tests finished on schedule and the whole gathering re crossed the road for welcome tea and cake whilst the scores were added.
We were most fortunate to have our Presidents wife, Mrs Gilly Izzard with us to present the awards which were as follows:
Teams:
1st Southern Flatcoated Retriever Society
2nd FCRS Midland Area
Here it should be noted that the Teams placed 3rd and 4th both had equal points and the final decision on placing rested with the Judges who had announced before the start they would be bearing in mind the Teamwork of each team. Their decision was to place:
3rd FCRS Southern Area
4th FCRS Wessex Area.
Best Individual:
Open – Mahinda Bombus HeathAnn Bracegirdle
Novice – Tygwyn Punnetts TownJacquie Thomas
ND/NH – Glenturret Blueberry BlitzAnne Peers
Overall Highest placed – Tygwyn Punnetts Town Jacquie Thomas
My sincere thanks, as organiser, extend to those seven Teams who supported the Event, to our Judges, our very willing helpers, without whom a test cannot proceed, the Land Owner, to Sarah Young for relieving me of the burden of technology and paperwork and to Keith whose help and support keeps me sane.
My thanks and that of the Society must also go to Skinners whose continued sponsorship of all things Gundog is hugely appreciated across the Gundog world.
Jane Manley.
Hon. Field Trial Sec.
Photos kindly provided by Sarah Young
