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Results for Season of 2008 - 2009

Stake R 1 (2008).   Two Day Open Qualifying Field Trial Held near Lydney, by kind permission of Tony Curtis on the 17 – 18th October 2008
Judges, Mrs. Heather Bradley, Mr. Graham Roberts, Mr. Vince Mitchell and Mr. Basil Smith

1st   K. Broomfield’s      FT Ch Maverick’s Goose
2nd   J. Halstead’s      Davoulin Fraser of Drakeshead
3rd   Helena Sully’s      Braidenvale Speiren of Quabrook
4th   Sandra Halstead’s      Levenghyl Silvercloud of Drakeshead

COM's
Barbara Kuen’s      Dippolodge Bronte
Chris Barin’s      Hillridge Flush
Elaine Kelleher’s      Jagdens Druid
Tony Griffiths      Olivertash Lilly

   The evening of 16th October was the most fraught I have experienced since becoming Field Trial Secretary. Until then only three people had pulled out but that night I rang over ten people to fill the stake! Some of these had perfectly valid reasons such as having won a Trial the day before however those who had accepted runs elsewhere and not bothered to let me know or couldn’t take time off work were difficult to sympathise with as I also had sandwiches to make, paperwork to check, the car to load and dinner with the judges at 7.30 pm and this only after I had attended to my own dogs. Thank Heaven for Elaine Kelleher who was staying with me for the Trial and who kindly and happily mucked in to help out. Never was help more appreciated!

   But former troubles were soon forgotten as the two days were gloriously sunny and the heavy overnight dews gave us good scenting conditions. The guns were all local boys and most of them are dog people themselves, a great asset when shooting for Trials. They shot brilliantly with the usual amount of good natured banter and enjoyed watching the dogs work all of which contributed to the pleasant atmosphere throughout. We saw a lot of very good dog work which must have made it a difficult job for the judges.

   The first eye-wipe was Thelma Salaman’s with Cordomsal Buzz over Huw Jones’ Caulliechat Rebel of Garngoch. Chris Brain’s dog Hillridge Flush impressed us with a far distant partridge, well out of sight of his handler as did John Halstead’s Davoulin Fraser of Drakeshead. Elaine Kelleher’s dog Jagdens Druid took a nice runner out of the beet into the hedge and in the second round, eye-wiped Vic Blemming’s Minterburn Villera Jake. Don James’ Llanover Willow also did some neat work including a nice retrieve inside the hedge. But the dog that stood out from the start was Keith Broomfield’s dog FT Ch. Maverick’s Goose who impressed us all with his outstanding game finding ability requiring little or no handling.

   The high quality of the dogs was reflected in the fact that no less than 14 went through to the second day. This included a duck drive outside the beet, over white grass and weeds where every dog had at least one retrieve. The Trial ended in roots once more and the judges awarded a fuller set of results than we have seen over the last five years.

   Many thanks to our judges, especially Graham Roberts who came down from East Sussex, to Heather Bradley and Basil Smith who were both trialling the previous day and to Vince Mitchell who proved an unusual and surprising after dinner entertainer with his disappearing chair act!

   Many thanks also to my good and faithful friend Hilary Smith who stewarded as well as making sandwiches and the usual superb cakes, to Elaine Kelleher once again who came to stay but ended up making sandwiches, judges’ books etc. and kept me sane when everything threatened to go pear shaped and to whom I owe a huge debt of gratitude!

   To Parsi and Jan from Finland; Parsi helped out game carrying with Rosie Dickens who was attending her first Trial and did an excellent job and to Gareth Davies who took over on the 2nd day, many thanks to you all.

   Thanks to Frank Wright for picking-up the first day and to Di Wiggin who took over on the second, and to everyone present for their indomitable good spirits, even when out, which is the mark of the true sportsman and woman and vitally important to the overall success of a Trial.

Stake R 2 (2008).   Novice Trial Held near Lydney,on the 5th of December 2008, by kind permission of Tony Curtis
Judges,Mr. Robin Watson. Mr. David Field. Mrs. Diana Wiggin and Mrs. Annie Wales.

2nd   Mr. D. James's       Llanover Gwen
3rd   Mrs. H. Smith’s      Spiraldive Semillon

COM's and Guns Choice
Mr. K. Turner's      Shadowbrae Dude

   The first Novice Trial took place at Alvington on Friday 5th December with Robin Watson kindly judging in place of Graham West who had to pull out for medical reasons. We send Graham all our best wishes and hope he will make a full and speedy recovery. With Robin as A Panel, were Dave Field (B), Di Wiggin and Annie Wales (NP). As ever it was a hard day with mixed game – duck, pheasant and partridge – and many miles were walked before the judges declared the Trial over.

   Kevin Turner’s dog, Shadowbrae Dude showed excellent style and pace but was unfortunately eye-wiped on a partridge in the beet by Don James’ bitch, Llanover Gwen. Hilary Smith’s young dog, Spiraldive Semillon, showed great game finding ability especially on a long, live cock bird shot in the kale which flicked up no less than three times before the dog picked it. It was undoubtedly the retrieve of the day. Llanover Gwen also showed excellent game finding ability and though the judges did not feel any dog had merited first place, Second Place went to Llanover Gwen and third to Spiraldive Semillon with CoM to Shadowbrae Dude, who was also awarded Guns’ Choice.

Stake R 3 (2008).   Novice Stake for Retrievers held near Lydney,on 12th Of December 2008 by kind permission of Tony Curtis.
Judges, Mr. Brian Gregory. Mr. Sid Saterley. Mr. Leigh Jackson and Mr. Graham Bird

1st   Mr. D. James’s      Landover Gwen

COM's
Mrs. L. Harris’s      Chillean Spice with Hawksthorn

   Once again a hard day with birds not plentiful. We began with a couple of short drives the first of which was over frozen lakes so that birds falling on the ice couldn’t unfortunately be used. Then we walked up the two beet fields during which a few duck were driven off the pond. Judges were Brian Gregory (A), with Sid Saturley (B,) Graham Bird and Leigh Jackson (NP) and it was a long and difficult day for them.

   Sadly some of the best dogs were out first dog down, including Peter Scott’s dog Levenghyl River of Chisbrook, Margaret Pearce’s dog Esmoro Swift and Jane Coley’s Dog Waterford Fergus all of which had shown some good work. Lisa Harris’s G.R. bitch, Chillean Spice with Hawksthorn made a very promising debut but was overfaced by a running partridge which had fallen in the adjoining field. Don James’ bitch Llanover Gwen however, called in last thing the previous evening showed sufficient ability for the judges to award her first place – the only award given.

Results for Season of 2007 - 2008

Stake R1. Results of the Open Stake for AV Retrievers, (I.G.L. Qualifier) 17th and 18th of October 2007 at Alvington.

   After two glorious days, We have the following results
1st   FTCh Kenmillto Remus   Lab. Dog   Leigh Jackson (with entry to I.G.L. Championships)
2nd   Garrethall Morse of Heathergaye   Lab. Dog   Heather Bradley
3rd   Levenghyl Bee of Featherfly   Lab. Dog   Phil Highfield
4th   Hillridge Flush    Lab. Dog    Chris Brain
Com
Birdsgreen Shining Sidney of Tofts   G.R. Dog   Glynis Hillier

Stake R2. Results of the Novice Trial Saturday 8th December 2007, near Lydney.

   This had to be one of the wettest, most miserable days of the season! But thanks to the wisdom and excellent organisation of our A Panel Judge (and my predecessor) Vic Olner, it gave every dog the chance to demonstrate its best ability and we ended with a good set of results.

   The Stake started with a duck drive, and given the atrocious conditions, Vic very considerately decided to give each dog one retrieve in the first round. As there were enough birds down, each dog then had another single retrieve in the second round. Several birds were successfully retrieved from the water and Linda Partridge’s stylish yellow bitch, Braidenvale Fair Quilla succeeded in picking a bird in the reeds at the far end of the pond – made difficult because of the need to handle the dog between the water one side and enticing cover the other. Only one dog failed to have a second round retrieve on the ducks so we moved over the track into the remains of the sunflowers undersown with a mixture of gold of plenty and stubble turnips. This was ideal ground as there was enough cover to hold the birds yet it was possible to clearly see the dogs working. Despite the rain, birds came steadily to the guns who never failed to shoot with the best interests of the dogs in mind. The dogs in turn seemed to be little affected by the rain and those left in for the final rounds went out with speed and enthusiasm.

   My immense gratitude to all the judges, Vic Olner, Tim Shipp, Roy Morris and Nicola Rudgard for a really difficult job extremely well done and to Andy Patterson for his organisation of those stalwart guns! My thanks also to Hilary Smith who once again was a tower of strength dog stewarding - and to all who took part for the invincible good humour of the day – I never heard anyone complain once!

1st   Jagdens Dexter at Lyonmoreshot   Lab. Dog   Mrs. Jenny Dimmock
2nd   Braidenvale Fair Quilla   Lab. Bitch   Mrs. Linda Partridge
3rd   Ffynongain Ben   Lab. Dog   Dr. Gareth Davies

Stake R3. Results of the Novice Trial Saturday 14th December 2007, near Lydney.

   In contrast, this was a perfect shooting day – overcast, but dry. We began by walking up in stubble turnips where birds once more came steadily to the guns and this was followed by a duck drive which more or less decided the result. Ducks fell over water, into crop and onto a very boggy grass field, which proved possibly the most difficult place from which to retrieve. A couple of retrieves in the crop behind the duck ponds completed the Trial and once more we had a good set of results.

   Again my grateful thanks to the two Skinners, Lynn and Malcolm, to Kerrie Morton and Nick Coates and of course to Andy Patterson and the guns. Thanks also to Iris Wright who very kindly offered to dog steward for me and did an excellent job keeping me in order! Also to Frank for very effective picking up. Once again there was a friendly and excellent atmosphere throughout and the dog work was generally of a high standard. The results were: