On the 15th September 2024 the Southern Flat Coated Retriever Club and the Flatcoated Retriever Society UK jointly held a Competitive Training Day, Walked Up on Field Trial Lines at Orchard Farm Woolborough Lane, Redhill, by kind permission of Mandy Smith. Our Trainers/Judges were Kelvin Nettleingham (B panel) & Mandy Smith who between them have a wealth of knowledge and experience to impart. Lynette Irwin acted as Dog Steward and ensured a steady flow of dogs to each judge. We are deeply indebted to our helpers who as dummy throwers and game carriers worked tirelessly all day. Thank you!!
The morning took the form of a training day with the judges encouraging all the dogs to succeed.
After a break for lunch the afternoon became competitive with dogs being put out according to the judging system of a walked up field trial run under Kennel Club rules and regulations. Five dogs made it through to the fourth round at which point the judges conferred and declared the trial over.
The results were as follows:
1st and the Larksburn Salver Derek Bull with Keepersway Alana
2nd Sarah Young with Waverton I Wish I Could Fly at Larksburn
3rd Hazel Flindt with Springshott Timothy
4th Sylvia Billinghurst with Wyrebeck Endless Wave
COM and Judges Choice Jane Gould Halangydown Tean
This was a new venture for both the SFRC and for the FCRS. I am most grateful to my counterpart Jacquie Thomas from the SFRC who made this possible and has been supportive and proactive in getting this day off the ground. Together we hope this event will be repeated in years to come and become a regular part of the calendar for working flatcoats.
Photos by Jo Smith and Sarah Young (Shared with permission).