Success At Inter Area Match For Flatcoated Retriever Society

Five Areas took part with each team made up of an Open dog, two Novices and either a Special Puppy or Novice Dog/Novice Handler. The three Puppies and two Novice Dog/Novice Handlers were given two tests on their own at the beginning of the day to settle them down and to ensure that they would finish.

They then joined up with their teams for four tests in the morning and after a sumptuous buffet provided for everyone by the South West ladies, the Open and Novice dogs had two more tests in the afternoon.

Three of the tests were deliberately set up in a way that a decision was needed as to which Novice dog would go for which retrieve and in what order. This helps enhance team spirit and creates situations where the handlers really had to assess the particular situation.

The team tests were exact replicas of shooting day retrieves, and the standard of work and handling was excellent with over half the card scoring 100+ out of 120.

Familiarity with typical Exmoor terrain, (steep banks and crossing streams), gave the home team the edge over Wessex but it was a close call with only eight points separating the two teams.

The Teams taking part were: Southwest (Winners), Wessex (Second), Cotswold, Southern and Bucks areas. The event was kindly supported by Alpha Feeds and the winning team received rosettes and bags of Alpha performance dog food.