Successful Cold Game Test At Parliament Oak

The United Retriever Club (North Midland Area) held an Open Cold Game Test at Parliament Oak, Nottinghamshire – writes Phil Wagland

The test took place on 7th September by kind permission of Mr G.Shaw-Browne and Mr R. Bielby and the assistance of Mr A.Kinta. The judges were Mr David Probert, Mr Jim Christon and Mr Alan Richardson. The event was kindly sponsored by Alpha Feeds.

The weather was cloudy and warm, a refreshing change from the rain of recent weeks. There were 24 runners. Run on Field Trial lines the test involved walking up sugar beet, on undulating land. In the first round dogs were mostly given marked retrieves of pigeons, saluted by gunfire.

The beet was tall and dense, and very wet, making difficult conditions. There were wide variations in marking accuracy, and some dogs lacked experience in roots. The judges sent for cross retrieves in the second round.

After lunch the judges called in 12 dogs to face longer cross retrieves on marks and blinds. Several long diagonal blinds to a hedgerow caused handling problems, and resulting eye wipes.

This reduced the field to 6 dogs. Long marks down the line were used to separate the top dogs, with the most experienced handlers triumphing, with Garronpoint Labradors dominating.

1st: Annette Clarke’s Labrador bitch Garronpoint Liffey, 2nd Richard Hinks’ Labrador bitch Claravale Tide of Garronpoint, 3rd Richard Hinks’ Labrador bitch Garronpoint Spree, 4th Russell Hodgen’s Labrador bitch Almondine of Russjancoe.