Successful United Retriever Club – North Midland Area Puppy and Novice Tests

THE United Retriever Club (North Midland Area) held Puppy and Novice Tests on 5th July 2009 at Bevercotes, Nottinghamshire by kind permission of Mr N Bllom and R & J Clough. The judges were Gill Stewart, Paul Birkbeck, Malcolm Peacock & Anna Wagland. The prizes were sponsored by Alpha Feeds - The Food of Champions.

In hot July weather the tests were sited partly in shady woodland adjacent to the River Maun. There were 9 puppies and 36 Novices entered, including Labradors, Flatcoats, Golden Retrievers and one Chesapeake.

The puppies were tested on a simpler exercise than the Novices. Paul Birkbeck judged a marked retrieve which landed in the river downstream from the handler. Malcolm Peacock judged another mark, diagonally across the river.

Meanwhile Anna Wagland started with a heeling and send back exercise for the puppies. Then the Novice had a short walk at heel, followed by a marked retrieve in long grass.

In the shady woodland Gill Stewart judged two retrieves, firstly a mark glimpsed through the trees, and secondly a blind. A sharp dowpour concluded the morning, as everyone dashed to shelter for their lunch.

After five retrieves the Puppy tests were concluded with the following result:-

1 Jim Christon’s Labrador bitch FROEBELHOUSE RIHANNA
2. Jim Cochrane’s Labrador dog BRUNBOIS TARKA
3. Simon Tucker’s Labrador dog HULTON BLACK JET
4. Kitson & Barrett’s Labrador dog GLENCAL LARCH (Best Young Puppy) Handler Sharon Kitson)

CoM: David Perry’s Golden Retriever dog HAYMAKER ALE

The Novice Tests continued in the afternoon. Paul and Malcolm judged a walk-up in long grass, testing heeling and marking. Meanwhile Anna and Gill tested handling as the dogs were sent down a ride, to enter water and cross the river out of sight of the handler, before picking a blind on the far bank.

After seven retrieves for the Novice Test the judges agreed on the following result:-

1.Amanda Minshall’s Labrador dog BURLINGTON BERT OF BELVEDERE
2.Cyril Turner’s Labrador dog GOLDEN BRY (Novice Handler Shield)
3.Sue Lowe’s Labrador dog SPRINGFLIGHT BRIE OF LOWSOMMER
4.Robert Daws’ Labrador dog DELFLEET MAGNUM
5.CoM Pat White’s Labrador bitch OAKWOOD PARKOF PATHRITE

CoM Cyril turner’s Labrador bitch BRYN BONNIE BERTHA (Handler Bryony Bleackley)